Introduction to Medical Terminology Flashcards
P
prefix
R
root
CF
combining form
S
suffix
Prefix (P)
- to fix before; to fix to the beginning
- can be a syllable or group of syllables, united with or placed at the beginning of words to alter or modify their meanings or to create entirely new words
Word Root (R)
- a word or word element from which other words are formed
- it is the foundation of the word
- conveys the central meaning of the word and forms the base to which prefixes and suffixes are attached for word modification
Combining Form (CF)
- a word root to which a vowel has been added
- links the root to the suffix of the word root to another root
- does not have a meaning of its own
- the vowel “o” is used more often than any other to make combining forms
- can be found at the beginning of a word or within the word
Suffix (S)
- to fasten on, beneath, or under
- can be a syllable or group of syllables united with or placed at the end of a word to alter or modify the meaning of the word or to create a new word
- when you break down a word to understand it or when you give the meaning of the word or read its definition, you usually begin with the meaning of the suffix
gnathic
relating to the jaws
phlegm
thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive or abnormal quantities
abduct
to lead away from the middle
adduct
to lead toward the middle
arteritis
inflammation of an artery
arthritis
inflammation of a joint
ante-
before, forward
anti-
against
ecto-
out, outside, outer
endo-
within, inner
hyper-
above, beyond, excessive
hypo-
below, under, deficient
inter-
between
intra-
within
para-
beside, alongside, abnormal
per-
through
peri-
around
pre-
before, in front of
pro-
before
super-
above, beyond
supra-
above, beyond
-poiesis
formation
-ptosis
prolapse, drooping, sagging, falling down
-ptysis
spitting
-rrhage
to burst forth, bursting forth
-rrhagia
to burst forth, bursting forth
-rrhaphy
suture
-rrhea
flow, discharge
-rrhexis
rupture
-scope
instrument for exaggeration
-scopy
visual examination, to view, examine
-tome
instrument to cut
-tomy
incision
-tripsy
crushing
-trophy
nourishment, development
(sing.) bursa
(pl.) bursae
(sing.) throax
(pl.) throaces; thoraxes
(sing.) foramen
(pl.) foramina
(sing.) crisis
(pl.) crises
(sing.) iris
(pl.) irides
(sing.) femoris
(pl.) femora
(sing.) appendix
(pl.) appendices
(sing.) phalanx
(pl.) appendices
(sing.) spermatozoon
(pl.) spermatozoa
(sing.) ovum
(pl.) ova
(sing.) nucleus
(pl.) nuclei
(sing.) artery
(pl.) arteries
single accent marks
used to indicate stress on certain syllables; a single accent mark is called a primary accent and is used with the syllable that has the strongest stress (primary syllable).
double accent marks
used to indicate syllables that are stressed less than primary syllables; a double accent mark is called a secondary accent.
macron (ō)
indicates the long sound of the vowel
breve (ă)
indicates the short sound of the vowel
schwa (ə)
indicates the central vowel sound of most unstressed syllables
abate
To lessen, ease, decrease, or cease. Used to note the lessening of pain or the decrease in severity of symptoms.
abnormal
ab- “away from”
norm “rule”
-al “pertaining to”
Pertaining to away from the norm or rule. A condition that is considered to be not normal.
abscess
Localized collection of pus, which ma occur in any part of the body
acute
Sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and a short course.
adhesion
adhes- “stuck to”
-ion “process”
A process of being stuck together. An abdominal adhesion usually involves the intestines and is caused by inflammation or trauma. This type of adhesion may cause an intestinal obstruction and require surgery.
afferent
Carrying impulses toward a center.
ambulatory
Condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed.
antidote
Substance given to counteract poisons and their effects.
antipyretic
anti- “against”
pyret “fever”
-ic “pertaining to”
Pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temperature (fever)
antiseptic
anti- “against”
sept “putrefaction”
-ic “pertaining to”
Pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis (putrefaction); in a technique or product used to prevent or limit infections.
antitussive
anti- “against”
tuss “cough”
-ive “nature of, quality of”
Pertaining to an agent that works against coughing.
apathy
Condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent.
asepsis
a- “without”
-sepsis “decay”
Without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms.
axillary (ax)
axill “armpit”
-ary “pertaining to”
Pertaining to the armpit.
biopsy (Bx)
bi(o) “life”
-opsy “to view”
Surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination; used to determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the body.
cachexia
cac- “bad”
-hexia “condition”
Condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting. It may occur in chronic diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis.
centigrade (C)
centi- “one hundred, one hundredth”
-grade “a step”
Having 100 steps or degrees; unit of temperature measurement (Celsius scale) with a boiling point at 100° and a freezing point at 0°. Each degree of temperature change is 0.01 (1/100) of the scale.
centimeter (cm)
centi- “one hundred, one hundredth”
-meter “measure”
Unit of measurement in the metric system; one hundredth of a meter.
chemotherapy
chem/o “chemical”
-therapy “treatment”
The use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease, specifically drugs used in cancer therapy.
chronic
pertaining to time; denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression; the opposite of acute
diagnosis (Dx)
dia- “through”
-gnosis “knowledge”
The process of identifying a disease or disorder, which is generally determined through the use of scientific and skillful methods of knowledge. Several types of information are used for diagnosis, including signs and symptoms.
diaphoresis
dia- “through”
-phoresis “to carry”
To carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating.
disease
Literally means lack of ease; a pathological condition of the body that presents with a series of symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings peculiar to it and sets it apart from normal or other abnormal body states; a disruption of normal functioning of the body by a process that can be congenital or infectious or the failure of normal activity to maintain and sustain health.
disinfectant
dis- “apart”
infect “to infect”
-ant “forming”
Chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathological microorganisms, such as bacteria.
efferent
Carrying impulses away from a center.
empathy
The ability to sense emotionally and intellectually the feelings of another person.
epidemic
epi- “upon”
dem “people”
-ic “pertaining to”
Pertaining to upon the people; the rapid, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that can be spread by any pathological organism transmitted by and to humans, birds, insects, etc.
etiology
eti/o “cause”
-logy “study of”
Study of the causes of disease.
excision
ex- “out”
cis “to cut”
-ion “process”
Process of cutting out; surgical removal.
febrile
Pertaining to a fever.
gram (g)
Unit of weight in the metric system; a cubic centimeter (cc) or a milliliter of water is equal to the weight of a gram.
heterogeneous
hetero- “different”
gene “formation, produce”
-ous “pertaining to”
Literally means pertaining to a different formation; composed of unlike substances; the opposite of homogeneous.
illness
State of being sick.
incision
in- “in, into”
cis “to cut”
-ion “process”
Process of cutting into.
kilogram (kg)
kil/o “a thousand”
-gram “a weight”
Unit of weight in the metric system; 1000 g; a kilogram is equal to 2.2 lb.
liter (L)
Unit of volume in the metric system; 1000 mL; a liter is equal to 33.8 fl oz or 1.0567 qt.
macroscopic
macr/o “large”
scop “to examine”
-ic “pertaining to”
Pertaining to objects large enough to be examined by the naked eye.
malaise
A general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient with a chronic disease.
malformation
mal- “bad”
format “a shaping”
-ion “process”
Literally means a process of being badly shaped, deformed; a structural defect that fails to from normal shape and therefore can affect the function.
malignant
malign “bad kind”
-ant “forming”
Literally means formation of a bad kind; growing worse, harmful, cancerous.
maximal
maxim “greatest”
-al “pertaining to”
Pertaining to the greatest possible quantity, number, or degree.
microgram (mcg)
micro- “small”
-gram “a weight”
Unit of weight in the metric system; one-millionth of a gram or one-thousandth of a milligram (0.001 mg).
microorganism
micro- “small”
organ “organ”
-ism “condition”
Small living organisms that are not visible to the naked eye.
microscope
micro- “small”
-scope “instrument for examining”
Scientific instrument designed to view small objects.
milligram (mg)
milli- “one-thousandth”
-gram “a weight”
Unit of weight in the metric system; 0.001 g.
milliliter (mL)
milli- “one-thousandth”
-liter “liter”
Unit of volume in the metric system; 0.001 L.
minimal
minim “least”
-al “pertaining to”
Pertaining to the least possible quantity, number, or degree.
morbidity
morbid “sick”
-ity “condition”
State of being diseased; ill, sick; refers to the disease rate or number of cases of a particular disease in a given age range, gender, occupation, or other relevant population-based grouping.
mortality
mortal “human being”
-ity “condition”
Being human, subject to death; refers to the death rate reflected by the population in a given region, age range, or other relevant statistical grouping.
multiform
multi- “many, much”
-form “shape”
Occurring in or having many shapes; An object that has more than one defined shape.
necrosis
necr “death”
-osis “condition”
Abnormal condition of tissue death.
oncology
onc/o “tumor”
-logy “study of”
Literally means the study of tumors; the study of the etiology, the characteristics, treatments, etc., of cancer.
pallor
Paleness, a lack of color.
palmar
palm “palm”
-ar “relating to”
Pertaining to the palm of the hand.
paracentesis
para- “beside”
-centesis “surgical puncture”
Surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal.
prognosis
pro- “before”
-gnosis “knowledge”
Literally means a state of foreknowledge; prediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate of the affected person.
prophylactic
prophylact “guarding”
-ic “pertaining to”
Pertaining to preventing or protecting against disease or pregnancy.
pyrogenic
pyr/o “heat, fire”
-genic “formation, produce”
Pertaining to the production of heat; a fever.
radiology
radi/o “ray, x-ray”
-logy “study of”
Study of x-rays and other imaging modalities that use x-rays.
rapport
Relationship of understanding between two individuals especially between the patient and physician.
sequela
Abnormal condition that follows and is the result of a disease, treatment, or injury, such as deafness after treatment with an ototoxic drug.
syndrome
syn- “together, with”
-drome “that which runs together”
A group of signs and symptoms occurring together that characterize a specific disease or pathological condition.
thermometer
therm/o “hot, heat”
-meter “instrument to measure”
An instrument used to measure degree of heat, especially the temperature of a person.
triage
A system of prioritizing and classifying patient injuries to determine priority of need and treatment.
SOAP
Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
ax
axillary
BP
blood pressure
Bx
biopsy
C
centigrade, celcius
CC
chief complaint
cm
centimeter
Derm
dermatology
DOB
date of birth
Dx
diagnosis
ENT
ear, nose, throat (larynx); otorhinolaryngology
g
gram
GYN
gynecology
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Ht
Height
ICD
International Classification of Diseases
kg
kilogram
L
liter
mcg
microgram
mg
milligram
mL
milliliter
Neuro
neurology
OB
obstetrics
OP
outpatient
Orth
orthopedics
P
pulse
Path
pathology
PE
physical examination
Psych
psychiatry; psychology
R
respiration
T
temperature
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
Wt
weight
