Introduction to Medical Terminology (Pt. 1)

Question 1

Why is medical terminology used in the industry?

Answer 1

Using medical terminology is an efficient method of conveying very specific and important information. Because each term has a precise meaning, detailed information can be quickly shared using only a few words.

Question 2

What are the three common types of medical terms?

Answer 2

1. Terms built from Latin/Greek word parts (e.g. cardiology & tonsillectomy)
2. Terms based on a person’s name, called eponyms (e.g. Alzheimer & Parkinson’s)
3. Terms utilizing modern english words (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging & irritable bowel syndrome)

Question 3

What are the four categories from which Latin/Greek- based medical terms are built?

Answer 3

The four diffirent categories are…

1. Word Roots
2. Suffixes
3. Prefixes
4. Combining Vowels

Question 4

Word Roots

Answer 4

The word root is the foundation of most medical terms and gives the essential meaning of the term. It frequently but not always refers to a body structure, organ, or system.

Question 5

Suffix

Answer 5

A suffix is found at the end of a medical term. The type of information it provides includes conditions, diseases, surgical procedures, and diagnostic procedures involving the word root.

Question 6

Prefix

Answer 6

A prefix is found at the beginning of a medical term. It often indicates information such as abnormal conditions, numbers, positions, or times.

Question 7

Combining Vowels

Answer 7

Combining vowels are used for two reasons: to connect word parts and to make medical terms easier to spell and pronounce. Combining vowels are placed either between a word root and suffix or between two word roots.

Question 8

When do you place a combining vowel between a word root and a suffix?

Answer 8

To decide whether a combining vowel is needed between a word root and suffix, you must look at the first letter of the suffix.

Do not use a combining vowel between a word and suffix if the suffix begins in a vowel

Ex: arthr (root) + -itis (suffix) is arthr/itis not arthr/o/itis

Question 9

When do you place a combining vowel between two word roots?

Answer 9

Place a combining vowel between two word roots, even if the second word root begins with a vowel.

Ex…

• Correct! ==> gastr/o/enter/o/logy
• Wrong! ==> gastr/enter/o/logy.

Question 10

Combining Forms

Answer 10

Consist of a word root and its combining vowel (e.g. electr/o is the combining form meaning electricity).

NOTE: word roots are often presented in the combining form due to its ease of pronounciation.

Question 11

Give the combining form for the following locations

Answer 11

Question 12

arthr

Answer 12

joint

Question 13

carcin

Answer 13

cancer

Question 14

cardi

Answer 14

heart

Question 15

cephal

Answer 15

head

Question 16

electr

Answer 16

electricity

Question 17

gastr

Answer 17

stomach

Question 18

hepat

Answer 18

liver

Question 19

my

Answer 19

muscle

Question 20

oste

Answer 20

bone

Question 21

rhin

Answer 21

nose

Question 22

-ectomy

Answer 22

surgical removal

Gastroectomy: surgical removal of stomach

Question 23

-gram

Answer 23

record or picture

Electrocardiogram: record of heart’s electrical (acivity)

Question 24

-itis

Answer 24

inflammation

Arthritis: join inflammation

Question 25

-logy

Answer 25

study of ## Footnote Cardiology: study of the heart

Question 26

-megaly

Answer 26

enlarged ## Footnote Hepatomegaly: enlarged liver

Question 27

-pathy

Answer 27

disease ## Footnote Myopathy: muscle disease

Question 28

a-

Answer 28

without ## Footnote Apnea: without breathing

Question 29

bi-

Answer 29

two ## Footnote bilateral: two sides

Question 30

dys-

Answer 30

abnormal, difficult, painful ## Footnote Dysuria: painful or difficult urination

Question 31

Inter-

Answer 31

between ## Footnote Intervertebral: between vertebrae

Question 32

Post-

Answer 32

after ## Footnote Postsurgical: after surgery

Question 33

sub-

Answer 33

under, beneath ## Footnote Subcutaneous: underneath the skin

Question 34

electro/o/cardi/o/gram

Answer 34

record of heart's electrical (acitivty)

Question 35

hepat/o/megaly

Answer 35

enlarged liver

Question 36

oste/o/arthritis

Answer 36

bone and joint inflammation

Question 37

rhin/o/plasty

Answer 37

surgical repair of the nose

Question 38

If the word ends in –a...

Answer 38

keep –a and add –e ## Footnote Vertebra (Singular) ==\> Vertebrae (Plural)

Question 39

If the word ends in –ax...

Answer 39

drop –x and add –ces ## Footnote Thorax (Singular) ==\> Thoraces (Plural)

Question 40

If the word ends in –ex...

Answer 40

drop –ex and add –ices ## Footnote Apex (Singular) ==\> Apices (Plural)

Question 41

If the word ends in –is...

Answer 41

drop –is and add –es ## Footnote Metastasis (Singular) ==\> Metastases (Plural)

Question 42

If the word ends in –ix...

Answer 42

drop –x and add –ces ## Footnote Appendix (Singular) ==\> Appendices (Plural)

Question 43

If the word ends in –ma...

Answer 43

keep –ma and add –ta ## Footnote Sarcoma (Singular) ==\> Sarcomata (Plural)

Question 44

If the word ends in –on...

Answer 44

drop –on and add –a ## Footnote Spermatozoon (Singular) ==\> Spermatozoa (Plural)

Question 45

If the word ends in –us...

Answer 45

drop –us and add –i ## Footnote Alveolus (Singular) ==\> Alveoli (Plural)

Question 46

If the word ends in –um...

Answer 46

drop –us and add –a ## Footnote Ovum (Singular) ==\> Ova (Plural)

Question 47

If the word ends in –x...

Answer 47

drop –x and add –ges ## Footnote Phalanx (Singular) ==\> Phalanges (Plural)

Question 48

If the word ends in –y...

Answer 48

drop –y and add –ies ## Footnote Biopsy (Singular) ==\> Biopsies (Plural)