Basic Medical Terminology

Much of medical terminology is influenced by Greek and Latin.
-Greek: Alexander the Great conquered many countries which influenced language
-------Greek Pronounciation Guide
-Latin: This was the language of the church and the language of the Romans who conquered many countries.
------- Latin Pronounciation Guide

Why should I learning word elements?
In order to learn basic medical terminology you must be able to understand words in their entirety. Part of this process is knowing how a word breaks down into its most basic components. In this way it is much easier to learn thousands of words simply but understanding several hundred parts of each word. These same parts can be mixed up and used in a variety of words but the core meaning doesn't change. By learning the meaning of each word element you can begin to understand a very large and constantly changing set of words used in the medical profession without having to learn the meaning of each and every word . Here are some steps to help you understand the rules for how these words are formed.

Word Elements
Prefix: Is used before a root to slightly alter its meaning.
(will be shown as "prefix-")
-Examples: ex-, pre-, post-, intra-, inter-, etc..
Root: The part of the word with the most meaning. The foundation of a word.
(will be shown as "root/vowel")
-Examples: Pancreat/o, oste/o, phleb/o, therm/o, etc..
Suffix: Is used after a root to slightly alter its meaning.
(will be shown as "-suffix")
-Examples: -ism, -tion, -ist, -er, -ity, -able, etc..

*FYI- There can be more than one prefix, root, or suffix per word.

Combining form: Root + a vowel (usually "o")
(will be shown "root/vowel")

3 Rules for building medical words:
1) The word root (without a vowel) is used to link to a suffix that begins with a vowel
2) The combining form is used to link a suffix that begins with a consonant
3) The combining form is used when linking another root even if that root starts with a vowel.

Examples of the Three Rules in Action: gastr/ectomy, pancreat/o/lith, oste/o/arthr/itis

You need directions any time you look at a map and some system in order to determine where you are going. The medical field isn't much different. There are ways of describing and talking about certain areas of the body by using medical terminology.

Planes of the Body
-Frontal (coronal) Plane: Determines location towards the front or back of the body..
(Anterior/Ventral: front, Posterior/Dorsal: back)

-Median (sagittal) Plane: Determines location towards the side or middle of the body.
(Lateral:side, Medial: middle)

-Horizontal (transverse) Plane: Determines location towards the top or bottom of the body.
(Superior: above, Inferior: below)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Proximal/Distal: close or far from the middle of the body.

Locations/Directions on the Body
above or upon-------------------epi-
anterior, front------------------- anter/o
back, behind, posterior------- poster/o
back of body-------------------- dors/o
belly side of body-------------- ventr/o
far, farthest--------------------- dist/o (distal)
head ---------------------------- cephal/o
lower, below-------------------- infer/o
middle -------------------------- medi/o
near, nearest------------------ proxim/o (proximal)
side, on one side-------------- later/o
tail ------------------------------- caud/o
toward -------------------------- -ad

Examples: medi/ad, poster/o/later/al

Dorsal Cavities
-Spinal (spinal cord)
-Cranial (brain)

Ventral Cavities
-Thoracic(lungs, heart, etc..)
-Abdominal (stomach, intestine, etc..)
-Pelvic (uterus, cervix, prostate, bladder,etc..)

Nine Abdominal Regions
-Right Hypochondriac
-Epigastric
-Left Hypochondriac
-Right Lumbar
-Umbilical
-Left Lumbar
-Right Inguinal
-Hypogastric
-Left Inguinal

Here is more information about body cavities

Words Related to Medical Imaging/Recording/Surgical
computed tomography = CT
nothing per (by) mouth = NPO
positron emission tomography = PET
----------------------------------------------------------
beyond ----------------------------------- ultra-
cutting ------------------------------------ tom/o
creating a new opening ------------ -stomy
death ------------------------------------ necr/o, than/o
excision/take out of ------------------ -ectomy
instrument used to cut -------------- -tome
incision ---------------------------------- -tomy
mouth like incision ------------------- -ostomy
picture ------------------------------------ -gram
process of recording ------------------ -graphy
reflected sound ------------------------- ech/o
self ----------------------------------------- aut/o
sound ------------------------------------- son/o
x rays -------------------------------------- radi/o

Examples: Son/o/grams, Ech/o/cardi/o/gram, ultra/son/o/graph/y, radi/o/graph/y

Many medical conditions have symptoms which are denoted by coloration. Here is a list of different word elements used to describe these colors.

Colors:
Black----------- melan/o
Blue----------- cyan/o
Clear ---------- albin/o
Red------------ erythr/o
White--------- leuk/o, albin/o,
Yellow--------- xanth/o

Examples: erythr/o/cytes, cyan/o/derma, melan/oma, leuk/emia

**Improve your memory with this simple program**

Cells are the smallest structural unit in the body.

Cell --> Tissue --> Organ --> System--> Organism

Cells combine in function to create different levels of structure.
At the most basic level there are cells which form together to create tissue (epithelial tissue). Tissue made of multiple cells form together into a organ which performs a specific task (stomach). The Organ is part of a system which involves many organs to do a larger task (Digestion system). All the bodily systems combine to create the final organism (human)

Word Elements Related to Body Structure
cell ------------------- cyt/o
study of ------------- -logy
tissue --------------- hist/o

A Body System is a group of organs that work together to accomplish certain functions.
Below I have listed these systems and major organs associated with each system.

Here is some more information about these body system

Here is a break down of these systems:
-The Integumentary System (skin)
-The Respiratory System (lungs)
-The Cardiovascular System (heart and blood vessels)
---The Lymphatic System (drains fluid from tissues)
-The Digestive System (stomach and intestine)
-The Urinary System (bladder and kidneys)
-The Reproductive System (ovaries and testes)
-The Endocrine and Nervous System (hormone glands and brain)
------Check out my other site: Intro to Anatomy (Brain/Nerves)
-The Musculoskelatal System (bones and muscles)
------Check out my other sites: Intro to Anatomy (Muscles) and Intro to Anatomy (Bones)
-The Special Senses (eyes and ears)

***I will talk more about each of these systems later on. ***



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The Integumentary system is composed of three layers:
Epidermis: Skin visible to the naked eye
Dermis: Below the surface of the skin
Subcutaneous: The fatty layer below the dermis

The Epidermis is a protective covering for your body protecting us from infection, injury, UV rays, toxins, and dehydration it also is important for temperature control and flexibility. There are no blood vessels or nerve in the epidermis so it must gets its nourishment from the lower layer of skin called the Dermis.

The Dermis is a deeper layer of skin with nerves and blood vessels (capillaries, arterioles and venules).

The Subcutaneous is the deepest layer of the skin containing connective tissues and adipose (fat) tissues. Larger arterioles and venules run through this section as well as nerves.

There are also accessory organs such as the hair, nails, sebaceous (oil) glands and the sudoriferous (sweat) glands which are found in the dermis layer.

Word Elements related to the skin:
Skin------------------------- cutane/o, dermat/o, derm/o, -derma
Fat-------------------------- adip/o, lip/o, steat/o
Sweat----------------------- hidr/o, sudor/o
Hair------------------------- pil/o, trich/o
Nail------------------------- onych/o

Word elements having to do with skin conditions:
Abnormal Condition----- -osis
Above/ Excess ----------- hyper-
Black----------------------- melan/o
Carrying------------------- -phoresis
Condition----------------- -esis, -ia, -ism, -y,
Disease ------------------ -pathy
Dry-------------------------- ichthy/o, xer/o
Eating --------------------- -phagia
Fats ------------------------ lip/o, adip/o, steat/o
Flow ------------------------ -rrhea
Fungus--------------------- myc/o
Gland ---------------------- aden/o
Hard/Horny---------------- kerat/o
Hardening----------------- scler/o
Inflammation ------------- -itis
Movement ----------------- -motor
Pertaining to------------- -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ical, -ile, ior, -ous, -tic
Scaly/Scale---------------- ichthy/o, squam/o
Skin ------------------------- derm/o, dermat/o, cutane/o, -derma
Small---------------------- -icle, -ole, -ule
Softening ----------------- -malacia
Split ----------------------- schiz/o
Sweat --------------------- hidr/o
Tumor --------------------- -oma
Transmission----------- -phoresis
Treatment---------------- -iatry
Under ---------------------- sub-
Wet/Water ----------------- hydr/o

Here are some example words:
lip/oma, steat/aden/oma, adip/ectomy, lip/ectomy, kerat/osis, trich/o/phagia, onych/o/myc/osis, onych/o/malacia, dia/phor/esis (excessive sweating), trich/in/osis (hair like worm in meat),

Check out what diseases affect the skin

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This systems main function is to transport oxygen to the cells and remove carbon dioxide from the cells of the body. Oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is exhaled. This system is comprised of two parts the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The upper tract
-nose (rhin/o; nas/o):
-pharynx (pharyng/o): place where nose and mouth and throat meet
-larynx (laryng/o): cartilage structure with vocal cords
-trachea (trache/o): windpipe

The lower tract
-left and right primary bronchi: where the trachea splits
-secondary bronchi
-tertiary bronchi
-respiratory bronchioles
-terminal bronchioles

Word elements related to the respiratory system
-adenoids------------------------------ adenoid/o
-air---------------------------------------- aer/o, pneum/o, pneumon/o
-fast -------------------------------------- tachy/o
-lung-------------------------------------- pneum/o, pneumon/o, pulm/o
-alveolus------------------------------- alveol/o
-abnormal condition---------------- -osis
-breathing----------------------------- -pnea
-bronchus------------------------------ bronchi/o, bronch/o
-bronchiole---------------------------- bronchiol/o
-burst/ hemorrhage ---------------- -rrhagia
-chest---------------------------------- thorac/o, -thorax
-contraction -------------------------- -spasm
-diaphram ---------------------------- phren/o (phren/o can also mean mind)
-fungus -------------------------------- myc/o
-hernia--------------------------------- -cele
-lobe ----------------------------------- lob/o
-incision ------------------------------ -tomy
-inflammation ------------------------ -itis
-muscle -------------------------------- my/o
-narrowing ---------------------------- -stenosis
-opening (new) ---------------------- -stomy
-paralysis ----------------------------- -plagia
-pleura/membrane ----------------- -dynia, -algia
-pus ------------------------------------- py/o
-resembles -------------------------- -oid
-slow ---------------------------------- brady/o
-straight ------------------------------- orth/o
-surgical puncture ----------------- -centesis
-surgical repair --------------------- -plasty
-suture -------------------------------- -rrhaphy
-treatment ---------------------------- -therapy

Examples: para/nasal, rhin/o/plasty, pneum/o/thorax, pneumon/o/melan/osis, ot/o/rhin/o/laryng/o/logist (ENT), orth/o/pnea, bronch/o/lith, bronch/us (plural), bronchi (singular)

Common Diseases:
Asthma: A chronic inflammation of the bronchioles (obstructive)
COPD: An inflammation of the lungs and thickening of the bronchiole walls (obstructive)
Emphysema: A disease associated with the destruction of aveoli (often caused by smoking)
Pneumonia: An infection causing lung inflammation
Tuberculosis (TB): Infection that produces small lesions in the lungs
Sleep Apnea: The absence of breathing during sleep

Learn more about common diseases of the respiratory system

This system is comprised of
- The Heart
(peri/cardi/um, my/o/cardi/um and end/o/cardi/um)
- Blood Vessels
(arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins)

The heart is located in the thoracic chest cavity between the lungs in the area known as the mediastinum.

Arteries take blood away from the heart
Veins take blood toward the heart

There are 4 chambers of the heart
-Right Atri/um (RA) (deoxygenated blood from the body enters this chamber)
-Left Atri/um (LA) (oxygenated blood from the lungs enters this chamber)
-----Interatrial septum: The structure separating the two atriums of the heart
-Right Ventr/icle (RV) (deoxygenated blood from the RA is sent to the lungs)
-Left Ventr/icle (LV) (oxygenated blood from the LA is sent to the body)
----Inter/ventricul/ar Septum: The structure separating the two ventricles of the heart

The right heart pumps blood to the lungs (pulmonary)
The left heart pumps blood to the rest of the body. (systemic)

There are 5 types of blood vessels
-Arteries (high pressure from the heart, non-compliant, elastic recoil)
-Arterioles (ability to dialate and constrict to control blood flow and pressure)
-Capillaries ( smallest vessel, allows for nutrient and gas exchange)
-Venules (compliant, low pressure, one way valve system)
-Veins (compliant w/ one way valves to prevent back flow, low pressure)

Conduction path of the heart
SA node --> AV node -->Bundle of His --> Right and Left Bundle Branches --> Purkinje Fibers

-Sinoatrial (SA) node:
-----The primary pacemaker of the heart which starts the electrical impulse in the right atrium.
-----This current causes the atrium walls to contract which pushes blood into the ventricles.
-Atrioventricular (AV) node:
-----The secondary pacemaker of the hearth which continues the signal from the SA node.
-----If there is a problem with the SA node this can act alone as a slower pacemaker.
-Bundle of His:
-----In the interventricular septum it conducts the current towards the apex of the heart.
-Right and Left Bundle Branches:
-----The current continues towards the apex of the heart.
-Purkinje fibers:
-----It sends that signal to the muscles at the ventricular side of the heart.
-----These muscles contract pushing the blood from the ventricles into the arteries.

Word elements related to the cardiovascular system
aorta------------------------------ aort/o
artery----------------------------- arteri/o
atrium---------------------------- atri/o
blood----------------------------- hem/o
blood clot----------------------- thromb/o
condition of the heart-------- -cardia
deficiency------------------------ -penia
duct------------------------------- vas/o
electric-------------------------- electr/o
hardening---------------------- scler/o
heart----------------------------- cardi/o
plaque--------------------------- ather/o
vein------------------------------- phleb/o, ven/o,
vessel---------------------------- angi/o, vascul/o, vas/o
ventricle-------------------------- ventricul/o

Examples: sinistr/o/cardi/nal (displacement of heart to the left),

Common Diseases:
Coronary Heart DIsease: The coronary vessels don't deliver enough oxygen to the heart.
Cardiomyopathy: Deteriorated function of the heart muscle. (many causes intrinsic and extrinsic)
Cardiovascular Disease:

Learn more about common diseases of the cardiovascular system

Structures
tonsils
thymus
spleen
lymph nodes (structures where fluid, lymphocytes + bacteria accumulate)
lymph vessels
lymphocytes

Words related to the lymphatic system
cells------------------------------------------ -cytes
lymph---------------------------------------- lymph/o
lymph vessel------------------------------ lymphangi/o
production--------------------------------- -poiesis
tumor --------------------------------------- -oma

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Parts of the digestive system
Mouth (teeth, tongue, hard palate, soft palate, saliva glands)
Pharynx (passage between the nasal cavity and larynx)
Esophagus (throat, behind the trachea)
Stomach (4 parts: fundus, body, cardia, pyloric part)
Small Intestine (3 parts: duodenum, jejunum, ileum)
Large intestine (4 parts: appendix, cecum, ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoidal)
Rectum

Accessory organs of the Digestive System
Liver (makes bile) (gall bladder acts as attached storage of bile)
Gall Bladder (stores bile for release)
Pancreas (insulin production)

Terminology related to the digestive system
abnormal condition--------- -osis (less specific), -iasis (more specific)
anus----------------------------- proct/o
appendix------------------------ append/o, appendic/o
appetite------------------------- -orexia
bile (digestive enzyme)------- chol/e
bile duct------------------------- choledoch/o
bile vessel--------------------- cholangi/o
bladder-------------------------- cyst/o
blood----------------------------- hemat/o
cancer---------------------------- carcin/o
colon----------------------------- col/o, colon/o
difficult--------------------------- dys-
digestion----------------------- -pepsia (tip: pepsi and stomach both are acidic)
eating--------------------------- -phagia
esophagus--------------------- esophag/o
excessive----------------------- hyper-
gall------------------------------- chol/e
gall bladder-------------------- cholecyst/o
gland (saliva)------------------ sial/o, ptyal/o
gums---------------------------- gingiv/o
inflammation------------------ -itis
large intestine---------------- (depends on which part: sigmoid/o)
liver----------------------------- hepat/o
mouth-------------------------- or/o, stomat/o
opening (new)--------------- -stomy, -ostomy
pain----------------------------- -algia, -dynia
painful-------------------------- dys-
pancreas---------------------- parncreat/o
pharynx------------------------- pharyng/o
poison-------------------------- toxic/o, tox/o
rectum------------------------- rect/o
repair-------------------------- -plasty
saliva--------------------------- sial/o, ptyal/o
small intestine---------------- enter/o (depending of which part: duoden/o, jejun/o, ile/o)
stomach----------------------- gastr/o
stone--------------------------- -lith
straight------------------------- orth/o
suture-------------------------- -rrhaphy
swallow------------------------ phag/o, esophag/o
swallowing-------------------- -phagia
teeth--------------------------- dent/o, odont/o
tongue------------------------- gloss/o, lingu/o
throat-------------------------- pharyng/o
through----------------------- dia-
under------------------------- sub-, hypo-
vomit-------------------------- -emesis
xray---------------------------- -gram

Examples: sub/maxill/ary, sub/lingu/al, hypo/gloss/al, stomat/o/dynia, stomat/algia,

Learn more about common diseases of the digestive system

Parts of the System
Right and Left Kidney (renal cortex, renal medulla, renal artery, renal vein, renal pelvis, calyces, renal hilum)
Ureters
Urinary Bladder
Prostate Gland
Urethra

In simplistic terms, the kidney filters entering blood from the renal artery. The cleansed blood leaves through the renal vein while the waste products and urea are collected into the substance known as urine. The urine travels down the ureters into the urinary bladder. When the urinary bladder is full the urine is released through the urethra. This is a very simplified description of kidney.

Word Elements Related to the Urinary System
abnormal condition----------------- -iasis
bladder--------------------------------- cyst/o, vesic/o
blood condition---------------------- -emia
cancer---------------------------------- carcin/o
crushing------------------------------- -tripsy
destruction----------------------------- -lysis
disease-------------------------------- -pathy
enlargement-------------------------- -megaly
excessive------------------------------ poly-
excision-------------------------------- -ectomy
expansion----------------------------- -ectasis
fixation--------------------------------- -pexy
glomerul/o----------------------------- glomerulus
hardening------------------------------ scler/o
kidney----------------------------------- nephr/o, ren/o
loosening----------------------------- -lysis
many------------------------------------- poly-
meatus--------------------------------- meat/o
night------------------------------------ noct/o
opening-------------------------------- meat/o
prolapse (displacement)----------- -ptosis
pus-------------------------------------- py/o
red--------------------------------------- eryth/o
renal pelvis---------------------------- pyel/o
scanty----------------------------------- olig/o
separation----------------------------- -lysis
stone----------------------------------- lith/o
swelling------------------------------- -edema
ureter (leaves kidney)-------------- ureter/o
urethra (leaves bladder)------------ urethr/o
urine------------------------------------- ur/o, urin/o, -uria

Some of the specialities deal with more than one specific area. These specialist names are repeated.

Area of Specialty--------------------------- Name of Specialist
allergies---------------------------------------- allergist, immunologist
anesthesia------------------------------------- anesthesiologist
blood------------------------------------------- hematologist
blood vessels--------------------------------- cardiologist
cancer------------------------------------------ oncologist
cardiovascular system----------------------- cardiologist
children---------------------------------------- pediatrician
diseases--------------------------------------- pathologist
drug administration (surgery)------------ anesthesiologist
ear/nose/throat------------------------------ otolaryngologist
elderly------------------------------------------ geriatrician, gerotologist
eyes-------------------------------------------- ophthalmogist
female reproductive system--------------- gynecologist
glands------------------------------------------ endocrinologist
heart------------------------------------------- cardiologist
internal organs------------------------------ internist
joints------------------------------------------ orthopedist
lungs------------------------------------------ pulmonologist
male reproductive system----------------- urologist
mental illness-------------------------------- psychiatrist
nervous system----------------------------- neurologist
newborn infants----------------------------- neonatologist
operation-------------------------------------- surgeon
physical therapy----------------------------- physiatrist, physical therapist
pregnancy------------------------------------ obstetrician
radiation--------------------------------------- radiologist
repair------------------------------------------ surgeon
secretions from glands (internal)--------- endocrinologist
skeleton--------------------------------------- orthopedist
skin--------------------------------------------- dermatologist
stomach---------------------------------------- gastrologist, gastroenterologist
small intestine-------------------------------- gastroenterologist
structures assisting movement---------- orthopedist
surgery (cosmetic)------------------------- plastic surgeon
surgery (general repair)------------------ surgeon
surgery (nervous system)---------------- neurosurgeon
surgery (open chest)---------------------- thoracic surgeon
teeth------------------------------------------- dentist
teeth (straighten)-------------------------- orthodontist
tumor------------------------------------------ oncologist
urinary tract (male/female)--------------- urologist

AIDS-------------------------------------------- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
BM----------------------------------------------- Bowel Movement
GERD------------------------------------------ GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease
UTI---------------------------------------------- Urinary Tract Infection (bacterial infection)

Temperature: The results vary for each method.
Ear (98.6F),
Oral (97.6-99.6F),
Armpit (96.6 - 98.6F),
Rectal (98.6-100.6F)

Pulse Rate
60-100 beats/minute
easy to feel = strong, full or bounding
hard to feel = weak, thready or feeble
regularity = sporadic, irregular, regular, skip a beat.

Blood Pressure
Systolic <120 mm/Hg
Diastolic <80 mm/Hg

Respirations
12-20/minute