medical terminology. learning a new language why? do not memorize latin and greek roots translation
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Medical Terminology
Learning a New Language
Why?Do not memorizeLatin and Greek roots Translation
The Elements of Medical Words
There are four basic elements to medical words:
1. Root word2. Prefix3. Suffix4. Combining vowels
Root WordsLatin or GreekMain partAt least one root.Body part or a body system
Common Root WordsRoot Meaning
aden- gland
andr- male
angi- blood vessel
ather- fat
brachi- arm
carcin- cancer
cardi- heart
carp- wrist
cephal- head
Root Meaning
cervi- neck
chem- chemical
cis- to cut
cnem- lower leg
costa- rib
coxa- hip
cyst- bladder
dent- tooth
dermat- skin
Root Meaning
encephal- brain
enter- small intestine
erythr- red
gastr- stomach
gynec- female
hemat- blood
hist- tissue
hydr- water
immun- immune
Root Meaning
laryng- voice box
leuk- white
mamm- breast
man- hand
morph- shape
nephr-ren-
kidney
neur- nerve
opthalm- eye
osse-oste-
bone
Root Meaning
ot- ear
path- disease
pect- chest
pneum- breathing
pulmon- lung
tarsi- ankle
ur- urine/urinary system
vertebr- spine
PrefixesA prefix is added to the beginning of a root
word.Prefixes add a meaning to the root word,
usually indicating location, number or parts, or a specific time.
Not all medical terms have a prefix.
Common PrefixesPrefix Meaning
a- without, away from
ad- near
an- without, away from
ante- before, in front of
anti- against
auto- self
brady- slow
dys- painful, difficult
endo- within, inner
epi- upon, over
Prefix Meaning
eu- normal, good
hetero- different
homo- same
hyper- over, above
hypo- under, below
infra- under, beneath, below
inter- among, between
intra- within, inside
macro- large
micro- small
Prefix Meaning
neo- new
pan- all
para- beside, beyond, near
per- through
peri- around
post- after
pre- before, in front of
pseudo- false
retro- backwards, behind
sub- below, under
Prefix Meaning
super- above, excess
supra- above
tachy- fast
trans- through, across
ultra- beyond, excess
Number PrefixesPrefix Meaning
bi- two
hemi- half
mono- one
multi- many
nulli- none
poly- many
quad- four
semi- partial, half
tri- three
uni- one
SuffixesA suffix is added to the end of a root word.Suffixes add meaning to the root word and
can describe a condition, disease, or procedure.
All medical terms have a suffix.
Common SuffixesSuffix Meaning
-algia pain
-cele hernia, protrusion
-cise cut
-cyte cell
-dynia pain
-emia blood condition
-gen that which produces
-genesis produces, generates
-genic producing
-ia state, condition
Suffix Meaning
-iasis abnormal condition
-ism state of
-itis inflammation
-logist one who studies
-logy study of
-lysis Destruction
-malacia abnormal softening
-megaly enlargement
-oma tumor, mass
-opsy viewing, to see
Suffix Meaning
-osis abnormal condition
-pathy disease
-penia deficiency
-plasia development, growth
-plasm formation, development
-ptosis drooping
-rrhage excessive, abnormal flow
-rrhea discharge, flow
-rrhexis rupture
-sclerosis hardening
Suffix Meaning
stenosis narrowing
therapy treatment
trophy nourishment, development
Adjective SuffixesTurn root words into complete wordsCan be used as adjectives.Ex: gastr- + -ic = gastric, which means
“pertaining to the stomach”.All adjective suffixes mean “pertaining to”.
Common Adjective Suffixes
–ac
–al
–an
–ar
–ary
–ior
–ory
–ose
–ous
–tic
–eal
–iac
–ic
–ical
–ile
Surgical SuffixesSuffix Meaning
-centesis puncture to withdraw fluid
-ectomy surgical removal
-ostomy surgically create an opening
-otomy cutting into
-plasty surgical repair
Procedural SuffixesSuffix Meaning
-gram record or picture
-graph instrument for recording
-graphy process of recording
-meter instrument for measuring
-metry process of measuring
-scope instrument for viewing
-scopy process of visually examining
Combining VowelsCombining vowels (usually an “o”) are used
to make long terms easier to pronounce.Combining vowels can be used to connect
two root words or a root word and a suffix.
Combining Vowel RulesWhen connecting a root word and a suffix:1. If the suffix begins with a vowel, DO
NOT use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Arthr- + -itis = arthritis
2. If the suffix begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Arthr- + -scope = arthroscope
When connecting two root words, always use a combining vowel.◦Ex: Gastr- + enter- + -itis = gastroenteritis
How to “Translate” Medical Terms
Break the long word into its parts.Define each part separately.Put the definitions together.
gastroenterology
gastr / o / enter / o / logy
stomach
combining vowel
small intestine
combining vowel
the study of
“the study of the stomach and small intestine”
Singular and Plural Endings
Since many medical terms come from Latin and Greek, the rules for forming plurals are different from English.
Other words can be turned into plurals by adding “s” or “es”.
Word Ends In Singular Plural
-a Vertebra Vertebrae
-ax Thorax Thoraces
-ex or –ix Appendix Appendices
-is Metastasis Metastases
-ma Sarcoma Sarcomata
-nx Phalanx Phalanges
-on Ganglion Ganglia
-us Nucleus Nuclei
-um Ovum Ova
-y Biopsy Biopsies
