Here are
some tips on understanding medical terminology -
TIP #1 -
Most medical terms contain two or more of these parts:
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Root(s) - the
word's essential meaning; a term may have two roots
Prefix - added to the beginning of a root word
to make it more specific
Suffix - added to the end of the root word for
specificity
Linking or combining vowels - placed in between
word parts to help with pronunciation
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For
example, |
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Myocarditis
- myo/card/itis
Myo = muscle (root), card = heart (root) and itis = inflammation
(suffix) or inflammation of the heart muscle. There are
two roots, muscle and heart.
Percutaneous - per/cutan/eous
Per = through (prefix), cutan = skin (root) and -eous = pertaining
to (suffix); meaning something through the skin.
Suprascapular - supra/scapular
Supra = above (prefix), scapula = shoulder blade (root), and
-r = relative to (suffix); relative to the area above the shoulder
blade.
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TIP #2 - The
definitions of root words, prefixes and suffixes remain the
same when they are combined to produce different terms.
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are three examples: |
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A. The
root word for skin is derm. Its combining forms are
derma-, dermat-, dermot-, ;and dermo- . Look at some medical
terms utilizing this root. |
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Dermatitis - Dermat
(root) and -itis (suffix) inflammation; condition
of inflamed skin.
Dermatology - Dermat (root) and -ology
(suffix) branch of knowledge or science;
medical specialty of diagnosis and treatment
of skin diseases.
Pyoderma - Pyo (root) combining form
of the word for pus and derma; skin
infection involving pus formation.
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B. Card is
the root for heart. |
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Cardiovascular -
means pertaining to the heart and vessels.
Cardiocentesis - surgical puncture
of the heart.
Cardiology - as in Example A above,
the definition here is the study of the heart
and its functions.
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C. The
root for blood is hem. |
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Hemorrhage - the
suffix -rrhage means bursting forth; hemorrhage is
the escape of blood from tissue.
Hemostasis - adding the suffix -stasis
(arrest in a process) gives us the process
by which bleeding is stopped.
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TIP # 3. Similarly,
prefixes and suffixes are defined the same when combined with
various roots. They are never used alone, but further define
root words.
Here are some
common prefixes in medical terminology:
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Auto-
= self; for example, autoimmune or autogenous
Anti- = against; antisepsis or antibodies
De- = reverse, remove; dehydrate, defibrillate
Dys- = abnormal, difficult; dyspnea, dysuria
Contra- = opposed; for example, contraception,
contraindication
Hyper- = above, excessive; hypertensive, hyperglycemia |
Suffixes attach
to the end of roots and describe certain actions,
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such
as these surgical suffixes - |
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-ectomy
= surgical removal; thyroidectomy
-plasty = surgical repair; angioplast
-stomy = creation of a new opening;
colonostomy
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or
these suffixes for procedures or equipment - |
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-graph
= recording instrument; electrocardiograph
-scope = instrument to examine visually;
endoscope
-therapy = course of treatment; chemotherapy |
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To
understand a medical term, break it down into its component
parts - root(s), prefix, suffix and combining vowels.
Remember
that the basic definition of a word part remains the same when
combined with various components.
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