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. |
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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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. |
