Introduction to medical terminology

​1 - Analyze words by dividing them into component parts.

As you begin to learn medical terminology, it is important to remember this:
Do not simply memorize terms; think about dividing terms into their component parts - the building blocks of terminology.
We will be learning to separate both complicated and simple terms into understandable word elements.
Medical terms are much like jigsaw puzzles in that they are made of small peices that make each word unique, with one major difference: The pieces can be shuffled up and used in lots of combinations to make other words as well.

​2 - Relate the medical terms to the structure and function of the body.

Learning medical terms in the context of how the body works in health and disease will make learning and remembering medical terminology easier.
No previous knowledge of biology , anatomy, or physiology is needed for this study.

​3 - Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems.

Some medical terms are pronounced alike but are spelled differently, which accounts for their different meanings. Even when terms are spelled correctly they can be misunderstood because of incorrect pronunciation.

​Breaking Down Terms: Hematology

HEMAT / O / LOGY
Hemat is the root (blood) Logy is the suffix (study of)
O is the combining vowel
Root - the foundation of the word. (Medical terms have at least 1 root word)
Suffix - the word ending. (All medical terms have a suffix)
Combining vowel - usually o, (but can be any vowel), joins one word part to another.
When reading medical terms, you start with the suffix and then go back to the beginning of the term. So when you put the above term parts together: Hematology means the study of blood.

​Breaking Down Terms: Eletrocardiogram

Electr / o / cardi / o / gram
Electr is the root (electricity) cardi is a root (heart), gram is the suffix (record)

Notice that there are two combining vowels - both O, in this term.
The first o links the two roots electr and cardi; the second o links the root cardi and the suffix - gram.

When we read the term electrocardiogram from suffix, back to the beginning of the term, we see that it means record of the electricity in the heart.

​Breaking Down Terms: Gastritis

Gastr / itis
Gastr is the root (stomach), itis is the suffix (inflammation)

Notice that there are no combining vowels in this term.
When the suffix begins with a vowel, you do not need to use a combining vowel.

When we read the term gastritis from suffix, back to the beginning of the term, we see that it means inflammation of the stomach.

​Breaking Down Terms: Gastroenterology

Gastr / o / enter / o / logy
Gastr is the root (stomach), enter is the second root (intestines), logy is the suffix (study of)

Notice that there are 2 combining vowels and 2 roots in this term.
When the 2nd root word begins with a vowel, you use a combining vowel.

When we read the term gastroenterology from suffix, back to the beginning of the term, we see that it means study of the stomach and intestines.

How to Arrange Medical Terms

Notice that the combining vowel is retained between gastr and enter, even though the second root, enter, begins with a vowel.
When a term contains two or more roots related to parts of the body, anatomic position (the position of the structures of the body) often dictates which root goes before the other.
For example, the stomach receives food first, before the intestine, so the word is formed as gastroenterology, not enterogastrology.

Remember three general rules:
1. Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and across.
2. Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel: gastritis, not gastroitis.
3. Keep the combining vowel between two roots: gastroenterology, not gastrenterology.

​ Two Other Word Parts - Combining Form

In addition to the root, suffix and combining vowel, two other word parts are commonly found in medical terms. These are the combining form and the prefix.
Combining form is simply the root plus the combining vowel.
Hemat/o means blood
Gastr/o means stomach
Cardi/o means heart

​ Two Other Word Parts - Prefix

The prefix is a small part attached to the beginning of a term. Not all medical terms contain prefixes, but the prefix can have an important influence on the meaning.
Consider the term hypogastric:
Hypo / gastr / ic
prefix root suffix (below) (stomach) (pertaining to)
Hypogastric means pertaining to below the stomach.

​ Two Other Word Parts - Prefix

Another example with a prefix.
Consider the term epigastric:
Epi / gastr / ic
prefix root suffix
(above) (stomach) (pertaining to)

Epigastric means pertaining to above the stomach.

​Important elements of medical terms

1. Root: foundation of the term

2. Suffix: word ending

3. Prefix: word beginning

4. Combining Vowel: vowel (usually o) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root.

5. Combining Form: combination of the root and the combining vowel.

​Origins of medical terminology

Most medical terms are derived from Greek and Latin roots.
Greek, Roman, and Arabic physicians had developed medically useful concepts and associated vocabularies long before the 21st century.

​Your Turn

Write the combined medical term and it's meaning in the space provided for each question.