MEDICAL TERMINOLOGIES AND ABBREVIATIONS

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY is used to precisely describe the human body including its components,
processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. Medical terminology is used in
the field of medicine.

Root word – this is the central part of a word

Examples:

COMPONENT MEANING EXAMPLE

Germ, immature
BLAST- Blastoma- a cancer made of immature cells
cell

CARCIN- Cancer Carcinogenic- a cause of cancer

CARDIO- Heart Cardiovascular- heart and blood vessels

CYTO- Cell Cytoplasm- part of a cell where organelles are found

DERMA- Skin Dermatitis- inflammation of the skin

Anaesthesia- a state of temporary induced loss of

ESTHESI- sensation
sensation or awareness
Prefix- “before’. placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning.

Examples:

COMPONENT MEANING EXAMPLE

AN-, A- Without/lack of Anemia- decrease/shortage of red blood cells

AB- Away from Abnormal- away from the normal

AD- Near/ toward Adrenal gland- gland near the kidney

Bicuspids-are transitional teeth located

BI- Two/both
between the canine and molar teeth

DYS- Difficult/painful Dysmenorrhea- is pain during menstruation

Ectoderm- one of the three primary germ

ECTO- Outside
layers in the very early embryo

Endometriosis- a disorder in which

ENDO- Inside the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus
grows outside of your uterine cavity
Suffix- The ending part of the word that modifies the meaning of the word.

Examples:

COMPONENT MEANING EXAMPLE

-AEMIA/ -EMIA pertaining to Leukemia- cancer of blood cells

Myalgia- pain in a muscle or group of

-ALGIA pain
muscles.

Urinary system - organs responsible for

-ARY pertaining to
eliminating urine

Thrombasthenia- abnormality/weakening of
-ASTHENIA without strength
the platelets

-CELE hernia, pouching Pseudocele- a hollow space of an organ

-ECTOMY Excision/removal Appendectomy- removal of the appendix

Abbreviation - a shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole word or phrase.

Common abbreviations used:

AA - amino acid AMA - against medical advice, American

Medical Association
ABG - arterial blood gas
ASAP - as soon as possible
ADM - admission, admitted
A&W - alive and well
ASAP - as soon as possible
C - centigrade, Celsius
ALS - advanced life support
C/O - complains of

ER - emergency room HS - hour of sleep (bedtime)

F – Fahrenheit ICU - intensive care unit

FNF - finger to nose ID - infectious diseases

H&P - history and physical examination IP - inpatient

HPI - history of present illness IQ - intelligence quotient

H/O - history of IU - international units

HR - heart rate or hour

MCO - managed care organization P - pulse

MG - milligram Post-op - postoperative (after surgery)

MVA - motor vehicle accident Pre-op - preoperative (before surgery)

ML - milliliter PA or PT - patient

NKDA - no known drug allergies PCP - primary care physician

NTG - nitroglycerin RBC - red blood cell

O2 - oxygen RF - risk factor

OPD - outpatient department

CMDS, RMT