RT CORE 1

Medical Terminology
getting started with
Medical
Terminology
2
Lesson 1
Introduction to Medical Terminology and Medical
Word Element

Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Learn the origin of medical terminology.
2. Analyze and define the various parts of a medical term.
3. Identify and define word elements used to build medical words.
4. Apply the rules learned in this lesson to write singular and plural forms
of medical words.
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Medical Terminology is
made up of the terms that describe
the human anatomy and physiology,
body locations, diseases, diagnostic
imaging, and laboratory testing,
together with clinical procedures,
surgeries, and diagnoses.
❖ The foundation of medical
terminology is based in both Greek
and Latin origin. The Greeks were
the founders of modern medicine, but
Latin is the basic source of medical
terms.
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Latin and Greek words are
used as names for many
parts of the body.

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 “
Because for centuries in Western
Europe, the academic medicine was
Greek medicine,and Latin was the
common language of study.

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 Changes in Medical
Terminology
❑ Medical language is an
entity unto itself and
followed a historical
development. Common
medical vocabulary used
today includes terms built
from Greek and Latin word
parts, some of which were
used by Hippocrates and
Aristotle more than 2,000
years ago.
❑ With great advancements
in medicine throughout
the 20th century, medical
language changed with
the times and continues
to do so today. Some
words are discarded or
considered obsolete,
whereas others are
changed, and new words
are continually added.
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 Medical
Terminology in the
Real World
❑ The need or desire to learn
medical terminology is not
limited to the health care
professionals.

✔ Medical terminology allows you to convey the greatest quantity of

information, with the least confusion and most precision, to anyone in the
world.

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 Medical Word Elements:
Word roots, Prefix, Suffix, and
Combining forms
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Word root
The word root is the main part or foundation, of a word. It usually
specifies the body part. All medical words have at least one root.

Examples:
Alcoholic - a person addicted to alcohol
Thyroidectomy - excision of the thyroid gland

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 Divided into two categories:
Word root Exterior root words, describes the exterior of the body.
Interior root words, deal with the inside.

Exterior Root What it Means Exterior Root What it Means

Acr/o Extremities Canth/o Where eyelids meet
Amb/i Both sides Carp/o Wrist
Anter/o Front Caud/o Tail/downward
Aut/o Self Cephal/o Head
Axill/o Armpit/Axilla Cervic/o Cervix
Blephar/o Eyelid/Eyelash Crani/o Skull
Brachi/o Arm Cubit/o Elbow
Bucc/o Cheek Dactyl/o Fingers/toes
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Exterior Root What it Means Exterior Root What it Means
Derm/a Skin Nas/o Nose
Dors/i Back/posterior Occipit/o Back of the head
Faci/o Face Ocul/o Eye
Gingiv/o Gums Odont/o Teeth
Gloss/o Tongue Omphal/oUmbilicus
Inguin/o Groin Ophthalm/o Eyes
Irid/o Iris of the eye Or/o Mouth
Labi/o Lips Ot/o Ear
Lapar/o Abdomen Papill/o Nipple
Lingu/o Tongue Phall/o Penis
Mamm/o Breast Pil/o Hair
Mast/o Breast Rhin/o Nose 12
Exterior RootWhat it Means
Somat/o Body
Steth/o Chest
Stomat/o Mouth
Tal/o Ankle
Tars/o Foot
Thorac/o Chest
Trich/o Hair/hairlike

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Interior Root What it Means Interior Root What it Means
Abdomi/oAbdomen Ather/o Plaque/fat
Acanth/o Spiny/thorny Arthr/o Joint
Acetabul/o Acetabulum Atri/o Atrium
Acromi/o Acromium Audi/o Hearing
Aden/o Gland Balan/o Glans penis
Adip/o Fat Bio- Life
Alveol/i Air sac Bronch/i Bronchus
Angi/o Vessel Carcin/o Cancer
An/o Anus Cardi/o Heart
Aort/o Aorta Cellul/o Cell
Arteri/o Artery Cerebell/o Cerebellum
Aspir/o To breathe in Cerebr/o Cerebrum 14
Interior Root What it Means Interior Root What it Means
Cholangi/o Bile duct Encephal/o Brain
Chol/e Bile Enter/o Intestine
Cholecyst/o Gallbladder Erythr/o Red
Choledoch/o CBD Esophag/o Esophagus
Chondr/o Cartilage Fibr/o Fibers
Cost/o Rib Galact/o Milk
Cry/o Cold Glyc/o Sugar
Cutane/o Skin Gynec/o Female
Cyan/o Blue Hemat/o Blood
Cyst/o Bladder/cyst Hepat/o Liver
Cyt/o Cell Heter/o Different
Duoden/oDuodenum Hist/o Tissue 15
Interior Root What it Means Interior Root What it Means
Hom/o Same/alike Melan/o Black
Hydr/o Water Men/o Menstruation
Hyster/o Uterus Mening/oMeninges
Iatr/o Treatment Metr/a Uterus
Ile/o Ileum My/o Muscle
Ili/o Ilium Myel/o Bone marrow
Lacrima Tears Myring/o Eardrum
Laryng/o Larynx Nat/o Birth
Leuk/o White Necr/o Death
Lipid/o Fat Nephr/o Kidney
Lith/o Stone Neur/o Nerve
Lymph/o Lymph vessels Oophor/o Ovary 16
Interior Root What it Means Interior Root What it Means
Orchid/o Testis Py/o Pus
Osse/o Bone Pyel/o Pelvis of kidney
Palat/o Roof of mouth Rect/o Rectum
Path/o Disease Ren/o Kidney
Peritone/o Peritoneum Sacr/o Sacrum
Pharmac/o Drug Salping/oFallopian tube
Phleb/o Vein Sacr/o Flesh
Phren/o Diaphragm Scapul/o Scapula
Pleur/o Pleura Sept/o Infection
Pneum/o Lungs Splen/o Spleen
Proct/o Rectum Spondyl/o Vertebra
Pulm/o Lungs Stern/o Sternum 17
Interior Root What it Means Interior Root What it Means
Tend/o Tendon Vas/o Vein
Testicul/o Testis Vesic/o Bladder
Therm/o Heat Viscer/o Internal organs
Thym/o Thymus
Thyr/o Thyroid
Trache/o Trachea
Tympan/o Eardrum
Ur/ea Urine
Ureter/o Ureter
Urethr/o Urethra
Uter/o Uterus
Vas/o Vas deferens 18
Break for 5 minutes

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 Review Test 1:
Identify the part of the body being described below:

1. Cost/o =
2. Bronch/o =
3. Rhin/o =
4. Hemat/o =
5. Hepat/o =
6. Encephalo =
7. Nephr/o=
8. Dactyl/o =
9. Cyt/o =
10. Spondyl/o =

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 Review Test 2:
Identify the appropriate word root of the
following:

1. Eye =
2. Skin =
3. Heart =
4. Lungs =
5. Testis =
6. Bone =
7. Breast =
8. Chest =
9. Water =
10. Muscle =

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 A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and tells the how,
Prefixes why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction,
time, or status.

Prefix What it Means Prefix What it Means

A-, an Lack of, w/o, not Hemi-, semi- Half, half of
Ante- Before, in front Hyper- Above, excessive, beyond
Anti- Opposing or against Hypo- Below, beneath, deficient
Bi- Double, two, both Infra- Below or beneath
Co- Together or with Inter- Between
Di- Twice or two Intra- Within, inside
Dia-, Trans Through; acrros IMacro- Large
Extra- Beyond, outside of Micro- Tiny, small
Homo- Same Mono-, Uni- One
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Prefix What it Means
Ortho- Straight, erect
Post- After or following
Pre-, pro- Before, preceding
Retro- Behind, backward
Semi- Half
Trans- Through or across
Tri- Three
Ultra- Excessive, beyond
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 Copycats and Opposites
Some prefixes might look very However, other, more troublesome prefixes
different but have the same meaning. mean the opposite of each other even though
they look or sound similar. These are
Here are some examples: contentious prefixes:
✔ Anti- and Contra- mean against. ✔ Ab- means away from, but ad- means
✔ Dys- and Mal- mean bad or toward.
painful. ✔ Ante-, Pre-, & Pro- mean before, but Post-
✔ Hyper-, Supra-, and Epi- all mean means after.
✔ Hyper-, Supra-, & Epi- mean above, but
above. Hypo-, Infra-, & Sub- mean below.
✔ Hypo-, Sub-, and Infra- all mean ✔ Tachy- means fast, but Brady- means
below. slow.
✔ Intra- and Endo- mean within. ✔ Hyper- also means excessive, yet Hypo-
also deficient. 24
 The suffix, always at the end of a word, usually indicates a
Suffixes procedure, or a disease.

Suffix What it Means Suffix What it Means

-algia Pain -itis Inflammation
-cele Hernia, swelling -ologist One who studies, specialist
-dynia Pain -logy Study of
-ectasis Dilatation, expansion -oma Tumor
-emia Blood -lysis Separation, destruction
-gen Beginning, producing -pathy Disease process
-gram Picture, record -phobia Morbid fear of
-graph Instrument for recording -scope Visually examine
-graphy Process of recording -scopy Process of visual exam
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Diagnostic Suffixes
Suffix What it Means
-gram Picture; record
-graph Instrument for recording
-graphy Process of recording
-meter Instrument for measuring
-metry Process of measuring
-scope Instrument for examining
-scopy Visual examination
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Procedure Suffixes
Suffix What it Means
-ectomy Excision; removal
-centesis Surgical puncture to remove fluid
-graphy Process of producing a picture or record
-plasty Surgical repair
-scopy Visual examination
-stomy Forming an opening
-tomy Incision
-tripsy Crushing
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 Pathological Suffixes
Suffix What it Means Suffix What it Means
-algia, -dynia Pain, suffering -malacia Abnormal softening
-cele Hernia, swelling -megaly Enlargement
-ectasis Dilatation, expansion -oma Tumor
-emesis Vomiting -osis Abnormal condition
-emia Blood condition -pathy Disease
-iasis Abnormal condition -penia Deficiency; decrease
-itis Inflammation. -phobia Fear
-lith Stone -plegia Paralysis
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Pathological Suffixes
Suffix What it Means
-ptosis Dropping, prolapse
-sclerosis Abnormal hardening
-stenosis Abnormal narrowing
-sclerosis Hardening
-toxic Poison
-trophy Nourishment; development

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Double “rr” Suffixes Suffixes beginning with “rr,” can be
particularly confusing.

-rrhage and –rrhagia Hemorrhage

bleeding; most often used to describe sudden, severe bleeding.
-rrhaphy Gastrorrhaphy
surgical suturing to close a wound and includes the use of sutures, staples, or surgical
glue.
-rrhea Diarrhea
flow or discharge; refers to the flow of most body fluids.
-rrhexis Myorrhexis
rupture
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Break for 5 minutes

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Review Test 2:
1. Draw two columns for Prefixes and Suffixes.
2. Sort the following terms into the columns.
Meter Penia Anti
Ultra Pre Trans
Hyper Algia Primi
Poly Malacia Plasty
Rrhea Epi Ante
Ology Phobia Tachy
Dys Intra Uni
Graph Ic Centesis
Ist Trophy Itis
An Pathy Scope

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 Combining Forms
A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel
attached.
A combining vowel (a, e, i, o, u) is added to the end of a
word root under certain conditions to make the resulting
medical term easier to pronounce.
When a combining form appears alone, it is shown with a
slash (/) between the word root and the combining vowel.
For example, the combining form meaning stomach is
gastr/o.
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 RULES FOR COMBINING VOWELS

1. When connecting a prefix and a word root,

combining vowel is not used.

Example: Ante/brachium = Antebrachium

Epi/condyle = Epicondyle
Hemi/thorax = Hemithorax
Intra/venous = Intravenous
Supra/orbital = Supraorbital
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2. When connecting a word root and a suffix,
combining vowel is usually not used if the suffix
begins with a vowel.

Example:
Arthr/o/algia = Arthralgia
Diverticul/o/osis = Diverticulosis
Hepat/o/ic = Hepatic
Lith/o/asis = Lithiasis
Oste/o/itis = Osteitis
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3. When connecting a word root and a suffix, combining
vowel is used if the suffix begin with a consonant.

Example:
Angi/o/graphy = Angiography
Cardi/o/megaly = Cardiomegaly
Esophag/o/gram = Esophagogram
Hem/o/rrhage = Hemorrhage
Lapar/o/scopy = Laparoscopy

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4. When connecting two word roots, combining vowel is
usually used even if vowels are present at the junction.

Example:
Esophag/o/gastr/o/ic = Esophagogastric
Cholecyst/o/ith/o/tripsy = Cholecystolithotripsy
Cyst/o/urethr/o/graphy = Cystourethrography
Hyter/o/salping/o/graphy = Hysterosalpingography
Oste/o/arthr/o/itis = Osteoarthritis

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 Rules for
Forming Plurals
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Medical Rule 1: Change the a ending to ae
By adding the e to the plural, the “aah” sound ending
pronunciation becomes “eh.”
✔ Axillla; Axillae
✔ Bursa; Bursae
✔ Conjunctiva; Conjunctivae

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Medical Rule 2: Change the um ending
to a
The a at the end is pronounced “aah.”
✔ Acetabulum; Acetabula
✔ Antrum; Antra
✔ Atrium; Atria
✔ Labium; Labia

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Medical Rule 3: Change the us ending
to i
The i at the
✔ Alveolus;
end is pronounced
Alveoli
“eye.”
✔ Bronchus; Bronchi
✔ Embolus; Emboli
✔ Glomerulus; Glomeruli

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Medical Rule 3: Change the us ending
to i
The i at the end is pronounced “eye.”
The exceptions to this rule include the following:
▪ Corpus; Corpora
▪ Meatus; Meatus
▪ Plexus; Plexuses
▪ Viscus; Viscera

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Medical Rule 4: Change the is ending to
es
The es is pronounced “eez.”
✔ Analysis; Analyses
✔ Metastasis; Metastases
✔ Prognosis; Prognoses
✔ Testis; Testes

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Medical Rule 4: Change the is ending
to es
The es is pronounced “eez.”
The exceptions to this rule include the following:
▪ Epididymis; Epididymides

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Medical Rule 5: Change the oma ending to
mata
✔ Carcinoma; Carcinomata
✔ Condyloma; Condylomata
✔ Leiomyoma; Leiomyomata

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Medical Rule 6: When a term ends in yx,
ax, or ix, change the x to c and add es
✔ Appendix; Appendices
✔ Calyx; Calyces
✔ Calix; Calices

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Medical Rule 7: When a term ends in nx,
change the x to g and add es
✔ Larynx; Larynges
✔ Phalanx; Phalanges

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Break for 5 minutes

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Review Test 3:
Pluralize the following medical terminology.
1. Bacterium
2. Scapula
3. Fungus
4. Diagnosis
5. Radius
6. Fibroma
7. Ulna
8. Diagnosis
9. Thorax
10. Pharynx

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English Rule 1: Add s
✔ Bronchoscope; Bronchoscopes
✔ Disease; Diseases
✔ Finger; Fingers
✔ Vein; Veins

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English Rule 2: When a term ends
in s, x, ch, or sh, add es
✔ Crutch; Crutches
✔ Distress; Distresses
✔ Patch; Patches

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English Rule 3: When a term ends in y
after a consonant, change the y to i and
add es
✔ Artery; Arteries
✔ Ovary; Ovaries
✔ Therapy; Therapies

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Review Test 4:
Pluralize the following medical terminology.
1. Toe
2. Hand
3. Species
4. Tooth
5. Capillary
6. Hip
7. Node
8. Artery
9. Lung
10. Foot
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Lesson 2
Acronyms, Eponyms, and Homonyms

Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Understand the importance of acronyms, eponyms, and homonyms
in medical terminology.
2. Describe acronym, eponym, and homonym
3. Differentiate between acronym, eponym, and homonym

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◉ Acronyms
An acronym is a word (or abbreviation) formed by the first letters or
syllables of the words. Most acronyms are expressed in uppercase
letters, but not always.
For example:
*Scuba = self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
*Laser = light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
There are many acronyms in medical terminology, some of which are common, some
are not so common. It is important to know the context which they are used, because
many are identical or sound similar but have quite different meanings.

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Here are some common medical acronyms:
✔ AMA American Medical Association
✔ AMA Against Medical Advice
✔ CAT Computerized Axial Tomography (CT Scan)
✔ CAT Childrenʼs Apperception Test
✔ COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
✔ COPE Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Emphysema
✔ MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
✔ MRI Medical Research Institute
✔ MRI Medical Records Information

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◉ Eponyms
An eponym is a person, place, or thing from which a person, place, or
thing gets its name.
In medical field, a disease, sign, operation, surgical instrument, syndrome,
or test is often named after a certain physician , surgeon, scientist, or
researcher.

Here are some of the most popular medical eponyms:

✔ Alzheimerʼs disease: Named for Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist
(1864-1915). A progressive degenerative disease of the brain.
✔ Cushingʼs syndrome: Named for Harvey Williams Cushing, American surgeon
(1869-1939). A complex symptoms caused by hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex.

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✔ Down syndrome: Named after John Haydon Down, English physician
(1828-1896). A chromosomal disorder, also called trisomy 21, formerly called
mongolism.
✔ Hodgkinʼs disease: A form of malignant lymphoma. Named for Thomas
Hodgkin, an English physician (1798-1866).
✔ Ligament of Treitz: Located in the intestinal tract. Named after Wenzel
Treitz, a Czech physician (1819-1872).
✔ Lyme disease: A multisystemic disorder transmitted by ticks. Named after a
place. Old Lyme, Cennecticut, where the disease was first reported in 1975.
✔ Parkinsonʼs disease: Named after James Parkinson, English physician
(1755-1824). A group of neurological disorders including tremors and
muscular rigidity.

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◉ Homonyms
A homonym is a word that has the same pronunciation as another, but a
different meaning, and in most cases a different spelling.

Medical Homonyms
Word What it Means
Cholic An acid, related to bile
Colic Severe abdominal pain

Humerus A long bone in the upper arm

Humorous Funny

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 Medical Homonyms Word What it Means
Word What it Means Plural More than one

Ileum A portion of the intestine Pleural Pertaining to the lung

Ilium A part of the pelvic bone

Psychosis Mental disorder

Lice A parasite Sycosis Inflammation of hair follicle

Lyse To break

Radical Extreme or drastic

Mnemonic To assist in remembering
Radicle A vessel’s smallest branch
Pneumonic Pertaining to the lungs

Mucus Secretion of the mucous Venus A planet

membrane
Venous Pertaining to the vein
Mucous Adjective form of mucus 60
Break for 5 minutes

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Lesson 3
The Body Plan

Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Identify the quadrants and regions of the abdomen.
2. Describe and locate the body cavities.
3. Identify the four types of body habitus

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QUADRANTS and REGIONS OF
THE ABDOMEN

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BODY CAVITIES
A body cavity is a fluid-filled
space inside the body that holds
and protects internal organs.

The two largest human body

cavities are
✔ Dorsal cavity
✔ Ventral cavity

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The dorsal cavity is subdivided into the cranial and spinal cavities.
Cranial cavity fills most of the upper part of the skull and contains the brain.
Spinal cavity is a very long, narrow cavity inside the vertebral column. It runs the length
of the trunk and contains the spinal cord.

The brain and spinal cord are protected by the

bones of the skull and the vertebrae of the
spine. They are further protected by
the meninges, a three-layer membrane that
encloses the brain and spinal cord.

A thin layer of cerebrospinal fluid is

maintained between two of the meningeal
layers. This clear fluid is produced by the brain,
and it provides extra protection and cushioning
for the brain and spinal cord.
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The trunk has three large cavities:
• The thoracic cavity is surrounded by the
rib cage and is separated from the
abdominal cavity by the muscular
diaphragm.
• The abdominal cavity is bounded
primarily by the abdominal muscle and
contains stomach, the intestines, the liver,
the spleen, the pancreas, and the kidneys.
• The pelvic cavity is a small space that
enclosed by the bones of the pelvis.

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 SEROUS MEMBRANES
Serous membranes line the trunk cavities and cover the organs of these
cavities.
Two layers
Visceral (organ) - covers the organ.
Parietal (wall) - line the walls of the cavity

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 SEROUS MEMBRANES
The cavity between the visceral and parietal serous
membranes is normally filled with a thin, lubricating
film of serous fluid produced by the membranes. As
an organ rubs against another organ or against the body wall, the
serous fluid and the smooth serous membranes
reduce friction.

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 SEROUS MEMBRANES
The thoracic cavity contains three
serous membrane-lined cavities:

The pericardial cavity surrounds the

heart. The visceral pericardium covers
the heart, which is contained within a
connective tissue sac lined with the
parietal pericardium.

The pericardial cavity, which contains

pericardial fluid, is located between
the visceral and the parietal
pericardium.

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A pleural cavity surrounds each lung,
which is covered by visceral pleura.

Parietal pleura lines the inner surface

of the thoracic wall, the lateral
surfaces of the mediastinum, and the
superior surface of the diaphragm.

The pleural cavity is located between

the visceral pleura and the parietal
pleura and contains pleural fluid.

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The abdominopelvic cavity contains
a serous membrane-lined cavity called
the peritoneal cavity.

Visceral peritoneum covers many of

the organs of the abdominopelvic
cavity. Parietal peritoneum lines the
wall of the abdominopelvic cavity and
the inferior surface of the diaphragm.

The peritoneal cavity is located

between the visceral and the parietal
peritoneum and contains fluid.

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The serous membranes can become inflamed-usually
as a result of an infection.

*Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium,

*Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, and

*Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum.

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Mesenteries, which consist of two
layers of peritoneum fused together,
connect the visceral peritoneum of
some abdominopelvic organs to the
parietal peritoneum on the body wall
or to the visceral peritoneum of other
abdominopelvic organs.

The mesenteries anchor the organs to

the body wall and provide a pathway
for nerves and blood vessels to reach
the organs.

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Other abdominopelvic organs are
more closely attached to the body
wall and do not have mesenteries.

Parietal peritoneum covers these

other organs, which are said to be
retroperitoneal.

The retroperitoneal organs

include the kidneys, the adrenal
glands, the pancreas, parts of
intestines, and the urinary bladder.

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 BODY HABITUS
› The common variation in the shape of the human body are
termed the body habitus.
› Mills determined the primary classifications of body habitus
based on his study of 1000 patients.
› The specific type of body habitus is important in radiography
because it determines the size, shape, and position of the organs
of the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

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The four major types of body habitus and their approximate frequency in the
population are identified below. �� Body habitus
affects the location
• Sthenic (average person), 50% of the following:
• Hyposthenic (tiny/small/smaller than average), 35% 1. Heart
2. Lungs
• Asthenic (extremely tiny), 10% 3. Diaphragm
4. Stomach
• Hypersthenic (large frame/heavy set), 5% 5. Colon
6. Gall bladder

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77
Break for 5 minutes

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Lesson 4
Anatomical Position, Body Planes, and Directional Terminology

Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Describe the anatomical position of the body.
2. Identify the planes of the body.
3. Describe terms related to direction.

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ANATOMICAL POSITION
The anatomical position refers to a
person standing erect with the
face directed forward, the upper
limbs hanging to the sides, and
the palms of the hands facing
forward.

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 BODY PLANES
▪ Median plane is a sagittal plane that passes through the
midline of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

▪ Sagittal plane runs vertically through the body and

separates it into right and left parts.

▪ Transverse plane runs parallel to the surface of the

ground, dividing the body into superior and inferior.

▪ Coronal plane runs vertically from right to left and divides

the body into anterior and posterior parts.

▪ Oblique plane is a plane inclined from the horizon.

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 Special Planes

Interiliac plane transects the pelvis

at the top of the iliac crests at the level of
the fourth lumbar spinous process.

Occlusal plane is an imaginary plane

formed by the occlusal surfaces of the teeth
when the jaw is close

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DIRECTIONAL TERMS
- describe the positions of structures relative to other structures
or locations in the body.
Superior (cranial) toward the head end of the body or situated
above.
Example: The hand is part of the superior extremity.
Inferior (caudal) away from the head or situated below
Example: The foot is part of the inferior extremity.

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Anterior (ventral) refers to forward or front part of the body
or organ.
Example: The breast bone is located on the anterior side of the
body.

Posterior (dorsal) refers to the back part of a body or organ.

Example: The scapula is located on the posterior side of the
body.

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Medial refers to parts toward the middle of the body.
Example: The great toe is located at the medial side of the foot.

Lateral refers to parts away from the middle of the body.

Example: The little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot.

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Proximal closer to the origin of the body or the point of
attachment of a limb to the body trunk.
Example: The humerus is located proximal to the forearm.

Distal farther from the origin of the body or the point of

attachment of a limb to the body trunk.
Example: The hand is located distal to the wrist.

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Superficial (external) toward or at the body surface.
Example: Skin is superficial to bones.

Deep (internal) away from the body surface.

Example: Bones are deep to the skin.

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Ipsilateral meaning on the same side.
Example: The right hand and the right foot are ipsilateral.

Contra meaning on the opposite side.

Example: The right hand and the left hand are contralateral.

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DIRECTIONAL TERMS

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Review Test 5:
Underline the best answer.
1. The breastbone is (anterior or posterior) to the heart.

2. The ankle is (proximal or distal) to the knee.

3. The urinary bladder is (medial or lateral) to the hips

4. The mouth (inferior or superior ) to the chin.

5. The armpit is (lateral or medial) to the chest.

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Identify the correct term to complete the statement.

6. The right kidney and liver are ------.

7. The forehead is ------ to the eyes.

8. The stomach is ------ to the heart.

9. The nails are ------ to the skin.

10. The thumbs are ------ to the body.

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Break for 5 minutes

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Lesson 5
Body Movement and Body Position Terminology

Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Describe terms related to body movement.
2. Identify common patient body position.

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 BODY MOVEMENT
TERMINOLOGY
❑ The following terms are used to describe movement
related to the limbs.

❑ These terms are often used in positioning

descriptions and in the patient requisition provided
to the radiologic technologist by the referring
physician.

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Abduct or abduction
movement of a part away
from the central axis of
the body or body part.

Adduct or adduction
movement of part toward
the central axis of the
body or body part.

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Extension
straightening of a joint

Flexion
act of bending a joint;
the opposite of
extension

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Hyperflexion
forced overflexion of a limb or
joints

Hyperextension
forced or excessive extension of
a limb or joints

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Evert/eversion
outward turning of the
foot at the ankle

Invert/inversion
inward turning of the
foot at the ankle

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Pronate/pronation
rotation of the forearm so that
the palm of hand is down

Supinate/supination
rotation of the forearm so that
the palm of hand is up

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Circumduction
circular movement of a limb

Tilt - tipping or slanting a

body part slightly

Deviation - turning away

from the regular standard or
course

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Rotate/rotation
turning or rotating of
the body or a body
around its axis.

Example:
Rotation of a limb will be
either medial or lateral

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 BODY POSITION
TERMINOLOGY
✔ It identifies the overall posture of the patient or the general body
position.

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 General Body position
Upright - erect or marked by a
vertical position

Seated - upright position in which

the patient is sitting on a chair or
stool

Supine - lying on the back

Fowler’s position - supine position

with the head higher than the feet

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Prone lying face down

Recumbent a general term

referring to lying down in any
position, such as dorsal
recumbent, ventral recumbent,
or lateral recumbent.

Trendelenburg’s position
supine position with the head
tilted downward
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Sim’s position
a recumbent position with the
patient lying on the left anterior side
(semiprone) with the left leg
extended and the right knee and
thigh partially flexed.

Lithotomy position
a supine position with the knees
and hips flexed and thighs
abducted and rotated externally,
supported by ankle supports.

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END

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