Course Description

This is an introductory and specialization course that

leads to a Medical Transcription National Certificate Level II
(NC II). It covers Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies
(PECs), Environment and Market (EM), and one (1) Core
Medical Transcription Competency that a high school student
ought to possess, that is, producing text from audio
transcription.

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 1
 MEDICAL REPORT WRITING AND
TRANSCRIPTION 1

WEEK 1-2

BASIC STRUCTURE OF
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Understand the importance of knowledge in medical terminologies.

2. Identify the fundamentals of word structure.
3. Illustrate how medical terminologies formed.

Medical Terminology

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 2
 It is critical that you have a strong working knowledge of medical terminology. The
language of medicine is primarily derived from Greek and Latin. Medical terminology is used
in international language, and it is also necessary for communicating with other medical
personnel. The wider your vocabulary base, the more competent you seem to the rest of the
medical community and the better transcription output you will be able to provide.
Understanding terminology involves breaking words down into their separate components of
prefix, suffix, and root word and having a good working knowledge of those parts.

Fundamentals of Word Structure

The fundamental elements in medical terminology are the component parts used to
build medical words. The component parts are prefix, the root word, and suffix.

Prefix - appears at the beginning of a word and generally describes location and intensity.
Prefixes are frequently found in general language (i.e., autopilot, submarine, tricycle), as well
as in medical and scientific terminology. When a medical word (ventilation) contains a prefix
(hyper), the meaning of the word is altered (hyperventilation). Not all medical terms have
prefixes.

By learning to recognize a few of the more commonly used medical prefixes, you can figure
out the meanings of terms that may not be immediately familiar to you.

Root Word – The main part or stem of a word is called a root word. A root word conveys the
essential meaning of the word and frequently indicates a body part. With a combining form,
the root word and a combining vowel such as i, e, o, or a may be combined with another root
word, a prefix, or a suffix to describe a particular structure or condition.

A frequently used term in EMS is CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary

resuscitation. When we break it down, cardio is a root word meaning “heart,” and pulmonary
is a root word meaning “lungs.” By performing CPR we introduce air into the lungs and
circulate blood by compressing the heart to resuscitate the patient. Some root words may also
be used as prefixes or suffixes; those already appear in the earlier tables.

Suffix – Suffixes are placed at the end of words to change the original meaning. In medical
terminology, a suffix usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech. A
commonly used suffix is -itis, which means “inflammation.” When this suffix is paired with
the prefix arthro-, meaning joint, the resulting word is arthritis, an inflammation of the joints.
Sometimes it is necessary to change the last letter or letters of the root word or prefix when a
suffix is added to make pronunciation easier.

Principles of Component Parts

Most of the terms for the body’s organs originate from Latin words, whereas terms
describing diseases that affect these organs have their origins in Greek. Many prefixes and

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 3
suffixes have more than a single definition so one must learn to use the definition that best
describes the term.

Greek Word Root Word

kardia (heart) cardi
gaster (stomach) gastr
hepat (liver) hepat
nephros (kidney) nephr
osteon (bone) oste

A root word is usually derived from the Greek or Latin language. Because of this, two
different root words may have the same meaning.

GREEK LATIN MEANING

dermatos cutane skin
nephrosa renes kidney
stomatos oris mouth

Medical words of Greek origin are often difficult to spell because many begin with a
silent letter or have a silent letter within the word. Spelling of all medical words is extremely
important because the addition or omission of a single letter may change the meaning of the
word. Give examples to illustrate this concept to include the prefixes and suffixes that are
frequently misspelled:

The following guidelines are provided to help with the building and spelling of
medical words:

1. If the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the combining vowel from the combining form and
add the suffix. For example: gastr/o (stomach) + -oma (tumor) becomes gastroma when we
drop the o from gastro.

2. If the suffix begins with a consonant, keep the combining vowel and add the suffix to the
combining form. For example: lip/o (fat) + -lysis (destruction) becomes lipolysis and we keep
the o on the combining form lipo.

3. Keep the combining vowel between two or more roots in a term. For example: electro
(electricity) + cardio (heart) + -gram (record) becomes electrocardiogram and we keep the
two combining vowels.
Formation of Plural Endings

To change singular endings to plural endings, substitute the plural endings as follows:

Singular Ending Plural Ending

a as in bursa to ae as in bursae
ax as in thorax to aces as in thoraces or es as in thoraxes

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 4
 enas in foramen to inaas in foramina
is as in crisis to es as in crises
is as in iris to ides as in irides
is as in femoris to a as in femora
ix as in appendix to ices as in appendices
nxas in phalanx to gesas in phalanges
on as in spermatozoon to a as in spermatozoa
um as in ovum to a as in ova
us as in nucleus to ias in nuculei
y as in artery to iand add es as in arteries

Medical Terminology Structure

The term tonsillitis is created by adding the suffix –itis to the root word tonsil.

To determine the meaning of a medical term, the word parts are separated working
from the end of the word toward the beginning

Combining Forms
A combining vowel is used to combine several word parts. It helps to make long
medical terms easier to pronounce and understand. Most often an “o” (e,i,u, +y).
The root word + the combining vowel make the combining form.
Root Word + Combining vowel = Combining Forms
Meaning

cardi o cardi/o
heart

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 5
gastr o gastr/o
stomach

arthr o arthr/o
joint

Root Word + Combining vowel = Combining Forms

Meaning

derm o derm/o
skin

cyt o cyt/o
cell

cephal o cephal/o
head

cerebr o cerebr/o
brain

** Try to learn the combining form rather than the root word because the combining form
make many words easier to pronounce.

Combining Form Meaning

adeno - gland
adreno - adrenal gland
angio - vessel
ano - anus
arterio - artery
arthro - joint
balano - glans penis
blepharo - eyelid
broncho - bronchus (windpipe)
cantho - canthus (angle at either end of slit between eyelids)
Combining Form Meaning
capit – or cephalo - head
cardi - or cardio - heart
carpo - wrist
cerebello - cerebellum (part of brain)
cerebro - cerebrum (part of brain)
cheilo - lip (mouth)
chole - bile (note: chole + cyst, meaning bladder, = gallbladder;
chole + doch, meaning choledocho or common bile
duct.)
chondro - cartilage
chordo - cord or string (usually used in connection with the vocal

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 6
 cord or spermatic cord)
cilia - hair (latin)
cleido - collarbone
coccygo - coccyx (end bone of the spinal column)
colpo - vagina
cordo - cord (usually vocal cord)
coxa - hip (latin)
cranio - head
cysto - sac, cyst, or bladder (most often used in connection with
the urinary bladder)
cyto - cell
dacryo - tear (used commonly in relation to tear duct or sac)
dento - or donto - tooth
derma - skin
duodeno - duodenum (part of small intestine)
emia - blood
encephalo - brain
entero - intestines
fascia - sheet or band of fibrous tissue (latin)
fibro - fibers
gastro - stomach
genu - knee (latin)
gingivo - gums
glomerulo - glomerulus (often a structure of the kidney)
glosso - tongue
gnatho - jaw
hallux - great toe (latin)
hem, hema, hemo, blood
hemato -
hepato- liver
hilus - pit of depression in an organ where vessels and nerves
enter (latin)
histio - tissue
hystero- uterus (note: this term may also pertain to hysteria.)
ileo - ileum (part of small intestine)
ilio - flank or ilium (bone of the pelvis)
jejuno - jejunum (part of small intestine)
kerato- corned or horny layer of the skin
labio- lips (either or mouth or vulva)
lacrimo- tears (used also in connection with tear ducts or sacs)
laparo - loin or flank (also refers to abdomen)
laryngo - larynx
Combining Form Meaning
linguo- tongue
lympho- lymph
masto- breast
meningo- meninges (coverings of the brain and spinal cord)
morpho- form
myelo- bone marrow and also spinal cord (note: the use of this
term will determine which tissue is meant.)
myo- muscle (note: the latin word for muscle is mus.)

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 7
 myringo- eardrum
naso- nose
nephro- kidney
neuro- nerve
oculo- eye
odonto- tooth
omphalo- navel or umbilicus
onycho- nails
oophoro- ovary
ophthalmo- eye
orchio, orchido- testis
oro- mouth
os- bone- or mouth
osteo- bone
oto- ear
ovario- ovary
palato- palate of mouth
palpebro- eyelid
pectus- breast,chest, or thorax (latin)
pharyngo- pharynx
phlebo- vein
pilo- hair
pleuro- pleura of lung (relates also to side or rib)
pneumo- or pneumono- lungs (also used in referring to air or breath)
procto- rectum
pyelo- pelvis of kidney
pyloro- pylorus (part of stomach just before duodenum)
rhino- nose
sacro- sacrum
salpingo- fallopian tube or oviduct
sialo- saliva (used in connection with a salivary duct or gland)
splanchno- viscera
spleno- spleen
sterno- sternum
stoma- mouth
tarso- instep of foot; ankle (also edge of eyelid)
teno-, tenonto- tendon
thoraco- thorax or chest
thyro- thyroid
trachelo- neck, particularly the neck of the uterus
tracheo- trachea
unguis- nail
Combining Form Meaning
uretero- ureter
urethro- urethra
uro- urine; urinary
utero- uterus
vaso- vessel
veno- vein
ventriculo- ventricle; either of heart or brain
viscero- viscera

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 8
 Week 1-2
Activity Sheet #1
BASIC STRUCTURE OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Student’s Name:_____________________________ Date:_____________________

Grade & Track: _____________________ Teacher: __________________

I. Supply the missing words and complete each statement below. Write your answers
on the space provided each number.

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 9
 1. _____________________ is used in international language, and it is also necessary
for communicating with other medical personnel.
2. Understanding ______________ involves breaking words down into their separate
components of prefix, suffix, and root word and having a good working knowledge of
those parts.
3. A ________________ conveys the essential meaning of the word and frequently
indicates a body part.
4. A ____________ is placed at the end of words to change the original meaning.
5. A ____________ appears at the beginning of a word and generally describes
location and intensity.
6. Most of the terms for the body’s organs originate from ___________ words, whereas
terms describing diseases that affect these organs have their origins in
___________.
7. The ___________ are the adding up of the root word and the combining words
together.
8. If the suffix begins with a vowel, drop the combining vowel from the combining form
and __________________.
9. If the singular word ends in –on, the plural form will be _______.

II. Supply the missing words that complete the table.

Root word Combining Vowel Combining Form

1. _________________ o arthro
cyst o 2. __________________
3. _________________ o hemato
4. _________________ o labio
gastr o 5. __________________

III. Identify the meanings of the following combining forms.

1. ventriculo-
2. splanchno-
3. derma –
4. myelo-
5. ophthalmo-

STUDENT’S SELF-IDENTIFIED LEARNING OUTCOME

Things that I learned in the module and I am sure that I understand:

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 10
 Things that need clarification:

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Medical Terminologies
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 MEDICAL REPORT WRITING AND
TRANSCRIPTION 1

WEEK 3-4

COMMON ROOT WORDS

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

4. Identify common root words in medical terminologies.

5. Identify common medical terminology using the list of common root
words.
6. Create different medical terminologies using the common root
words.

List of Common Root Words

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Medical Terminologies
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 A Medical Transcriptionist should memorize or, at least, be familiarized with the
following terms;

Root Words Meaning

abdomen the abdomen or the belly
acanth thorny or spiny
acetabul the hip socket, acetabulum
acaou sound or hearing
acral extremities, for example: hands and feet or height
actin radius, or ray of light possibly
adenoid referring to the adenoids
aden resembling the adenoids or glandur tissue
adren refers to the adrenal glands
–aer air or gas
albumin the albumen
algesia pain
alveole alveolus
ambli dull or dim
ambul walking
amni the amnion
amyl starch
andre male
angi vessel
antra, antrum a cavity or chamber
aort aorta
appendic the appendices
arachin spider or spider like
archi first or beginning
artera artery
arthr joint
articule joint or hinge
artheri yellowish or fatty plague, for example: artherosclerosis
atria atrium of the heart
aur ear or hearing
auto self
axil armpit
azil urea or nitrogen
bacteria refers to bacteria
balan glans penis
bio life
bil the bile
blast a developing cell as blastomere
blephar eyelid
brachi arm
bronch bronchus, part of the lung
buccae cheek of the face
burse bursa, the cavity or sac
calc calcium
carcin refers to cancer
cardia the heart

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 13
 carp the carpals, wrist bones
cod tail towards the sacrum, or the tail would be on an animal
cec or caec cecum, the first part of the large intestine
celi or coeli the abdominal cavity
ciph/ceph referring to the brain
cerebel the cerebellum
cerumen refers to cerumen or ear wax
cervic the dorsal part of the neck, or refers to a women’s cervix
chir hand
cholangi the bile duct
chole gall or bile
choladoc common bile ducy
chondra cartilage
chora, chorium, chrom color
clavic the clavicle or collar bone
col the colon
colp refers to the vagina
con dust
conjuctiv conjunctiva – the eye
cori the pupil of the eye
cornea the cornea
coron the heart
cortic cortex
cost rib
crania cranium, the skull
cry, coldy, cript hidden
cutane skin
cyan blue
cyst sac
cyte cell
ductile fingers or toes
dent tooth or teeth
derm skin
diaphor sweat
dyps thirst
diverticule diverticulum
dors dorsal; in humans – the back of the body
duoden duodenum
ech sound
endocrine refers to the endocrine system
entero intestines
epididym epididymis
epiglot the epiglottis
episi vulva
epitheli epithelium
erythr red
esophag esophagus
eti cause of disease
facia face
fascia facia or linning tissue
febra fever

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Medical Terminologies
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 femur femur, upper leg bone
fet fetus or unborn child
fibra fibrous tissue or fibers
fibul fibula, lower leg bone
flour light
fung referring to fungus
gangli ganglion
gastro, gastric the stomach
ger elderly
gingiv the gums
gloss the tongue
gluc sugar
glyc carbohydrates or sugar, glucose
gnath jaw
gon gonad or sexual organ of male or female
granule granule, tissue around the wound during the healing process
gyn women
hem or haem the blood
hepat the liver
hern hernia
hist tissue
humer humerus, upper arm bone
hybrid being a hybrid
hyster the uterus
ichthy fish
ile ileum, lower part of the small intestine
ili ileum, part of the pelvis
immune immune
infarct refers to an infarct or area of dead tissue for a lack of oxygen
ira iris of the eye
ischi ischium, part of the pelvis
lacra pertaining to tears
laryng refers to the larynx
lip fat
lymph referring to the lymphatic system
lysis can be used as root, prefix or suffix meaning destruction
macule macula
mamm, mast both mean breast
mandibule the lower jaw of bone or mandible
maxilla the upper jaw of bone or maxilla
membra membrane, covering
men, mens referring to menstruation
ment the mind
morph form or shape
muc mucus
myc fungus
myel pertains to myelin
myol muscle
nas, nasal the nose

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Medical Terminologies
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 nate birth
necro death of cells over the body
nephron kidney
neural nerve
noct night
obstetra refers to obstetrics
occule eye
olf olfactory, the sense of smell
omphal the umbilicus or navel
onc tumor
oo, ova, oophor egg, ovary
opthal eye
opth vision
orch testes
osteo bone
oth ear
ox oxygen
pancra pancreas
papil nipple or nipple shaped
par, part to bear or give birth to
patel patella, the knee cap
path disease
pector the chest
ped foot
ped, pedi child
pelv pelvis or pelvic bone
perina perineum
peritona peritoneum
petro stone
phag to eat or swallow
pharm pharmacy
pharynx pharynx or upper esophagus
phleb vein
photo light
phren the mind
plasm plasma
pleur pleura
pneum the lung, air
pod foot
proct rectum
prostate prostate gland
psych the mind
pulmon lung
pye, pyelo infection or pus
radi radiation
rect rectum
ren kidney

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Medical Terminologies
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 respirat breathing
retin retina
rheumath refers to the musculoskeletal system including the immune
system
rhin nose
sacre sugar
sacro sacrum or tail bone
sclera sclera, the white of the eye
seb oil
sept septum
ser serum
soma body
somn sleep
son sound
spleen the spleen
spundl vertebra
tars tarsus, ankle bone
tendon tendon refers to the tendons
test testicles or testes
thorac thorax or chest
thromb clot
thyr thyroid of the thyroid
tibi tibia or lower lrg bone
trach trachea
typh typhoid or typhus
urethra refers to the urethra
urine urine
uter uterus
uvule uvula, flap of tissue hanging down from the soft palate
vaccine vaccine
vagin vagina
valv, valvul valve
vas vascule, vessel or duct
vin vein
vantricule relating to the vantrucule
vesic vesicle or small pouch
vir virus
viscer viscera, internal organs
vulv vulva

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Medical Terminologies
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 Week 3-4
Activity Sheet #2
BASIC STRUCTURE OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Student’s Name:_____________________________ Date:_____________________

Grade & Track: _____________________ Teacher: __________________

I. Identify the meaning of the root words given on each number. Encircle the letter of your
best answer.

1. Fever A. Febra B. Febri C. Fibro D. Fiber

2. The stomach A. Gastritis B. Gastrointestinal C. Gastro D. Gastral

3. The gums A. Gangiv B. Gengiv C. Gingiv D. Gengiv

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Medical Terminologies
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 4. The tongue A. Gliss B. Glosse C. Gloss D. Glase

5. Jaw A. Knoth B. Gnawth C. Gnowth D. Gnath

6. The Liver A. Hepaty B. Hepat C. Hapat D. Haptat

7. The fish A. Ichthy B. Ichthys C. Ichthie D. Ichthiology

8. Bone A. Asteo B. Asto C. Osteo D. Ostia

9. Heart A. Card B. Cardi C. Cardio D. Cardies

10. The skull A. Crane B. Cranially C. Craine D. Crania

11. Blue A. Cyto B. cyan C. Cyite D.cyne

12. Cell A. Cyto B. cyan C. Cyite D.cyne

13. Eye A. Occule B. Occulie C. Occulele D. Occulet

14. Kidney A. nephron B. naphro C. niphro D. nophro

II. Identify the meaning of the root words presented below. Write your answer on the space
provided before the number.

15. aer – ______________________ 23. entero – ____________________________

16. auto – _____________________ 24. facia - _____________________________
17. bio – ______________________ 25. ger – ______________________________
18. carcin – ____________________ 26. hem or haem – ______________________
19. cutane – ___________________ 27. hyster – ____________________________
20. cyst – _____________________ 28. lacra – _____________________________
21. ductile – ___________________ 29. mamm, mast – _______________________
22. derm – ____________________ 30. pod – ______________________________

STUDENT’S SELF-IDENTIFIED LEARNING OUTCOME

Things that I learned in the module and I am sure that I understand:

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 19
 Things that need clarification:

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Medical Terminologies
Prepared by: Mr.Mc Kendrick S. Grayda, LPT 20