Introduction

to
Medical Terminology
Doodle Notes
Don’t be puzzled by
Medical Terminology
Medical terms can seem long and intimidating, but they
don’t have to be scary.
■ They can be broken down into smaller pieces.
■ Each part of the word is a piece of a puzzle.
■ Analysis of the word parts will make medical
terminology easier to understand and remember.
Sources of Medical Terms
& 5 Types of Word Parts
Most medical terminology word parts
come from two sources.
■ Geek
■ Latin

Medical terms can be

broken down into 5 basic
word parts.
▪ Root words
▪ Prefixes
▪ Suffixes
▪ Combining vowels
▪ Combing forms
Root Words
Root Words
▪ Are the foundation of the word.
▪ They usually indicate the involved body part.
▪ A medical term can have one or more root words.

▪ Examples:
– cardi - 

– cephal –

– gastr –

– cyt –

■ Ex. – cardi/o/thorac/ic = pertaining to heart and chest

Prefixes & Suffixes
Prefixes- Word beginning; usually
indicates location, time, or a number
■ Not all medical words have prefixes
■ Examples:
– a- (no, not, without)
– pre- (before)
– hyper- (above, increased)
– sub- (under)
Prefixes
Suffixes
Suffixes- Word ending; usually
indicates a procedure, condition,
disorder or disease.
Read from the suffix backwards to
the root word for the correct
meaning.
Suffixes can be nouns or adjectives
All medical words have suffixes
Examples:
-itis (inflammation)
-ic (pertaining to)
-logy (the study of)
-lysis (breakdown, destroy)
Combining Vowels &
Combining Forms
Combining Vowel
■ A vowel that links two word parts together “0”
■ Usually an ‘o’ Usually an “O”
■ Has no meaning of it’s own (EX - Can be a, e, i, o or u
cardi/o/thoracic)

Combining Form – root word plus a combining vowel

■ Examples:
– Hemat/o –
– Cardi/o – Combining vowel
– Gastr/o –
– Oste/o – Root word + “0”
Rules for Combining Vowels
1. When the the beginning of the suffix is a
vowel, do not use a combining vowel. Suffixes
■ Example – gastr/itis (correct) that
start with
■ gastroitis(would be incorrect) a vowel
■ Example - hemat/o/logy

2. When the beginning of the suffix is a

Suffixes
consonant, use a combining vowel. that
■ Example – hemat/o/logy don’t start
a vowel
■ Example – cardi/o/logy
Rules for Combining Vowels

3. A combining vowel is always used when two root

words are joined.
■ Example – cardi/o/thorac/ic

Root word O Root word

4. A prefix does never requires a combining

vowel Prefixes
never
■ Example – epi/gastr/ic need a
combining
vowel
Taking Terms Apart
■ Determine a medical word’s meaning by looking at the
component pieces.
– Start at the suffix
(all medical terms will have one)
– Identify if there is a prefix
(not all medical terms will have one)
– Locate the root words (there may be more than one)
– Identify the meaning of each word part as you
separate them

Prefix Suffix
suffix
Root word
Putting the Pieces Together
■ Determine a medical word’s meaning by looking at the components
and putting the meaning of the pieces of the puzzle together.

Remember!
If there is any doubt about the correct meaning of a word,
use a medical dictionary (appendix, internet) to double check the definition

Prefix Suffix
suffix
Root word

■ In medicine, spelling is critical!!!

■ One wrong letter could mean an entirely different place on the body or
test to be performed
■ Example – ilium (bone in the hip) and ileum (part of the small
intestine) – what would happen if you ordered the wrong test??