MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (usually o or i) plus the root word, usually
with a prefix or suffix added.
Medical terminology is made up of the terms
that describe human anatomy and
physiology (body organs, systems, and their
functions), body locations, diseases, clinical,
diagnostic imaging, and laboratory testing,
together with clinical procedures, surgeries,
and diagnoses.
The beauty of medical terminology is that it
makes such vital communication more
succinct and to-the-point.
 Appendectomy is a one-word
medical term to describe “surgical
removal of the appendix.”
 Tonsillitis is a one-word medical
term to describe “inflammation of
the tonsils,”.
The foundation of medical terminology is
based in both Greek and Latin origin.
- Greeks were the founders of modern
medicine.
- Latin is the basic source of medical
terms.
- Medical terms began to be
professionalized in the mid-1800s.
The first dictionary appeared in the 1830s
shortly after the first edition of websters
american dictionary of english language.
Etymology helps you find the origin and
historical development of a term. You can
use etymology to decipher words with Latin
and Greek origins, eponyms (words named
after people), and acronyms (modern
language terms that stand for longer phrases)
Roots are the glue that holds all medical
terms together. They are the basic form
around which the final word is formed. A
combining form is a combining vowel
Prefixes appear at the beginning of a word
and tell the how, why, where, when, how
much, how many, position, direction, time,
or status.
The suffix, always at the end of a word,
usually indicates a procedure, a condition, or
a disease.
While the prefix gives you a clue into what
to expect in a word’s meaning, the suffix
tells you what is happening with a specific
body part or system. And, usually, it either
entails what is wrong with you or the
procedure used to diagnose or fix it.
MORPHOLOGY OF MED TERMS
A system of words, medical terminology can
contain a prefix, root word, a combining
vowel and a suffix to create medical terms.
Medical terms describe medical aspects and
diseases. Specific locations on the body are
indicated by prefixes. The meanings of
medical terms change with different
beginnings and endings.
The big three — roots, prefixes, and suffixes
— of medical terms all work together to clue
you in to what that word means.
A prefix appears at the beginning of a word
and generally describes location and
intensity. Prefixes are frequently found in
general language (ie autopilot, submarine,
tricycle) as well as in medical 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.
 PREFIXES MEANING

a- without, lack of

ab- away from

abdomi(n)- abdomen

acr(o)- pertaining to an extremity

ad- to, toward

aden(o)- pertaining to a gland

an- without, lack of

angio- vessel

anti- against, opposed to

Anemia - lack enough healthy red blood

cells to carry adequate oxygen to your
body's tissues.

SUFFIXES

Suffixes are placed at the end

of the words to change the
original meaning. In medical
terminology, a suffix usually
indicates a procedure,
condition, disease, or part of
speech.
PREFIX MEANING

-algia pertaining to pain

-asthen(o) weakness

-blast immature cell

pertaining to a tumor
-cele
or swelling

pertaining to a
procedure in which an
organ or body cavity
-centesis is punctured, often to
drain excess fluid or
obtain a sample for
analysis

-cyte cell
ROOT WORDS
-ectomy surgical removal of
The main part or stem of a word is called a
pertaining to the root word. A root word conveys the essential
--emia presence of a meaning of the word and frequently
substance in the blood 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
astenopia or eye strain describe a particular structure or condition.
osteoblasts are the cells that form new bone.
hydrocele – type of swelling in the scrotum CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
that occurs when fluid collects in the thin Cardio is a root word meaning “heart,” and
sheath surrounding a testicle. pulmonary is a root word meaning “lungs.”
lymphocyte – type of white blood cell that is By performing CPR we introduce air into
part of the immune system the lungs and circulate blood by
compressing the heart to resuscitate the
patient

acou – hear
adip – fat
alb- white
alges – pain
aorta – large artery exiting from the left
ventricle of the hear
aqua – water

acoustic neuroma – is a benign tumor that

develops on the balance (vestibular) and
hearing, or auditory
adipocytes – also known as lipocytes and fat
cells, are the cells that primarily compose
adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy
as fat
analgesia – the inability to feel pain

COMMON ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations take the place of words to

shorten notes or documentation. When you
are using abbreviations in patient care
reports, remember to use only standard,
accepted abbreviations to avoid confusion
and errors.

MUSCULAR SYSTEM WORKS

The musculoskeletal system is made up of
muscles and joints. The muscles – all the
600 of them and more and are responsible
for movement.
The skeleton provides attachment points
and support for muscles, but it’s the
muscle tissue’s ability to extend and contract
that makes movement happen.
 CLASSES OF MUSCLES
TYPES OF MUSCLES

- Striated Muscles Striated muscles

are also called skeletal or voluntary
muscles. These are the muscles that
move all the bones, as well as the
face and the eyes. The body is able to
consciously control the activity of a
striated muscle.

- Smooth Muscle the second type of

muscle is smooth muscle, also
known as visceral involuntary or
- Cardiac Muscle has branching
unstriated muscle. The body has no
fibers and forms most of the wall of
conscious control over smooth
the heart. Its contraction produces
muscle, which move the internal
the heartbeat.
organs such as the digestive tract.

- Skeletal muscles are attached to the

- Cardiac Muscles The third type of
skeleton. They are called voluntary,
muscle is cardiac muscle. It is
of course, because they are
striated in appearance but is like
controlled by your will. This type of
smooth muscle in its actions.
muscle can be easily seen by flexing
Movement of cardiac muscle cannot
the forearm, which makes the biceps
be consciously controlled. Cardiac
muscle become hard and thick.
muscle has branching fibers forming
most of the wall of the heart and
- Visceral muscle is found in the
controlling the contractions
stomach, intestines, and blood
producing the heartbeat.
vessels, and cannot be controlled at
will.
 2. Adduction – movement of drawing
toward the middle of the body (for
example, fingers held together)

MUSCLE MOVEMENT
1. Abduction - movement of drawing
away from the center of the body
(such as fingers spread apart)
3. Eversion – turning outward.
4. Inversion – turning inward.
 5. Extension - Movement in which a
limb is placed in a straight position.
BURSITIS
6. Flexion- Movement in which a limb
Inflammation of the bursa sac, which lines
is bent.
the joint and provides smooth joint
movement.

7. Rotation – turning around on its

own axis.
8. Pronation – movement that turns the
palm of the hand downward.
9. Supination – movement that turns
the palm of the hand upward.

FIBROMYALGIA
Pain in fibrous of muscles, tendons, or
ligaments.
COMMON MUSCULAR CONDTIONS
 MUSCULAR DISEASES AND
PATHOLOGY

Dermatomyositis - Polymyositis
with inflammatory skin changes of
face, neck, trunk, and arms.

TENDINITIS/TENDONITIS
Inflammation of a tendon.

TENNIS ELBOW
Dupuytren’s contracture - Disease
The tendon that connects the arm affecting the palmar fascia of the
muscle to elbow becomes inflamed hand, causing the ring finger and
due to the repetitive use of the arm. little finger to contract toward the
palm.
TENOSYNOVITIS – inflammation
of the tendon and the sheath around
it, often in a finger or the wrist.

MYOPARALYSIS – paralysis of a
muscle.

POLYMYOSITIS – inflammation
of “many muscles.”

Leiomyosarcoma – Malignant
tumor of smooth muscle.
Myosarcoma - Malignant tumor of muscle
tissue.
Muscular Dystrophy – inherited disease
characterized by progressive weakness and
degeneration of muscle fibers without the
involvement of the nervous system.
Torticollis – Acute myositis of the cervical
muscles (wryneck).
MUSCULAR RADIOLOGY AND
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Electromyogram (EMG) - is a record of
electric activity in a muscle. This procedure
is done to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
Isokinetic dynamometry - A test to
measure the degree of muscular power using
an instrument called a dynamometer.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) –
The gold standard for making pictures of
soft tissue such as fascia, tendons, ligaments,
and muscle.
X-Ray
MUSCULAR SURGERIES AND
PROCEDURES
Fasciectomy: Excision of fascia (fibrous
band or membrane of tissue surrounding
muscle).
Fasciotomy: Surgical cutting into muscle
fascia.
Myoplasty: Surgical repair of a muscle.
Myorrhaphy: Suturing of a muscle.
Tenomyoplasty: Surgical repair of a tendon
and muscle.
Tenorrhaphy: Suturing of a tendon.
Tenotomy: Incision of a tendon.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Central Nervous System (CNS) -
includes the brain and spinal cord.
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)- is
composed of cranial nerves that extend from
the brain and spinal nerves that extend from
the spinal cord.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) –
is a division of the peripheral nervous and
controls and coordinates the functions of the
body’s vital organs, such as heartbeat and
rate of breathing — functions we don’t even
think about.
THE BRAIN
• The brain is the central control
center for regulating and
coordinating body functions. It lies
in the cranial cavity (within the
skull)
• Most brains weigh between 2.5–4
pounds (40–60 ounces). The size of
the skull offers only a general idea of
the brain size, because the shape and
thickness of the skull varies.
• The brain’s largest part is the
cerebrum.
• Nervous tissue covering the
cerebrum is called the cerebral
cortex.
• Thought, memory, judgment, and
association all take place in the
cerebrum.
• The cerebral cortex is the center that
controls speech, vision, smell,
movement, hearing, and thought
processes and has four lobes.
4 LOBES
1. The frontal lobe is the center for
voluntary movement, judgment,
reasoning, and impulse inhibition.
2. The occipital lobe (the back of each
of the hemispheres) manages visual
perception, association, and visual
memory.
3. The parietal lobe collects,
recognizes, and organizes sensations
of pain, touch, movement, and
position.
4. The temporal lobe correlates
auditory and visual memory as well
as language development.
 COMMON TERMS RELATED TO
NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Anesthesia: Without or loss of
feeling or sensation
• Anesthesiologist: Physician who
administers an anesthetic (a drug that
reduces feeling)
• Ataxia: Lack of muscle coordination
• Coma: State of profound
unconsciousness
• Dementia: Mental decline
• Disorientation: A state of confusion
as to time, place, or identity.
• Gait: A matter or style of walking.
• Monoplegia: Paralysis of one limb.
• Neurologist: Physician who
specializes in neurology, the
scientific study of the nervous
system; does not perform surgery.
• Neurology: The branch of medicine
dealing with the study of the nervous
system, functions and disorders.
• Neurosurgeon: Physician who
specializes in neurology and
performs surgeries on the nervous
system.
• Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower
half of the body.
COMMON NERVOUS SYSTEM
CONDITIONS
• Aphasia involves loss or impairment
of the ability to speak.
• Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is
also known as a stroke.
• Coma is a state of unconsciousness
in which a person cannot be aroused.
• Concussion is a temporary
dysfunction after injury, usually
clearing within 24 hours. It’s
basically a bruise on the brain.
• Dysphasia is the condition of having
difficulty speaking.
• Epilepsy refers to a sudden
disturbance of the nervous system
functioning due to abnormal
electrical activity of the brain.
• Neuralgia means pain in a nerve.
• Neuritis is inflammation of a nerve.
• Neuroma is a tumor made up of
nerve cells.
• Neurosis is an emotional disorder
involving an ineffective way of
coping with anxiety.
• Polyneuritis is the inflammation of
many nerves.
 DISEASES AND PATHOLOGY • Decompression craniectomy: A
portion of the cranium (skull) is
• Alzheimer’s disease: Brain disorder
removed to relieve brain swelling
marked by deterioration in mental
following traumatic brain injury or a
capacity, caused by atrophy (wasting
stroke.
away) of the brain cells; develops
gradually; early signs are loss of • Laminectomy: Excision of the
memory for recent events, and an posterior arch of a vertebra
impairment of judgment and
• Neurectomy: Excision of a nerve
comprehension.
• Neuroplasty: Surgical repair of a
• Guillain-Barre syndrome: Acute
nerve.
idiopathic polyneuritis, a rapid-in-
onset, progressive motor neuron
paralysis of unknown cause
• Meningitis: Inflammation of the
meninges caused by bacteria
(bacterial meningitis) or a virus
(viral meningitis),
• Parkinson’s disease: Degeneration
of the nerves of the brain, occurring
in later life, leading to tremors,
weakness of muscles, and slowness
of movement.

SURGERIES AND PROCEDURE

• Craniotomy: Surgical cutting into
and opening the skull to gain access
to the brain tissue for surgery
 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM • Myocardium: Myo- is the Greek
prefix meaning “muscle.” This is the
• The main organ of the circulatory
actual heart muscle and makes up the
(another name for cardiovascular)
thick middle layer.
system is the heart which main job is
making the blood flow freely through
your veins.
COMMON CARDIOVASCULAR AND
• An adult human’s normal heart rate LYMPHATIC CONDITIONS
is 70–80 beats per minute. A child’s
Anemia: Lack of red blood cells
is 100–120.
Embolism: The blockage of an artery by
foreign material in the blood- stream, most
often a blood clot but could be fat, an air
bubble, or a clot of bacteria. The foreign
material is called an embolus (plural
emboli).

3 MAJOR LAYERS
• Endocardium - Endo- is the Greek
prefix for “within.” This is the inner
layer of the heart, lining the
chambers and covering the valves.
• Epicardium: Epi- is the Greek Hemorrhage: Rapid flow of blood
prefix for “on.” This is the outer Hypercholesterolemia: Excessive amounts
layer of the heart. of cholesterol
Hyperlipidemia: Excessive amounts of fat
in the blood
Hypertension: Blood pressure that is above
normal range of 120/70 ✓
Hypotension: Blood pressure that is below
normal.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND
LYMPHATIC DISEASES AND
PAHTOLOGY
Aneurysm- a local widening of an artery,
may be due to weakness in the arterial wall
or breakdown of the wall due to
atherosclerosis.
Bacterial endocarditis is inflammation of
the inner lining of the heart caused by
bacteria.
Cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal heart
rhythm.
Congenital heart disease refers to
abnormalities in the heart at birth, resulting
from some failure in the development of the
fetus.
Congestive heart failure is a condition
where the heart is unable to pump its
required amount of blood .
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a
disease of arteries supplying blood to the
heart. This is usually the result of
atherosclerosis, the deposition of fatty
compounds on the inner lining of the
coronary arteries.
Heart murmur refers to an extra heart
sound heard between normal heart sounds.
Rheumatic heart disease is heart disease
caused by rheumatic fever.
Varicose veins are abnormally swollen
veins usually occurring in the legs, due to
damaged valves that fail to prevent the
backflow of blood.