Medical

Terminology
Dr. Bassma Mohamed El Sabaa;
M.D.
Lecturer Of Pathology
Alexandria Faculty Of Medicine
Course Objectives
Become familiar with medical terms
Learn categories of medical terms
(descriptive and eponyms)
Learn basic parts of medical terms (word
root, prefix and suffix)
Learn word roots for different organs in the
human body.
Be able to recognize and learn medical
terms when coming across them during
different medical course..
Categories of medical terms
Descriptive: shape, colour, size,
function.
-Dextrocardia

Eponyms
-Fallopian tube Gabriello Fallopio
Unit 1
The Word-Building System
Word Roots
Suffixes
Prefixes
Plural Formation
Word Root
The foundation of a word.
Origins are either Greek or Latin
Medical word: a root or a combination of word
elements (root +/-suffix+/-prefix)
E.g.
Gastr: Gastr/itis, Gastr/ectomy
Cardi/o/logist
Word roots of major organs in the
human body
Stomato Mouth
Nephro/reno Kidney
Dento Teeth
Gingiva Gums
Glosso/linguo Tongue
Encephalo Brain
Gastro Stomach
Entero Intestine
hepato Liver

Prefixes and Suffixes
A Prefix: comes at the beginning of a
word

A Suffix: comes at the end of a word
Compound Word
Compound words can be formed when
2 or more word roots are used to build
the word.
Compound Word

Word root + word root = Compound
word
Chicken + Pox = Chickenpox
Word root word root compound word

Examples: underage, shorthand, download,
brainstem
Not for medical terms..
Compound word
Word root 1
+
combining vowel
+
word root 2
=
Compound word

Combining Vowels
o, i, e, u, a, or y


Word root (Gastr-)
+
Combining vowel (/o)
=
Combining form
e.g. Gastr/o

makes the term easier to pronounce.

Compound Term:

Word root/combining vowel/word root
Cardi/o/megaly.
Compound Word
Gastr o + scope
Neur/o + surgery
Micr/o + meter

Hydr/o + phobia
Hydr/o + therapy
Gastroscope
Neurosurgery
Micrometer

Hydrophobia
Hydrotherapy

Compound word
Word root
+
Combining vowel
+
Suffix
=
Compound word
Suffixes

Suffix
Suffix is an ending that follows a
word root.


Suffixes
Word root + Suffix = Noun
dent -ist dentist

Word root + Suffix = Adjective
Anem -ic Anemic
Suffix - Noun

-ism = condition
e.g. hyperthyroidism
-ist = specialist
e.g. pathologist
-ology=study of
e.g. oncology

Suffix - Noun
-scope=instrument to view
or examine
e.g. endoscope
-itis = Inflammation
e.g. appendicitis
Suffix - Adjective

-ous = possessing, having, full of
e.g. Nervous, mucous, serous

-able = ability
e.g. Injectable

-ible = ability
e.g. Edible, reducible




Suffix: Singular vs. Plural

Singular Suffixes
-on
Spermatozoon, ganglion
-ma
Carcinoma, lipoma


Plural Suffixes
-a
Spermatozoa, ganglia
-mata
Carcinomata, lipomata

Singular
Suffixes
-sis
crisis,
prognosis
-nx
Larynx,
pharynx


Plural Suffixes

-ses
Crises,
prognoses
-ges
Larynges,
pharynges

Suffix: Singular vs. Plural
Singular Suffixes
-a
Vertebra,
conjunctiva

-us
Bacillus,
bronchus

Plural Suffixes
-ae
Vertebrae,
conjunctivae

-i
Bacilli,
bronchi

Singular Suffixes
-um
Bacterium, ilium
-is
Testis

Plural Suffixes
-a

Bacteria, ilia
-es
Testes



Suffix: Singular vs. Plural

Singular Suffixes
-ex
cortex
-ix
Appendix
-ax
thorax


Plural Suffixes
-ices
cortices
-ices
appendices
-aces
thoraces

Practice
Singular:
Sarcoma
Diagnosis
Phalanx
Coccus
Vertex
Cervix


Plural:
Sarcomata
Diagnoses
Phalanges
Cocci
Vertices
Cervices

Thank you