THE PHLEBOTOMY TEXTBOOK, THIRD

EDITION

Basic Medical Terminology

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Medical Terminology
 Derived primarily from the classic Greek and
Latin languages
 Combinations of three major word parts:
 Prefixes
 Word roots
 Suffixes

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Prefixes
 Prefixes: beginning of the root word to alter
its meaning
 Indicate
 Direction
 Number
 Position
 Size
 Presence or absence
 Time
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Example
In medical terminology, the prefix post means
after, just as it does in the term postgraduate.
The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal,
and the term tonsillectomy is a familiar word
to most people.

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 CommonlyTEXTBOOK,
THE PHLEBOTOMY Used Prefixes
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Suffixes
 Suffixes: end of the root word to alter its
meaning
 Indicate
 A condition
 A type of procedure

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Commonly Used Suffixes (cont.)

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Word Roots and Combining Forms

 Roots are the main part of a word
 Refer to body components
 Combining forms add a vowel, usually an -o
 Combining forms facilitate pronunciation
when combined with:
 Another root
 Suffix not beginning with a vowel
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Example
 The word root for heart is cardi.
 The combining form is cardi/o.
 The suffix -logy is study of.
 The study of the heart is cardiology.

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Combining Vowel
 A combining vowel is not used when the suffix
already begins with a vowel.
Example:
 The word root for liver is hepat.
 The suffix for inflammation is –itis.
 Inflammation of the liver is hepatitis.
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EDITION

Combining Forms

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Example
 The word root for electricity is electr
 The combining form is electr/o.
 The word root for brain is encephal.
 The suffix for written record is gram.
 A written record of the electricity of the brain
is an electroencephalogram.
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Plural Forms

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Singular Word Ending Plural Form
vertebra (-a) vertebrae (-ae)
thorax (-ax) thoraces (-aces)
cortex (-ex) cortices (-ices)
cervix (-ix) cervices (-ices)
diagnosis (-is) diagnoses (-es)
sarcoma (-ma) sarcomata (-mata)
larynx (-nx) larynges (-es)
ganglion (-on) ganglia (-ia)
bacterium (-um) bacteria (-ia)
bronchus (-us) bronchi (-i)
biopsy (-y) biopsies (-ies)
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Pronunciation Guidelines
 Diacritical marks
 Macron indicates long sound.
“ē”
Example: Uremia (ū-rē‫׳‬mē-ă)
 Breve indicates short sound.
“ ĕ“
Example: Dermis (dĕr‫׳‬mĭs)

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 Pronunciation
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 Abbreviations
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The Joint Commission “Do Not Use”

List
 List of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols
 Confusion and medical errors when used

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 Examples of The Joint Commission
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EDITION “Do Not Use”

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 Examples of The Joint Commission
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EDITION “Do Not Use”

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