Medical Terminology: Understanding Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes, Lecture notes of English

Download Medical Terminology: Understanding Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes and more Lecture notes English in PDF only on Docsity! Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 1 December 2020 Guide to Common Medical Terminology There are some helpful techniques you can use to increase your understanding of medical terminology. Most medical terms contain at least one root, and they may also contain one or more prefixes or suffixes. This handout will describe how word parts create meaning to provide a strategy for decoding medical terminology and unfamiliar words in the English language. Word Parts If all three word parts are present in medical terminology, they will be in the order of prefix → root word → suffix. Look at the following example to understand the function of each word part: anti-bacteri-al As you can see, even if you have never heard of the word “antibacterial,” the word parts provide clues that it is something that protects against bacteria. Therefore, it can be helpful to take into consideration the meaning of word parts, in addition to the context of the sentence or paragraph that the word is in, to decipher an unfamiliar word’s meaning. Also, keep in mind that while many medical terms contain all three word parts, others will contain varying combinations such as root/suffix, prefix/root, prefix/suffix, etc. Some words will even contain two roots, such as osteoarthritis (osteo = bone, arthr = joint). Now let’s look at some of the most common roots, prefixes, and suffixes used in the different body systems. The prefix, or the letter or group of letters before the root word, is anti-, which means “against” or “opposed to.” The root word, or the word part that provides the basic meaning of the word, is bacteri, which means “bacteria.” The suffix, or the letter or group of letters after the root word, is -al, which means “pertaining to.” Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 2 December 2020 The Body’s Organization The body is organized by cells, tissues, organs, and systems. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning anter/o front, anterior epi- upon cerv/o neck hypo- below or deficient chondr/o cartilage infra- below cyt/o cell leio- smooth dors/o back trans- across gastr/o stomach inguin/o groin Word Part: Suffix Meaning my/o muscle -algia pain myel/o spinal cord -cyte cell neur/o nerve, neuron -edema watery fluid in tissues poster/o posterior, back -ic pertaining to proxim/o near -ium structure or tissue sarc flesh -oid resemblance to super/o superior -oma tumor Note: There are additional roots, prefixes, and suffixes that are not included within the tables throughout this handout; however, the examples will demonstrate how the word parts can be analyzed to determine the meaning of a word. Example Terms: epigastric = epi (upon) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to) area just above the stomach hypogastric = hypo (below) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to) pertaining to below the stomach Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 5 December 2020 The Muscular System This system, which is responsible for movement, posture, and control of certain circulatory functions, is made up of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning cardi/o heart a- deficient fasci/o fibrous membrane epi- around fibr/o fiber hemi- half kinesi/o movement para- beside, beyond, near muscul/o muscle quadri- four my/o muscle orth/o straight Word Part: Suffix Meaning oste/o bone -algia pain pedics child -dynia pain scler/o hard -oma tumor sthen/o strength -osis abnormal condition tend/o, tendin/o tendon -paresis partial paralysis ton/o tone -plegia paralysis Example Terms: fibromyalgia = fibro (fiber) + my (muscle) + algia (pain) a disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch hemiplegia = hemi (half) + plegia (paralysis) paralysis of one side of the body Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 6 December 2020 The Nervous System This system, which is made up of the central and peripheral nervous system, coordinates the body’s involuntary and voluntary actions. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning cephal/o head an- without cerebell/o the cerebellum di- two cerebr/o the cerebrum; the brain hemi- half cortic/o outer layer or covering myel/o- bone marrow; spinal cord encephal/o brain esthesi/o sensation Word Part: Suffix Meaning gli/o glue -ia condition of hydr/o water -itis inflammation iatr/o physician; to treat -mnesia memory meningi/o a membrane -oid like ment/o referring to the mind -paresis weakness, loss of movement schiz/o to split -phasia speech psych/o referring to the mind -plegia paralysis Example Terms: anesthesia = an (without) + esthesi (sensation) + ia (condition of) a condition of absence of sensation encephalitis = encephal (brain) + itis (inflammation) inflammation of the brain Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 7 December 2020 The Endocrine System This system, which consists of glands that produce hormones, works with the nervous system to maintain the body’s homeostasis. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning acr/o extremities anti- against or opposed to aden/o gland epi- upon adren/o, adrenal/o adrenal glands hypo- below or deficient calc/i calcium para- alongside of or abnormal crin/o to separate or secrete endocrin/o endocrine Word Part: Suffix Meaning gluc/o, glyc/o/s sugar, glucose, glycogen -itis inflammation hypophys/o pituitary gland -megaly enlargement pancreat/o pancreas -oma tumor parathyr/o, parathyroid/o parathyroid gland -tropin nourishment; stimulation thyr/o, thyroid/o thyroid gland -uria urine Example Terms: glycosuria = glycos (sugar) + uria (urine) sugar in the urine thyroiditis = thyroid (thyroid gland) + itis (inflammation) inflammation of the thyroid gland Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 10 December 2020 The Respiratory System This system, which supplies oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide, consists of the nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and lungs. Example Terms: apnea = a (without) + pnea (breathing) absence of breathing hypoxia = hypo (below or deficient) + ox (oxygen) + ia (condition of) low level of oxygen in tissue Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning bronch/o, bronchi/o bronchus a- without laryng/o larynx brady- slow nas/o, rhin/o nose bronch/o-, bronch/i- bronchus or/o mouth, opening dys- difficult ox/o oxygen hypo- below or deficient phren/o diaphragm super-, supra- above or excessive pleur/o pleura pneum/o, pneumon/o air, lung Word Part: Suffix Meaning pulmon/o lung -ia condition of sinus/o sinus cavity -oxia oxygen thorac/o, thorac/i, thoracic/o thorax, chest -phonia voice trache/o trachea -pnea breathing Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 11 December 2020 The Digestive System This system, which allows the body to absorb nutrients from food and fluids, consists of the tract from the oral cavity to the anus. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning bucc/o cheek anti- against cheil/o lip dys- difficulty cholecyst/o gallbladder hyper- excessive dent/i, dent/o teeth enter/o intestine Word Part: Suffix Meaning gastr/o stomach -cele hernia gingiv/o gums -emesis vomit gloss/o tongue -ia condition of hepat/o liver -lith stone phag/o eating, swallowing -pepsia digestion proct/o anus and rectum -phagia eat or swallow sial/o salivary glands -scope device for visual examination stomat/o mouth -scopy visual examination Example Terms: dysphagia = dys (difficulty) + phag (eating, swallowing) + ia (condition of) excessive vomiting hyperemesis = hyper (excessive) + emesis (vomit) excessive vomiting Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 12 December 2020 The Urinary System This system, which removes wastes and toxins from the body, consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Word Part: Root Meaning Word Part: Prefix Meaning cyst/o bladder an- without glomerul/o glomerulus dys- difficult lith/o stone peri- around nephr/o, ren/o kidney poly- much, many noct/o night retro- backward, behind olig/o little, few py/o pus Word Part: Suffix Meaning pyel/o pelvis -algia pain ur/o, urin/o urine -ectomy removal ureter/o ureter -ia condition urethr/o urethra -lith stone -megaly enlargement Example Terms: dysuria = dys (difficult) + ur (urine) + ia (condition) difficult or painful urination nephrectomy = nephr (kidney) + ectomy (removal) surgical removal of a kidney Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 15 December 2020 Additional Resources To provide you with additional practice to learn medical terminology, the Academic Center for Excellence suggests using the following resources: • Nursing Root Words Flashcards https://www.studystack.com/flashcard-689838 This site can help you learn nursing terminology root words using a variety of methods including flashcards, matching games, hangman, crossword puzzles, and quizzes. • Medical Terminology Prefix/Suffix/Root Word Quizzes http://msjensen.cbs.umn.edu/webanatomy/med_terminology/default.html On this site, you can practice medical terminology prefixes, suffixes, and root words with short quizzes. • Pronunciation Guide for Medical Terminology https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/pronunciations Students can click on selected medical terminology to hear the correct pronunciation. • Body Systems Flashcards https://medicalterminology.guide/flashcarddecklist On this site, nursing students can use flashcards to learn medical terms and abbreviations organized by body systems. • The PenguinProf Medical Terminology Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiEszFPRE8 This video simplifies breaking down medical terminology by prefixes, roots, and suffixes and provides visual aids, along with the explanations. • OchsNurse Medical Terminology Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul2lRQGuhwc In this video, you will learn how to break down common medical terminology with simple, straightforward explanations. Provided by Guide to Common Medical Terminology The Academic Center for Excellence 16 December 2020 • Adonis Health Informatics 1-Minute Medical Terminology Videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIea7kAMuAcDiUCosGD-lnA/featured These short one-minute videos present medical terminology with visual aids and explanations that make them fun and easy to remember. Playlist categories include: Medical Terminology for Beginners, Medical Terminology for Body Parts, Common Medical Prefixes, and Common Medical Suffixes. • The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study Resources https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323370813?role=student This book includes colorful illustrations, practical exercises, pronunciation guides, and content reviews. The chapters are organized by body systems, and words are broken down into simple explanations by prefixes, roots, and suffixes. The Evolve Study Resource that accompanies the book can be used online to do interactive activities, games, quizzes, and flash cards. • Medical Terminology: A Short Course by Davi-Ellen Chabner and Evolve Study Resource https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323444927?role=student In this book, you will be guided through the process of learning the most common prefixes, roots, and suffixes by labeling diagrams, practicing pronunciation, and completing reviews. Case studies demonstrate how the medical terms are used in practice. There is also an English to Spanish glossary to help Spanish-speaking students translate common medical terms. This book provides access to the Evolve website, which includes word games, learning exercises, audio pronunciations, animations, an anatomy coloring book, and electronic flash cards. Charts adapted from Collins, C. E. (2014) A short course in medical terminology (3rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.