Medical Terminology Introduction

1. Medical Terminology
Week 1

2. Introduction
As a potential health science student, it is very important to learn medical
terminology.
Learning medical terminology will help you better understand and
comprehend the material you read for course work. When you have a
deeper understanding of medical terms you will be able to answer test
questions on exam more efficiently.
There are so many medical terms that it is impossible to memorize them
all. Medical terms are derived from word parts.
The best method of improving your knowledge of medical terminology is
to understand how those word parts form the medical terms.
Once you have that basic understanding you can memorize the parts and
be able to understand the meaning of any medical term.

3. Contents
•Definition of Medical Terminology
•Importance of medical terminology
•Medical word elements
•Word roots
•Combining forms
•Suffixes
•Prefixes
•Basis rules
•Eponyms
•Acronyms, abbreviations and symbols

4. Learning Methods
• Dissection of medical terms
• Use a medical dictionary and online resources
• Defining medical terms
• Building medical terms
• Pronunciation guidelines

5. Definition, an alternative view
• Medical Terminology is language that is used to accurately
describe the human body and associated components,
conditions, processes and procedures in a science-based
manner.
• The words, terms, abbreviations and symbols which makes
up the language of medicine are referred to as the
terminology of the medical field.
• Like every other language, medical terminology has evolved
over time and will continue to change.

6. Importance of Medical Terminology
•Simplify communication and breakdown language barriers
•Standardize common language methods
•Improve patient care and safety

7. WHY KNOWING MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY IS IMPORTANT
• Medical terminology is the universal language used by healthcare
professionals to communicate with each other. Being able to
decipher and pronounce these terms is necessary to understanding
what is happening with a patient.
• Many different careers in healthcare require a clear understanding
of medical terminology, including medical coders and billers.
Without clear communication between providers and medical
coders and billers, patients are put in an unsafe environment and
may receive improper treatment.
• Medical terms and common abbreviations are used in daily
documentation. If the terms are unclear or confusing to the coder, it
can result in inaccurate coding and reimbursement.

8. Rule #1
•To define medical terms, divide or
slash them into their component
parts; these word components are
called:
•Prefixes
•Suffixes
•Roots/combining forms

9. Rule #2 • Use the combining vowel “o” when a suffix begin with a
consonant.
• i.e. Termin/o/logy
• Use the combining vowel “o” when combining two or more
roots, only if the second root begins with a consonant.
• i.e. Pneum/o/thorax
• Do not use the combining vowel “o” if you are combining a
second root that begins with a vowel or a suffix that begins
with a vowel (a, e, I, o, u, and sometime y)
• i.e. Pneum/arthr/osis
• Add –y to a word to indicate a procedure (gastroscopy) or –ly
to indicate an act or process (splenomegaly)

10. Rule #3
• The suffix, like -osis always denotes a condition (usually
abnormal). When combined with color for red: such as
erythr/o or the color for white: such as leuk/o, it
represents a condition of abnormally increase in blood
cells.
• Most of the time, word component denoting color are
used as prefixes. However, sometimes the are the root
of the medical term.

11. Word Root
• The word root is the main body of the word and helps with the
fundamental meaning of the word.
• The word root will usually but not always refer to body
systems, organs, anatomy, diagnosis and medical procedures.
• A medical term can have more than one root.
• Let’s look at this example word esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
• The suffix (-scopy) and the combining vowel (o) will be covered
below.

13. Prefixes
• The prefix is placed before the word root to modify or vary the
meaning.
• You will find that when the prefix is written detached it is
commonly followed by a hyphen (-).
• The prefix (hyper-) means excessive or higher than normal. In the
example below the prefix (hypo-) means below or lower than
normal.
• The word root (volemia) means volume of plasma in the body or
“the condition” of the volume of plasma in the body.

15. Suffixes
• The suffix is placed at the end of a word root or word part to
modify or vary the meaning.
• Suffixes can indicate a condition, disease or a procedure. When a
suffix is written detached it is preceded by a hyphen (-).
• This indicates that another word part precedes it. In the example
below the suffix (-itis) means inflammation.
• The suffix (-scopy) means observation, visualization or
examination.
• The word root (gastr) pertains to stomach.

17. Combining Vowel
• The combining vowel is usually an (o) which is often inserted
between word roots to make a word easier to pronounce.
• Combining vowel usually connects one word root to another word
root and also connects a word root to a suffix.
• The combining vowel does not modify or vary the meaning.
• When a word root is written with a combining vowel a forward slash
is used, a word root and combining vowel = combining form.
Example: esophag/o; gastr/o; duoden/o
Example: esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Try saying the word without the (o)!

19. To get the meaning of a word, read it from the suffix to the
beginning and then across.
In other words, read the suffix first, then the prefix if there is one,
and finally the root.
• Example 1: HEMATOLOGY, -logy (study of) + hemat/o (blood) =
study of the blood
• Example 2: HEPATITIS, -itis (inflammation of) + hepat/o (liver) =
inflammation of the liver
• Example 3: INTRAVENOUS, -ous (pertaining to) + intra- (within)
+ ven/o (vein) = pertaining to within a vein
• Example 4: TACHYCARDIA, -ia (condition of) + tachy- (fast)
+ cardi/o (heart) = condition of a fast heartbeat

26. Don't get confused over similar word parts and terms.
Some word parts and terms are similar in both spelling and pronunciation but
opposite in meaning. It's important to differentiate between these to avoid a
misleading, possibly harmful diagnosis or treatment plan in your career.
Examples of these are:
• hyper- (higher-than-normal) and hypo- (lower-than-normal)
• sarc/o (flesh) and sacr/o (sacrum)
• -tomy (incision, cutting into), -ectomy (excision, removal of), and -
stomy(opening)
• -plasia (formation), -phagia (eating or swallowing), and -phasia (speech)
• hematuria (blood in the urine) and uremia (high levels of urea in the blood)
• Menorrhea (normal menstrual flow) and menorrhagia (abnormally heavy
menstruation)

30. General Overview