This document provides an overview of medical terminology including:
- Medical terminology is the language used by healthcare professionals and includes specialized terms, abbreviations, and symbols.
- Terms are built from word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and sometimes prefixes to give precise meanings and prevent confusion.
- Users should learn the meaning of each part of medical terms and practice spelling, pronunciation, and identifying plural forms.
- Standard abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations should be used carefully to prevent errors.
3. Medical Terminology
• Language used by health care
professionals
– Includes specialized terms, abbreviations, and
symbols
• Precise terms prevent confusion and error
• Do not use when communicating with
patients
4. Building Blocks
• Word root
– Gives word its main meaning
– All medical terms have at least one root
– Refers to structure and function of body
• Combining form
– Word root plus vowel
(continued)
5. Building Blocks
• Combining vowel
– Links word root to next word part
– Usually “o,” but can be “a,” “e,” “i,” or “u”
6. Question
• What word part is “cardi”?
A. Word root
B. Combining form
C. Combining vowel
7. Answer
• A. Word root
• Cardi
– Word root meaning heart
– Combining form
• Cardi/o
– Combining vowel
• “o”
8. Building Blocks
• Suffix
– Attaches to end of word roots and combining
forms to add to or change meaning
– All medical terms have suffix
9. Question
• Which of the following suffixes means
pain?
A. -cide
B. -ical
C. -algia
10. Answer
• C. -algia
• Suffix -cide
– To kill or destroy
• Suffix -ical
– Pertaining to
• Suffix -algia
– Pain
11. Building Blocks
• Prefix
– Attaches to beginning of word roots and
combining forms to add to or change meaning
– Not all, but many medical terms have prefix
12. Question
• In the word hypothyroidism, what word part
is hypo?
A. Word root
B. Suffix
C. Prefix
13. Answer
• C. prefix
• Prefix hypo = less than or under
• Word root thyroid = thyroid gland
• Suffix -ism = condition
• Hypothyroidism meaning
– Condition created by less than normal levels of
thyroid hormones
15. Deciphering Medical Terms
• Start from right and work left
– Identify meaning of suffix
– Identify meaning of word root
– Identify meaning of prefix
• If one exists
16. Example
• Cardiology
– Suffix -ology = study of
– Word root cardi = heart
– Prefix = (none in this word)
– Meaning
• Study of the heart
17. Example
• Polyarthritis
– Suffix -itis = inflammation
– Word root arthr = joint
– Prefix poly = many or much
– Meaning
• Inflammation of many joints
18. Question
• A patient is having intercostal pain.
Decipher the medical term to determine
where this pain would be located.
A. Between the ribs
B. In the abdomen
C. In the head or neck
19. Answer
• A. Between the ribs
• Suffix -al = pertaining to
• Word root cost = rib
• Prefix inter = between
• Combine word parts to learn that patient is
having pain between ribs
20. Spelling and Pronunciation
• Accuracy critical
• Some words sound the same
– But spelled differently
• One letter can completely change meaning
• Memorize pronunciation and plural form
guides
21. Question
• What is the guideline for making a plural
form if the term ends in -ex or -ix?
A. Change the -ex or -ix to -es
B. Change the -ex or -ix to -ices
C. Add an -e to the end of the word
22. Answer
• B. Change the -ex or -ix to –ices
• If term ends in -ex or -ix, plural usually
formed by changing -ex or -ix to -ices
23. Medical Abbreviations and Symbols
• Shorthand
• Many common
– Others vary
• Use only those listed on facility’s approved
list
– If not on facility’s approved list, cannot be used
24. Question
• True or False:
– If the provider writes the order “up ad lib,” it
means the patient is to always walk with the
assistance of a health care professional.
25. Answer
• False
• Ad lib = freely or at will
• Up ad lib = patient can get up and move
about freely and at own will
30. Aids to Learning
• Purchase medical dictionary
– Choose one most helpful to individual needs
• Use study habits to build on own learning
style
– Visual, auditory, or kinesthetic
31. Question
• Which of the following would be a visual
study technique to learning?
A. Practice by writing the words down
B. Read medical terms aloud
C. Draw and color images of terms
32. Answer
• A. Practice by writing the words down
• Writing terms
– Visual
• Speaking words aloud
– Auditory
• Drawing and coloring images
– Kinesthetic
