Learning Medical Terminology Recognizing the StemsPrefixesSuffixes Prepared by
Learning Medical Terminology Recognizing the Stems/Prefixes/Suffixes Prepared by T. V. Tran 1
It’s all Greek (or Latin) to me! Learning and understanding the roots of most words in the field of Health and Medicine can help you to understand what is being discussed ORIGIN OF MEDICAL TERMS Hippocrates was a Greek physician and is known as the “father of medicine. ” 75% of medical terms are based on either Greek or Latin words. 2
Two basic rules for building medical words: Rule 1: A stem word (the main meaning) is used before a suffix that begins with a vowel l Scler/ + Osis = Sclerosis = (hardening) (abnormal condition) l Rule 2: A combining vowel – usually an o (Sometimes ‘a, ’ ‘e, ’ ‘i, ’ ‘u, ’ or ‘y. ’is used to link a stem word to a suffix that begins with a consonant and to link a stem word to another stem word to form a compound word. l Colon + o + scope = colonoscope (colon) (instrument to view) Colon + o + scopy = the procedure Sclerosis Colonoscopy 3
Stem (or root) words – main stem (part) of word and can appear at the beginning (prefix) in the middle or at the end of the word (suffix) l l l l l cardi gastr or ventr hepat nephr or ren oste or ossi thorac or steth arthr cyt colp derm = = = = = heart stomach liver kidney bone chest joint root for cell vagina skin 4
Compound Words A combining vowel is used to link a stem word to another one for a compound word such as: l Gastr + o + enter = itis = gastroenteritis (stomach) (intestine) (inflammation) l Oste + o + arthr + itis = osteoarthritis (bone) (joint) (inflammation) 5
Suffixes pt 1 l A suffix is a word ending. Changing the suffix gives medical words a new meaning. l Usually indicates a procedure, condition, disorder or disease. l Most suffixes are derived from Greek or Latin words. (A suffix that is well known is – ology – the study of) 6
What is a SUFFIX part 2 A suffix is the word ending that follows the word stem and changes its meaning. A suffix often indicates the: l procedure l condition l disorder l disease 7
Suffixes – terms used in surgery Notice the connecting vowel l Enterotomy l Appendectomy l Gastrorrhaphy l Cystoplasty l Steatorrhea l Tomy – cut or incision l Rhaphy- sewing l Plasty – molding/repair l Rhea - discharge 8
Quick review of surgical terms l Nephrotomy is… l Incision of the kidney l Gastroplasty is… l Surgical operation for morbid obesity that changes the shape of the stomach l Colporrhaphy is… l surgical repair of a defect in the vaginal wall l Appendectomy is… l Removal/cutting of appendix 9
Suffixes = word endings l Arthr/o + centesis = arthrocentesis (joint) (puncture) l Thorac/o + -tomy = thoracotomy (chest) (incision) l Gastro/o + -megaly = gastromegaly (stomach) (enlargement) l Colon/o + -scopy = colonoscopy (colon) (see/search) 10
Suffix-disease/change in body/used for diagnoses l Hepatitis: hepa - liver; itis- inflammation of l Splenomegaly: Spleno – spleen; megalylarge l Acrophobia: acro – edge; phobia- fear of l Artheriosclerosis: atherio-artery; sclerosishardening of l Cardiogram: cardio-heart; gram - record or write l Laparoscopy: laparo-abdomen; scopy- to look in or search 11
PREFIXES A prefix is a word element located at the beginning of a word. l Prefixes can alter the meaning of the word. l Usually indicates a number, time, position, direction, color, or sense of negation. 12
prefix means before/in front l peri - prefix means around l hemi - prefix means half l micro - prefix means small l Neo - prefix means new l a part of the word that precedes word root and changes its changes l Often indicates location, time, or number. 13
Some Prefixes l Peri + cardio + logy = pericardiology (around) (heart-pericardium) (study of) l Hyper + therm + -ia = hyperthermia (excessive) ( heat) (condition) l Intra + muscul + -ar = intramuscular (in, within) (muscle) (relating to) l Macro + gloss + -ia = macroglossia (large - enlargement) (tongue) (condition) 14
Cardi ---? Do you remember what cardi means? – it is a root that means … l -ogist – suffix that means one who l -ology – is a suffix that means the study of -----------------------So Cardiology is… Cardiologist is… heart. the study of the heart. one who studies the heart. 15
Review quiz – 10 questions 1. All medical terms can be broken down into word parts. The three word parts are the prefix, the stem (root), and the suffix. Usually, only two of these parts are present in a medical term. The word parts, then, of a medical term may include the _____, the stem, and the suffix. prefix 16
2. The part of the word which gives basic meaning to the word is called the ______. the stem 17
3. Dermatology is _______________. The study of skin The branch of medicine concerned with the study of the skin, diseases of the skin, and the relationship of cutaneous lesions to systemic disease 18
4. Osteo is a stem which means bone. A person who has osteo-arthritis, for example, has inflammation of the ______ and joint. bone 19
5. Rhino and naso are stems which mean nose. A person who has rhinitis has inflammation of the _____. nose 20
6. So…rhinoplasty is ______________. Surgery to reshape the nose 21
7. Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. 22
8. Laryngo is a stem meaning larynx or voice box. A laryngoscopy is an examination of the interior of the _____. Larynx 23
9. Phlebo and veno are stems which mean vein. A phlebectomy is the _______________ Surgical removal of veins such as varicose veins on the surface of the legs. 24
10. Arterio is a stem which means artery. A person who has arteriosclerosis has ____________. Hardening of the arteries 25
There are many sources for medical terminology on the internet. Always consult your instructor for recommended ones. http: //medlineplus. gov/ http: //www. medic 8. com/Medical. Dictionary. htm http: //www. nlm. nih. gov/ http: //www. medterms. com/script/main/hp. asp http: //www. medicinenet. com/diseases_and_cond itions/article. htm 26
- Slides: 26