MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY The Language of the Health Profession

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY The Language of the Health Profession

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.

ROOT WORDS A root is the foundation or basic meaning of a word. May appear with a prefix or with a suffix, or between a prefix or suffix.

ROOT WORDS cardi - root for heart hepat- root for liver neur - root for nerve nephr - root for kidney cyt- root for cell

PREFIX The prefix is a part of the word that precedes the word root and changes its meaning. Often indicates location, time, or number.

PREFIX pre - prefix means before peri- prefix means around hemi - prefix means half micro - prefix means small neo- prefix means new

SUFFIX A suffix is the word ending that follows the word root and changes its meaning. Often indicates the procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.

SUFFIX - itis - suffix means inflammation - ology - suffix means the study of - ectomy- suffix means surgical removal - plast- suffix means surgical repair

Cardiology Cardi - root means heart. -ology - suffix means the study of. Cardiology - the study of the heart.

Nephritis Nephr - root words means kidney -itis - suffix means inflammation Nephritis means inflammation of the kidney

Break down and define the following medical terms. pericarditis leukocyte hepatitis neuroplasty

pericarditis P e r ic a r id its P e r im e a n s a ro u n d - c a r d im e a n s th e h e a rt - itis m e a n s in fla m m a tio n

leukocyte Leuko- prefix means white cyte - root word means cell Leukocyte means white cell

hepatitis hepat - root word means liver -itis - suffix means inflammation hepatitis - means inflammation of the liver

neuroplasty neuro - root word means nerve or nerves -plasty - suffix means surgical repair neuroplasty means surgical repair of the nerve

Combining Forms Combining form consists of the word root and a connecting vowel to make it easier to pronounce and attach another root word or suffix. Combining form for heart is cardi or cardio Combining form associated with cells is cyt or cyto

Basic Rules for the Combining Vowel The combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a vowel. (neuritis) The combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant. (neuroplasty)

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