Medical Terminology
1. Word Parts
Medical terms are often built from three main components:
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Prefix (at the beginning): Often indicates location, time, number, or status
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Example: “hyper-“ = excessive
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Root (main part): Usually indicates the body part involved
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Example: “cardi” = heart
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Suffix (at the end): Often indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or disorder
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Example: “-itis” = inflammation
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Example Video : Click Here
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“Carditis” = cardi (heart) + -itis (inflammation) = inflammation of the heart
2. Common Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| brady- | slow | bradycardia (slow heart rate) |
| tachy- | fast | tachypnea (fast breathing) |
| hypo- | below, deficient | hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) |
| hyper- | above, excessive | hypertension (high blood pressure) |
3. Common Roots
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cardi/o | heart | cardiology |
| gastr/o | stomach | gastritis |
| neur/o | nerve | neurology |
| hemat/o | blood | hematology |
4. Common Suffixes
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -itis | inflammation | tonsillitis |
| -ectomy | surgical removal | appendectomy |
| -ology | study of | dermatology |
| -oma | tumor | carcinoma |
5. Sample Terms and Meanings
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Dermatology = dermat (skin) + -ology (study of) → study of skin
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Nephrectomy = nephr (kidney) + -ectomy (removal) → surgical removal of a kidney
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Osteoarthritis = oste/o (bone) + arthr (joint) + -itis (inflammation) → inflammation of bone and joint
Exercises on Medical Terminology
Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology
Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms