Basics

Before we can start in with some new and interesting medical terms, you need to learn a few fundamentals of how medical terminology is constructed as a language.

There are three basic parts to medical terms: a word root (usually the middle of the word and its central meaning), a prefix (comes at the beginning and usually identifies some subdivision or part of the central meaning), and a suffix (comes at the end and modifies the central meaning as to what or who is interacting with it or what is happening to it).   An example may make better sense.

WORD ROOT

therm = heat
hypothermia (less heat), thermometer (measuring heat)

Let’s look at a real medical term and take it apart.

Don’t get blown away by that big, intimidating word! We haven’t introduced word roots yet. I just wanted to demonstrate the major parts of a medical term. Let’s see how prefix and suffix changes can alter the meaning of a term without changing its central meaning by keeping the root the same.

PREFIX CHANGE:

SUFFIX CHANGE:

Again, we haven’t introduced heart terms yet. These basics are just to introduce the parts of medical terms and demonstrate how moving the parts around modifies the central meaning without changing the “root” (cardio).

Useful prefixes and suffixes

Following, in no particular order, are frequently used word beginnings (prefixes) and word endings (suffixes) used to make up many medical terms. You don’t need to memorize whether an item is a prefix or suffix, or even if it is a word root, just what it means! I know this is all “Greek” to you (and some of it really is!), but there will be so much reinforcement as we go along that you can’t help but remember meanings. Be patient with yourself.

Just a few more that you will see and hear over and over again.

Whenever you see these endings, -graphy, -graph, -gram, they relate to recording an image such as an X-ray, CT or MRI scan or a written recording with pen and moving paper. Mammography is the process of recording, i.e. the machine and procedure. Mammogram is the image itself, the X-ray. A recording of heart activity is called an electrocardiogram using an electrocardiograph. A recording of brain activity is an electroencephalogram and the medical procedure and machine is called electroencephalography (whew, what a mouthful!).

To see a lung specialist, you would visit a pulmonologist. To see a specialist in nerve and brain disease, make an appointment with a neurologist. If you have a bad eye infection, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist. Your rheumatism acting up? You would want to find a physician specializing in rheumatology.

Word roots for organs

Before we start learning specific medical terms for various systems of the body, we need to know word roots that identify major organs in the body. Note in each example, I have used some prefix or suffix you have already been introduced to. I am not going to give you the meanings! If you are unsure, go back and review and return to this page.

Note that some organs have more than one word root. Example: “masto” and “mammo”. Typically, one is derived from the Greek and one from Latin. Go figure! But, you need to know both roots because you may see either of them used.

The word ending “-itis” is going to be used repeatedly. It means inflammation, and I want to make sure you know what that means. An infected cut is an inflammation. “Pink eye” is an
inflammation. But, four things must be present to define inflammation: pain, redness, heat and swelling (dolor, rubor, calor and tumor in Latin!). But, inflammation of an internal organ such as the stomach or kidney must be defined by a physician relying on signs and symptoms, and, possibly, the need for a biopsy (tissue sample) to examine under a microscope by a specialist in identifying the causes of diseased tissues, a pathologist.

Are we learning anything yet? Take the self-assessment quiz on the next page(http://medenglishedu.com/index.php?c=content&a=show&id=520) and find out. Before you do, you might want to back up and review, especially, all those organ word roots. You will see them again soon!