testing

2. Studying Medical Terminology
1. Analyze words by dividing them into
component parts.
2. Relate the medical terms to the structure
and function of the human body.
3. Be aware of spelling and pronunciation
problems.

3. Origins of Medical Terminology
• Greek and Latin languages
• Ancient Greeks are considered the fathers
of modern medicine
• Origins of some medical terms relate to
history, poetry, mythology, geography,
physical objects and ideas.

4. Medical Terminology
• Functional language
• Has rules for grammar, spelling and
pronunciation

5. Medical Terms
• Two main categories:
1. Constructed terms
2. Nonconstructed terms

6. Constructed Terms
• Made up of multiple word parts
• Parts are combined to form a new word
• Know word parts  know constructed
term

7. Nonconstructed Terms
• Not formed by word parts
• Must be memorized

8. Nonconstructed Terms
• Can be derived from:
1. Names of people Eponyms –
ex: Bartolommeo Eustachio 
eustachian tube

9. Nonconstructed Terms
• Can be derived from:
2. Other languages
ex: plate = flat object in Old French

10. Nonconstructed Terms
• Can be derived from:
3. Acronyms = initial letters of words in a
compound term
ex: LASIK = laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis
in situ = in the natural or original position or place
keratomileusis = keratoplasty in which a piece of the cornea is
removed, frozen, shaped to correct refractive error, and
reinserted

11. Nonconstructed Terms
• Can be derived from:
4. Abbreviations
ex: UA = Urinalysis

12. Word Analysis
• When a constructed term is formed,
individual __________ ___________ are
assembled to create a term with a new
meaning.
word parts

13. Word Analysis
• What is the main component or the
foundation of any word?
word root
ex: cardi = heart

14. Word Analysis
• What is the word part that is affixed to
the beginning of a word?
Prefix
ex: epi = upon, over, above
epi- + gastric  epigastric

15. Word Analysis
• What is the word part that is affixed to
the ending of a word?
Suffix
ex: -ectomy = surgical removal
bunion + -ectomy  bunionectomy

16. Word Analysis
• Some word roots require a vowel to add:
1. a suffix that begins with a consonant
ex: -logy = study of
cardi / o / logy  cardiology

17. Word Analysis
• Some word roots require a vowel to add:
2. another word root when forming a term.
ex: gastr / o + enterology  gastroenterology

18. Word Analysis
• What is the term for this vowel?
combining vowel
Most commonly “o”
sometimes “i” or “e”

19. Word Analysis
• What is the term for a word root plus a
combining vowel?
combining form
ex: cardi / o

20. Singular to Plural
• If the term ends in:
1. -a  add an -e
ex: vertebra  vertebrae

21. Singular to Plural
• If the term ends in:
2. -is  change to -es
ex: diagnosis  diagnoses

22. Singular to Plural
• If the term ends in:
3. -itis  change to -itides
ex: gastritis  gastritides

23. Singular to Plural
• If the term ends in:
4. -on  drop the –on and add –a
ex: ganglion  ganglia

24. Singular to Plural
• If the term ends in:
5. -um  drop the –um and add –a
ex: myocardium  myocardia

25. Other Rules to Remember
1. When adding a suffix starting with a
vowel to a combining form, drop the
combining vowel.
ex: arthr / o + -itis  arthritis

26. Other Rules to Remember
2. Prefixes do not require combining vowels
to join with other word parts.
Example: epi- / gastric  epigastric

27. Other Rules to Remember
3. Infrequently, a prefix drops its ending
vowel to combine with another word
part.
ex: ____________

28. Other Rules to Remember
4. Deciphering of a medical term:
a. Breaking the word into its word parts
b. Defining the suffix
c. Defining the prefix
d. Defining the word root or combining form
ex: epigastric