BIOM1010 Medical Terminology Guide

8/12/2019 BIOM1010 Medical Terminology Guide

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GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

BIOM1010 Engineering in Medicine and Biology

Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology is not meant to mystify, confuse,

or confront.

BUT IT DOES!

Medical terms are based on:

Greek or Latin

There is continuous evolution.

Latin is predominant. A fundamental understanding of

word construction is required to crack the code.

Suggested internet medical dictionary:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

An easier way:

Google "medical dictionary" and bookmark the ones you like.



FUNDAMENTALS OF

MEDICAL VOCABULARY

1. Break down word and identify its parts:

prefix

suffix

root

2. Identify key components of anatomy and physiology.

3. Relate words and their parts to each body system.

4. “Construct” meaning.

e.g. periosteumsubcutaneous

suprarenal



R ELATING TERMINOLOGY TO BODY SYSTEMS

A very brief synopsis

Tissue similar cells

Organs defined shape consisting of

various tissues

Parenchyma tissue specific for a

particular organ

cyt(o)- cells

-cyte

Tissue types :

Epithelium

Endothelium

fibro -

l ip (o) -

oste(o) -

my(o) -

neuro -gli -



L iquid tissue:

haem(o)- blood

-aemia blood

lymph- lymph fluid

Pathology:

-osis necrosis

fibrosis

sclerosis

-itis inflammation

-lith stone

Tumour Diseases:

-oma tumour

-angioma vascular tissue tumour

-carcinoma malignant tumour

from epithelial cells

-sarcoma malignant tumour fromconnective tissue



BODY SYSTEMS

Digestion:

gastr(o)- stomach

chol- bile

cholecys-t gall bladder

col- colon

Respiration:

laryng(o) - larynx

bronch(o)- bronchi

pleur- pleura

pneumo- air/lung

Circulation:

cardi(o)- heart

arteri- artery

phleb(o) - vein

also ven(o)-

vas(o)- vessel

lymph- lymph



Excretory system:

ren- kidney

nephr(o)- kidney

pyel(o)- renal pelvis

uretero- ureter

cyst(o)- bladder

urethr(o)- urethra

ur(o)- urine

Nervous system:

encephal- brain

cerebr(o)- brain,cerebrum

Sensory:

-esthesia feeling

rhin(o)- nose

ot- ear

-opia vision



Pref ix Meaning Examples

a-, an- without,lack of, not Aphasia (without speech)

Anaemia (lack of blood)

ab- away from Abductor (leading away from)Aboral (away from mouth)

ad- toward, to, near Adductor (leading toward)

Adrenal (near the kidney)

ambi-, both Ambidextrous (ability to use both hands

ampho- equally)

Amphogenic (producing young of both

sexes)

amphi- on both sides, Amphibious (living on both land in water)

double Amphithymia (dual mental state of

depression and elation)

ana- up, toward, apart Anatomy (to cut apart)

Anacatharsis (vomiting up)

ante- before, in front of,

forward

Antecubital (before elbow)

forward Anteflex (to bend forward)

anti- against, opposing Antisepsis (against infection)

Anticarious (against cavities)

ap-, apo- separation from, Apobiosis (death of a part)

derived from Apocleisis (aversion to food)

aut-, auto- self Autoanalysis (self analysis)

Autoerotism (sexual self love)

bi- two,double,twice Bifocal (two foci)

Biarticulate (double joint)

cata- down,under,lower,

against

Catabolism (breaking down)

Catalepsy (reduced movement)circum- around Circumflex (winding around)

Circumarticular (around joint)

co-, com-, with, together Commissure (coming together)

Conductor (leading together)

contra- opposed, against Contralateral (opposite side)

Contraception (prevention of conception)

de- down, from Dehydrate (remove water from)

Decay (break down)

di- two, twice Dicephalous (two headed)Dichromic (having two colors)



dia- between, through,

apart,

across,

completely

Diapedesis (ooze through)

Diaphragm (wall across)

Diagnosis (complete knowledge)

dis- apart or free from Disinfection (infection)Dissect (cut apart)

Disarticulation (separation at a joint)

dys- difficult, bad, painful Dyskinesis (difficult motion)

Dyspepsia (bad digestion)

Dyspareunia (painful coitus)

e-, ec-, ex- out of, from Enucleate (remove whole from)

ect-, ecto-,

exo-

outer, outside,

situated on

Ectal (on the surface)

Ectoderm (outer skin)

Ectocytic (outside of cell)Exogenic (originating outside)

em-,* en- in Empyema (pus in)

Encranial (in the cranium)

*em- before b, m, and p

end-, endo-,

ent-, ento-

within, inner Endaural (within the ear)

Endocranial (within cranium)

Entiris (inner eye color)

Entocele (internal hernia)

ep-, epi- upon, on, over Epicostal (upon a rib)Epidermis (outer skin layer)

Eponychia (infection over the nail

bed)

eu- normal, good, well, healthy Eucrasia (normal health)

Euplastic (healing well)

extra-,

extro-

outside of, beyond,

outward

Extraoral (outside of mouth)

Extroversion (turning inside out)

hemi- half Hemiepilepsy (epilepsy on one side

of body)

Hemilingual (half of tongue)

hyper- excessive, above,

beyond

Hyperactive (overactive)

Hypertension (above normal blood

pressure)

hyp-, hypo- under, deficient,

beneath

Hypalgia (reduced pain sense)

Hypothyroidism (deficiency of

thyroid activity)

in-,* in- in, into, within Implant (insert into)

Injection (forcing fluid into)



*im- before b, m, and p

infra- below, beneath Infraorbital (beneath eye)

Infracostal (below a rib)

inter- between Intercostal (between ribs)

Internodal (between nodes)intra- within Intracardiac (within heart)

Intraocular (within the eye)

intro- into, within Introversion turning inward)

Introrsus (turned in)

mes-, meso- middle Mesencephalon (midbrain)

Mesonasal (middle of nose)

meta- change, beyond Metachrosis (color change)

Metabasis (disease changes)micr-, micro- small Micracoustic (faint sounds)

Microbe (minute organism)

mult-, multi- many Multiangular (many angles)

Multiform (many shapes)

neo- new, recent Neoblastic (new tissue growth)

Neonatal (new born)

pan- all, entire Panacea (cure-all)

Pantalgia (entire body pain)

para- beside, beyond, after Paracardiac (beside the heart)Paracyesis (pregnancy outside the

uterus)

per- through, excessive Permeable (may pass through)

Peracute (excessively sharp)

peri- around Periosteum (around bone)

Peribulbar (around eye bulb)

poly- many, much, excessive Polycystic (many cysts)

Polydipsia (excessive thirst)

post- after, behind Postoperative (after surgery)Postocular (behind the eye)

pre-, pro- before, in front of Prenatal (before birth)

Project (throw forward)

pseud-,

pseudo-

false Pseudarthrosis (false joint)

Pseudocyesis (false pregnancy)

re- again, backward Reflex (bend back)

Regurgitation (vomiting)

retro- backward, behind Retrograde (going backward)

Retrolingual (behind tongue)



semi- half Semiconscious (partly aware)

Seminormal (half normal)

sub- under, beneath Subcutaneous (under the skin)

Subungual (beneath the nail)super-,

supra

above, superior, excess Superactivity (overactivity)

Suprarenal (above kidneys)

sym-,* syn- together, with Symmelia (fusion of limbs)

Synclinal (bent together)

*sym- before b, m, p, and ph.

trans- across, through Transection (cut across)

Transaortic (through aorta)

ultra- beyond, excess Ultravirus (very small virus)

Ultrasonic



Suf f ix Meaning Examples

-ac,-al,-ic,

-ous, -tic

pertaining to,

relating toCardiac (pertaining to the heart)

Neural (pertaining to nerve)

Haemorrhagic (relating to bleeding)Delirious (relating to mental disturbance)

Acoustic (pertaining to sound)

-algia,-dynia pain Neuralgia (pain in nerves)

Mastodynia (pain in breast)

-ate,-ize use, subject to Impregnate (to make pregnant)

Visualize (use imagination)

-cele protrusion (hernia) Cystocele (bladder hernia)

Rectocele (rectal protrusion into vagina)

-centesis surgical punctureto remove fluid

Paracentesis (from a body cavity)Thoracentesis (from chest cavity)

-cle, -cule,

-ole, -ola,

-ule, -ulum,

-ulus

small Follicle (little bag)

Molecule (small mass)

Arteriole, arteriola

-cyte cell Leukocyte (white blood cell)

Erythrocyte (red blood cell)

-ectomy, cutting out Lobectomy (of a lobe)

Appendectomy (of the appendix)

-emesis vomit Haematemesis (vomiting blood)

Hyperemesis (excessive vomiting)

-emia blood condition Leukemia (malignant blood disease)

Anaemia (lack of red blood cells)

-ent. -er,

-ist, -or

person or agent Recipient (one who receives)

Examiner (one who examines)

Oculist (eye physician)

Donor (one who donates)-esis, -ia,

-iasis, -ity

-osis, -sis

tion, -y

state or condition Paresis (partial paralysis)

Anaesthesia (not feeling)

Acidity (excess acid)

Narcosis (drugged state)

Inhalation (inhaling)

Therapy (treatment condition)

-form, -oid resembling,

shaped like

Fusiform (spindle shaped)

Ovoid (egg shaped)

-genesis beginning process,origin Pathogenesis (origin of disease)Homogenesis (young same as parent)



-gram,

-graphy

recording,

written record

Mammogram (x-ray of breast)

Cardiography (heart action record)

-graph instrument that records Cardiograph (heart action)

Encephalograph (brain function)

-ible, -ile capable, able Flexible (capable of bending)Contractile (able to contract)

-ites, -itis inflammation Tympanites (drumlike swelling of abdomen

Adenitis (inflammation of a gland)

-logy science, study of Biology (science of life)

Histology (study of tissues)

-oma tumour Carcinoma (malignant growth)

Sarcoma (cancerous tumour

-penia deficiency of,

lack of

Glycopenia (sugar in tissues)

Leukopenia (white blood cells)-pexy, -

pexis

fixation

storing

Nephropexy (of floating kidney)

Glycopexis (glycogen in liver)

-phagia,

-phagy

eating, devouring Geophagia (eating dirt or clay)

Aerophagy (swallowing air)

-phobia abnormal fear or

intolerance

Acrophobia (fear of heights)

Photophobia (of light)

-plasty surgical shaping or

formation

Rhinoplasty (nose formation)

Otoplasy (external ear)

-pnea breathing Apnea (absence of breathing)

Dyspnea (difficult breathing)

-ptosis prolapse, downward

displacement

Proctoptosis (prolapse of anus)

Nephroptosis (prolapse of kidney)

-rrhage,

-rrhagia

excessive flow Haemorrhage (excessive blood flow)

Menorrhagia (abnormal menses)

-rrhaphy suturing in place Herniorrhaphy (repair of hernia)

Osteorrhaphy (wiring of bone)

-rrhea flow or discharge Rhinorrhea (nasal discharge)Galactorrhea (breast milk)

-rrhexis rupture Enterorrhexis (intestinal rupture)

Metrorrhexis (rupture of uterus)

-stomy surgical opening Colostomy (colon to body surface)

Gastrostomy (into stomach)

-scope instrument for

examining

Microscope (minute objects)

Cystoscope (urinary bladder)

-scopy act of examining Microscopy (minute objects)

Cystoscopy (urinary bladder)-tome instrument for Cystotome (cutting into bladder)



Neurotome (dissecting nerves)

-tomy cutting, incision Cystotomy (of urinary bladder)

Phlebotomy (incision of vein)

BIOM1010 Medical Terminology Guide

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