Simply Put: Words
Prefixes
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
PrefixRoot WordCombining vowelCombining form
Suffix
Break words down into parts…
Medical terms
Many if not most of these terms usually have Latin or Greek origins.The Latin form is used to describe or
modify something, as in an adjective Ren/o means kidney and is used in the terms
renal disease and renal tubule.The Greek form is used to describe a
pathological finding.Nephr/o means kidney and is used in the
terms nephritis and nephropathy.
DIRECTIONAL PREFIXES
CONTRASTING PREFIXES
Prefixes – at the beginning of a word
Epi- upper, above
Extra- outsideHyper- above,increase
more than normal
Hypo- below, under,
decreased
Infra- below, beneath
Directional Prefixes
Inter- betweenIntra- withinMeta- beyondPer- throughSub- below, under, decreased
Super- above, increased, more than normal
Supra- above, increased more than normal
Trans- across
Ultra- above, increased, more than normal
EPI-
SUB- HYPO-
EXTRA-
META-ULTRA-
SUPER-SUPRA-HYPER-
INFRA-
PER-
INTER- INTRA-
TRANS-
Directional
Transcontinental Trans | continental
Extraterristrial Extra | terrestrialIntercellular Inter | cellularEpicenter Epi | centerHypothermia Hypo | thermiaHyperactive Hyper | activeInfrastructure Infra | structureSubzero sub | zero
Some examples of words with directional prefixes…
Translocate trans | locateHypothyroid hypo | thyroidHyperthyroid hyper | thyroidSupranatural supra | naturalIntranasal intra | nasalSuperimposed super | imposedPerennial per | ennial
(through the years-year after year)
…and so, some medical words with directional prefixes.
HYPO-HYPER-
INFRA-SUB-HYPO-
FLASHCARDS: Below are two sets of prefixes. Why is each set grouped the way they are?
Ab- away from ab|ductionAd- toward ad|duction
Dys- difficult, painful, bad dys|phagiaEu- good, easy, normal eu|thyroid
Endo- within or inside endo|parasiteEx-Exo- without, out of, outside, away fromEcto-
Contrasting Prefixes
Poly- many, excessive poly|uriaOligo- scant, very little olig|uria
Pre- before pre|operativePeri- around peri|operativePost- after post|operative
Anti- against anti|emetic (vomiting)
A- without, no a|traumatic
An- without, no an|uria
Brady- slowTachy- fast
Mal- bad
Leuk- white
Bi- twice, two, doubleDi-
Extra Prefixes used in medicine
http://www.globalrph.com/medterm6b.htm
My favorite go to website for medical prefixes, roots, suffixes
A root is a word part that gives the essential meaning of the word
Root words may need a combing vowel, usually an “o” which usually makes the word easier to pronounce“i” and “e’ may also be used
Root words
The root word plus the combining vowel makes up the combining formOften written (and pronounced)
Ren/oGastr/oCardi/o
Rule 1:When the suffix or next word part begins with
a consonant use a combining vowelArthr/o and –scope = Arthroscope
Rule 2:Don’t need a combining vowel if the suffix
starts with a vowelGastr/o and –itis = gastritis
Rule 3:A combining vowel is used when two or more
root words are joined togetherGastr/o and enter/o and –it is = gastroenteritis
GastroenteritsNasolabial Colorectal
Most medical root words or combining forms usually describe a part of the body
Root words (prefixes?)
Py/o- pusPneum/o- lungs, airDerm/o- skinAden/o- glandBucc/o cheekCyt/o cell
UrinaryCyst/o- bladderNephr/o- kidneyRen/o- kidney
Skeletal and MuscleMy/o- muscleArthr/o- jointChondr/o- cartilageAxill/o- armpitOste/o- boneCost/o ribs
Head , Neck, and FootCephal/o- headEncephal/o- brainCervic/o neckCrani/o- skullPod/o- foot
CardiovascularThorac/o- chestCardi/o- heartVen/o- veinArteri/o arteryHem/a- blood
Eyes Ears NoseOpth/o- eyeOt/o- earRhin/o- noseNas/o- nose
DigestiveGastr/o- stomachLapar/o abdominal wallEnter/o- intestine (small
intestine)Col/o- colon (large intestine)Hep/a- liverPancreat/o pancreasSplen/o- spleen
Nervous systemNeur/o- nerveMyel/o- spinal cord
MouthOr/o mouthStomat/o mouthGloss/o tongueLabi/o lips
FunXanth/o yellowZo/o animal life
Xanthinuria - ?
Anatomystudy of body structure
Physiologystudy of body function
Pathologystudy of the nature, causes, and development
of abnormal conditionsEtiology
study of disease
The suffix -logy means the study of.
Study of…
-plasia describes formation, development, and growth of tissue and cell numbers.
-trophy describes formation, development, and increased size of tissue and cells.
Suffixes…tissues
Neoplasia = any abnormal growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is uncontrolled, more rapid than normal, and progressive
Tumors
Tumor Terms
Tumor: a distinct mass of tissue formed from a neoplasm (-oma means tumor or neoplasm)benign: not recurringmalignant: tending to spread and become life-
threatening
Prefixes used to describe tissue growth:a- = withouthypo- = less than normalhyper- = more than normaldys- = badana- = withoutneo- = new
Prefixes…tissues
Formation Terms
Anaplasa: change in the structure of cells and their orientation to each other
Aplasa: lack of development of an organ or tissue or cell
Dysplasia: abnormal growth or development of an organ or tissue or cell
Hyperplasia: abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue or cell
Formation TermsHypoplasia: incomplete or less than normal
development of an organ or tissue or cellAtrophy: decrease in size or complete wasting
of an organ or tissue or cellDystrophy: defective growth in the size of an
organ or tissue or cellHypertrophy: increase in size of an organ or
tissue or cell
Glands• Aden/o means gland.
– Exocrine glands secrete material into ducts.• Exo- means out; crine means to secrete.
– Endocrine glands secrete chemicals into the bloodstream for transportation to organs and other structures throughout the body.• Endo- means within; crine means to secrete.
Organs
An organ is a part of the body that performs a special function or functions.
Each organ has its own combining form or forms.See Table 2–2.
These combining forms usually have Latin or Greek origins.
1. The prefix___________means below. The prefix _________________means across.
a) Supra- a) Meta-b) Super- b) Infra-c) Inter- c) Transd) Sub- d) Ultra-
2. The prefix ___________means beyond. The prefix________________means between.
a) Hypo- a) Infra-b) Hyper- b) Intra-c) Meta- c) Inter-d) Per- d) Epi-
Thursday August 29
The prefix _________means many.olig- poly-an- eu-
The prefix ___________means outside, while the prefix ___________means inside.pre-, post- endo-, exo-hyper-, hypo- inter-, intra-
Bell Work Tuesday Sept ember 3
Which prefix means around?epi- supra-peri- meta-
Which prefix means very little or scant?anti- peri-oligo- an-
AnuriaPolyuriaOliguria
What is the prefix in each word above and what does each word mean?
True or False?Cardio- means bladderRhin0- means muscleArthro- means jointHepa-means liverHema-means kidneyNephro- means liverOsteo- means bone
Bell work Wednesday, September 4
Hepatic Lipidosis is a fatty ____________.
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the _____________.
Nephrotoxixity is a poisonous effect on the _________.
Top Related