Lesson 3.1 | Terminology & Abbreviations

Question 1

What are the components that medical terms are comprised of?

Answer 1

1. Root word (Foundation)
2. Prefix (Before Root)
3. Suffix (After Root)
4. Combining Vowels (Joins Components together)

Question 2

Explain a Root Word?

Answer 2

1. Main part or stem of a word
2. Conveys the essential meaning
3. Frequently indicates a body part

Ex:
Cardiopulmonary breaks down into:

Cardi is the root word meaning “heart”

Pulmon is the root word meaning “lungs”

Question 3

Explain Prefixes?

Answer 3

1. Appear at the beginning of a word
2. Often Describe location or intensity
3. Gives the root word it’s meaning

Note:
- Not all medical terms have prefixes
- Can create entirely different words or meanings
- Helps Indicate the meaning of unknown terms

Ex:
For the root word pnea (Breath), one can add the prefix

a- (without)

brady- (slow)

tachy- (rapid)

Question 4

Explain Suffixes?

Answer 4

1. Appear at the end of words
2. Indicate:
   - Procedure
   - Condition
   - Disease
   - Part of Speech

Question 5

Explain Combining Vowels?

Answer 5

1. Connects root word to a suffix or other root word.
2. Mostly cases are O, but can also be i or e

Ex:
Gastroenterology

Gastr/o + enter/o + logy

Stomach + intestines + study of

Question 6

cardi?

Answer 6

Heart (root)

ex:
tachycardia ( Fast heart rate)

Question 7

hepat?

Answer 7

Liver (root)

ex:
hepatomegaly (Enlargement of Liver)

Question 8

nephr?

Answer 8

Kidney (root)

ex:
nephropathy (Disease of the kidney)

Question 9

neur?

Answer 9

Nerves (root)

ex:
neurologist (Study of the mind)

Question 10

psych?

Answer 10

Mind (root)

Ex:
psychology (Study of the mind)

Question 11

thorac?

Answer 11

Chest (root)

Ex:
thoracic (study of the mind)

Question 12

hyper-?

Answer 12

over, excessive, high (Prefix)

Ex:
hyperventilation (fast Ventilation)

Question 13

hypo-?

Answer 13

under, below normal (prefix)

Ex:
hypothermia (Below normal body temperature)

Question 14

tachy-?

Answer 14

rapid, fast (prefix)

Ex:
tachycardia (fast heart rate)

Question 15

brady-?

Answer 15

slow (prefix)

Ex:
bradypnea (slow breathing)

Question 16

pre-?

Answer 16

before (prefix)

Ex:
prenatal (occurring before birth)

Question 17

post-?

Answer 17

after, behind (prefix)

ex:
post surgical (occurring after surgery)

Question 18

-al?

Answer 18

pertaining to (suffix)

ex:
syncopal (pretaining to syncope)

Question 19

-algia:

Answer 19

pertaining to pain (suffix)

ex: arthralgia (joint pain)

Question 20

-ectomy?

Answer 20

surgical removal of (suffix)

ex:
appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix)
vasectomy

Question 21

-ic?

Answer 21

pertaining to (suffix)

ex:
diaphoretic (pertaining to diaphoresis)

Question 22

-itis?

Answer 22

inflammation (suffix)

ex:
epiglottitis (inflammation of epiglottis)

Question 23

-logy?

Answer 23

study of (suffix)

ex:
cardiology (study of the heart)

Question 24

-logist?

Answer 24

specialist (suffix)

ex:
pulmonologist (spealist in the disease of the lung)

Question 25

-megaly?

Answer 25

enlargement (suffix) ex: cardiomegaly (enlargement of heart)

Question 26

-meter?

Answer 26

measuring instrument (suffix) ex: sphygmomanometer (measures blood pressure)

Question 27

-oma?

Answer 27

tumor (suffix) ex: lymphoma (cancer of the lymphicsystem)

Question 28

-pathy?

Answer 28

disease (suffix) ex: nephropathy (diseases of the kidneys) pathogen

Question 29

What is the plural ending for a term ending in, a?

Answer 29

a = ae ex: vertebra to vertebrae

Question 30

What is the plural ending for a term ending for, is?

Answer 30

is = es ex: diagnosis to diagnoses

Question 31

What is the plural ending for a term ending in, ex or ix?

Answer 31

ex or ix = ices ex: apex to apices

Question 32

What is the plural ending for a term ending in, on or um?

Answer 32

on or um = a ex: ganglion to ganglia ovum to ova

Question 33

What is the plural ending for a term ending in, us?

Answer 33

us = i ex: bronchus to bronchi Amongus to Amongi Fungus to Fungi

Question 34

cyan/o?

Answer 34

Blue

Question 35

leuk/o?

Answer 35

White

Question 36

erythr/o?

Answer 36

Red

Question 37

cirrh/o?

Answer 37

Yellow/Orange

Question 38

melan/o?

Answer 38

Black

Question 39

poli/o?

Answer 39

Gray

Question 40

chlor/o?

Answer 40

Green

Question 41

alb/o?

Answer 41

White

Question 42

uni-?

Answer 42

one

Question 43

dipl-?

Answer 43

twice/double

Question 44

null-?

Answer 44

none

Question 45

primi-?

Answer 45

first

Question 46

multi-?

Answer 46

many

Question 47

bi-?

Answer 47

two

Question 48

tri-?

Answer 48

three

Question 49

quad-?

Answer 49

four

Question 50

tetra-?

Answer 50

four

Question 51

quint-?

Answer 51

five

Question 52

sexti-?

Answer 52

six

Question 53

septi-?

Answer 53

seven

Question 54

oct-?

Answer 54

eight

Question 55

nona-?

Answer 55

nine

Question 56

deca-?

Answer 56

ten

Question 57

semi-?

Answer 57

half, partial ex: semicircle

Question 58

hemi-?

Answer 58

half; one sided

Question 59

ambi-?

Answer 59

both

Question 60

pan-?

Answer 60

all, entire

Question 61

ab-?

Answer 61

away from

Question 62

ad-?

Answer 62

to, toward

Question 63

de-?

Answer 63

down from, away

Question 64

circum-?

Answer 64

around, about

Question 65

peri-?

Answer 65

around

Question 66

trans-?

Answer 66

across, through, beyond

Question 67

epi-?

Answer 67

above, upon, on

Question 68

supra-?

Answer 68

above, over

Question 69

retro-

Answer 69

behind

Question 70

sub-?

Answer 70

under, beneath

Question 71

infra-?

Answer 71

below, under

Question 72

para-?

Answer 72

near, beside, beyond, apart from

Question 73

contra-?

Answer 73

against, opposite

Question 74

octo-?

Answer 74

out, outside

Question 75

endo-?

Answer 75

within

Question 76

extra-?

Answer 76

outside in addition ex: extroverted

Question 77

intra-?

Answer 77

inside, within

Question 78

ipsi-?

Answer 78

same

Question 79

1°

Answer 79

first, first degree, primary

Question 80

2°

Answer 80

secondary, second degree

Question 81

↑

Answer 81

increase(d)

Question 82

↓

Answer 82

decrease(d)

Question 83

®

Answer 83

right

Question 84

Ⓛ

Answer 84

left

Question 85

μ

Answer 85

micro

Question 86

α

Answer 86

alpha

Question 87

β

Answer 87

beta

Question 88

~

Answer 88

approximately

Question 89

N

Answer 89

Normal

Question 90

x2

Answer 90

times two

Question 91

/

Answer 91

per

Question 92

≠

Answer 92

not equal

Question 93

>

Answer 93

greater than

Question 94

<

Answer 94

less than

Question 95

?

Answer 95

questionable

Question 96

Δ

Answer 96

change

Question 97

♂

Answer 97

Male

Question 98

♀

Answer 98

Female