Medical Terminology • Medical terms are made up of parts of words (elements)-

prefixes, roots and suffixes

. Most originate from Greek or Latin words. • The combination forms our medical terms.

•

Prefix

-a word element placed

before

the root. Always used with a root! Example olig (scant); oliguria (scant urine) •

Root

the word element containing the basic meaning of the word. It can be combined with other roots, prefixes or suffixes. A vowel (o or i) is added when 2 roots or a suffix is added to the root to help with pronunciation (if not one). •

Suffix

-word element placed

after

a root. Always used with a root! Nephro (kidney); -itis (inflammation of)

Medical Terminology (cont) • Medical terms are formed by combining the elements.

Prefixes are first

and

suffixes are last

.

• Examples: • The

suffix

-ectomy (excision, removal of) is combined with the

root

-mast (breast) to form mastectomy-removal of the breast. Sometimes 2 suffixes can be used. • The

prefix

-dys (bad, difficult, abnormal) is combined with the

root

-pnea (breathing, respiration) to form dyspnea difficulty breathing.

• The

prefix-

endo (inner, inside) is combined with the

root

card (heart), and the

suffix

- itis (inflammation) to from endocarditis-inflammation of the inner side of the heart.

Medical Terminology Challenge •

Determine the medical condition based on the

prefix, root (start by deciding main word), and suffix (if present it comes first)

found on pages 72-73 of your textbook. Pair with the most correct answers wins!

Practice: Heart (root) + enlargement (suffix)= cardio + (o or i) + megaly = cardiomegaly

Kidney (root) + disease (suffix)

Blood (root) + excessive flow (suffix)

stomach + creation of an opening

blue + condition (be careful picking)

Without, not, lack of + breathing, respiration

Skull + incision, cutting into

Vein (use 1 st on list) + inflammation

clot, thrombus + cell + lack, deficiency

Bonus: excessive, too much, high + thyroid + a condition

Bonus: • What does CABG stand for?

Bonus: • Describe Biot’s respirations