Medical Terminology: Understanding Prefixes and Suffixes
Dive into the world of medical terminology by exploring prefixes and suffixes used in healthcare settings. Learn about the importance of word roots, common prefixes (such as ab, hyper) and suffixes (like algia, itis), and how they enhance our understanding of medical words. Discover how these language components help describe anatomical positions, body planes, regions, and directional terms in healthcare and public health fields.
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Terminology in Healthcare and Public Health Settings Understanding Medical Words Lecture b Prefixes and Suffixes This material (Comp 3 Unit 1) was developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number 90WT0007. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org.
Understanding Medical Words Learning Objectives Discuss the four parts of medical terms Recognize word roots and combining forms Identify the most common prefixes and suffixes Describe the anatomical positions Define the body planes Identify regions of the body Define directional and positional terms Build, divide, spell and pronounce common medical words 2
Prefix Added to the beginning of a term May add meaning such as: location of organ inter number of parts hemi time (frequency) pre = between = half = before 3
Examples of Prefixes Prefix ab ante brady endo hyper hypo Meaning away from before, forward slow within, inner above, beyond under, deficient 4
Examples of Prefixes 2 Prefix infra inter macro micro peri post pre Meaning beneath, below among, between large small around after, behind before, in front of 5
Examples of Prefixes 3 Prefix retro sub super tachy trans ultra Meaning backward, behind below, under above, excess fast across, through beyond, excess 6
Suffix Attached to the end of a term Adds meaning such as: condition disease procedure ectomy All medical terms must have a suffix Only mandatory word part algia it is = = = pain inflammation removal of 7
Examples of Suffixes Suffix algia cise dynia ectasis itis logy lysis Meaning pain cut pain, swelling dilatation inflammation study of destruction 8
Examples of Suffixes 2 Suffix megaly oma osis pathy rrhea sclerosis stenosis taxis trophy Meaning enlargement, large tumor condition, usually abnormal disease discharge, flow hardening narrowing movement growth 9
Adjective Suffixes Suffix may be used to convert a word root into a complete word These adjective suffixes can mean pertaining to New word can then be used to modify another word 10
Adjective Suffix Example To state that a patient has an ulcer in his stomach: gastr/o = stomach ic = pertaining to gastric = pertaining to the stomach Therefore, a gastric ulcer is an ulcer found in the stomach 11
Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery Suffixes Suffix Meaning centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid ectomy gram meter ostomy cut out, surgical removal recording or picture device for measuring surgical opening 12
Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery Suffixes 2 Suffix Meaning otomy cutting into pexy surgical fixation plasty surgical reconstruction rrhaphy suture scope instrument for viewing 13
Word Building Putting together the various parts to form a variety of terms to convey the necessary information Begins with knowing the meaning of the various parts in order to select the correct ones Always remember the rules regarding the location of each word part 14
Interpreting Medical Terms Term to be translated echocardiogram Divide the term into its word parts echo / cardi / o / gram 15
Interpreting Medical Terms 2 Define each word part echo = using ultrasonic waves cardi = heart o = combining vowel, no meaning gram = recording Combine the meanings of the word parts Recording of a heart test using ultrasonic waves 16
Singular and Plural Endings Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin words Rules for forming plurals are different from English o Plural of bacterium is bacteria (not bacteriums) Other words use English rules Plural of ventricle is ventricles 17
General Rules for Plurals Word Ends In a -ax -ex or -ix -is -ma -nx -on -us -um -y Singular vertebra thorax appendix metastasis sarcoma phalanx ganglion nucleus ovum biopsy Plural vertebrae thoraces appendices metastases sarcomata phalanges ganglia nuclei ova biopsies 18
Abbreviations Commonly used to save time Can be confusing If you are concerned about confusion, spell out the term Do not use your own personal abbreviations 19
Understanding Medical Words Summary Prefixes and Suffixes Common prefixes and suffixes Word building Singular and Plural endings 20
Understanding Medical Words References Lecture b References Understanding medical words: a tutorial from the National Library of Medicine [Internet]. 2011 Nov 27. 21
Terminology in Healthcare and Public Health Settings Understanding Medical Words Lecture b This material was developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number 90WT0007. 22
