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Introduction to Medical Terminology
http://www.delmarlearning.com/samplechapters/dl_display_sampchap.aspx?isbn=1401873812&cid=3This is an overview of medical terminology, giving the person beginning a ... To become familiar with the importance of medical language at work and for ...
INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
Medical terms are used every day in medical offices,
newspapers, television, and conversational settings.
Most of us are familiar with many medical terms; how-
ever, other medical terms seem complicated and for-
eign. Learning and understanding how medical termi-
nology developed can help us understand these terms.
Current medical vocabulary is based on terms of
Greek and Latin origin,
eponyms
(words formed
from a person’s name), and modern language terms.
The majority of medical terms are derived from word
parts based on Greek and Latin words. Becoming fa-
miliar with these Greek and Latin terms and identify-
ing word parts will enable one to learn common med-
ical terms and to recognize unfamiliar medical terms
by word analysis. Medical terminology may seem
daunting at first because of the length of medical
words and seemingly complex spelling rules, but once
you learn the basic rules of breaking a word down
into its constituents the words become easier to read
and understand.
OBJECTIVES
Identify and recognize the parts of a medical term
Define commonly used prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes
presented in this chapter
Analyze and understand basic medical terms
Recognize the importance of spelling medical terms correctly
Practice pronunciation of medical terms
Recognize the importance of medical dictionary use
Practice medical dictionary use
ANATOMY OF A MEDICAL TERM
Many medical terms are composed of word part com-
binations. Recognizing these word parts and their
meanings simplifies learning medical terminology.
These word parts are
prefix:
word part found at the beginning of a word.
Usually indicates number, location, time, or status.
root:
word part that gives the essential meaning of
the word.
combining vowel:
single vowel, usually an “o,” that is
added to the end of a root to make the word easier
to pronounce.
combining form:
combination of the root and com-
bining vowel.
suffix:
word part found at the end of a word. Usually
indicates procedure, condition, disease, or disorder.
Understanding the meaning of the word parts allows
one to dissect medical terms in a logical way. By break-
ing down unfamiliar terms into recognizable word
parts, one’s medical vocabulary can be greatly in-
creased.
ANALYZING MEDICAL TERMS
Medical terminology can be more easily understood if
the following objectives are adhered to:
Dissect: First analyze the word structurally by di-
viding it into its basic components.
Begin at the end: After dividing the word into its
basic parts, define the suffix first, the prefix second,
and then the roots.If there are two roots,divide each
and read them from left to right.
Anatomical order: Where body systems are in-
volved, the words usually are built in the order in
which the organs occur in the body. For example,
gastroenteritis
is the proper term for inflammation
of the stomach and small intestine. Because food
passes from the stomach into the small intestine, the
medical term for stomach appears before the med-
ical term for small intestine. The order of word parts
in a medical term may also represent the order of
blood flow through organs. The exception to this in-
volves some diagnostic procedures in which tools or
substances are passed retrograde or in the opposite
direction of anatomic order. In these cases the words
are built in the order in which the equipment passes
the body part.
Using these guidelines,analyze the termovariohysterec-
tomy. First divide the term into its basic components:
ovari/o/hyster/ectomy. Defining from back tofront,the
suffix -ectomy is surgical removal, one combining form
ovari/omeans ovary,and the other combining formhys-
teri/o means uterus. Together the term
ovariohysterec-
tomy
means surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.
This term is based on the order in which the ovaries and
uterus are found in the body.
