A Medical Terminology

APPENDIX

A

Medical Terminology

National EMS Education Standard Competencies

Medical Terminology

Uses foundational anatomical and medical terms and abbreviations in written and oral communication with colleagues and other health care professionals.

6 Medical Terminology

It is critical that you have a strong working knowledge of medical terminology. The language of medicine is primarily derived from Greek and Latin. Medical terminology is used in international language, and it is also necessary for communicating with other medical personnel. The wider your vocabulary base, the more competent you seem to the rest of the medical community and the better the patient care you will be able to provide. Understanding terminology involves breaking words down into their separate components of prefix, suffix, and root word and having a good working knowledge of those parts.

6 Prefixes

A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and generally

describes location and intensity. Prefixes are frequently found in

general language (ie, autopilot, submarine, tricycle), as well as in

medical and scientific terminology. When a medical word (ven-

tilation) contains a prefix (hyper), the meaning of the word is

altered (hyperventilation). Not all medical terms have prefixes.

By learning to recognize a few of the more commonly used

medical prefixes, you can figure out the meanings of terms that

may not be immediately familiar to you.

lists common

prefixes.

6 Suffixes

Suffixes are placed at the end of words to change the original

meaning. In medical terminology, a suffix usually indi-

cates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.

A commonly used suffix is -itis, which means "inflammation."

When this suffix is paired with the prefix arthro-, meaning

joint, the resulting word is arthritis, an inflammation of

the joints. Sometimes it is necessary to change the last let-

ter or letters of the root word or prefix when a suffix is

added to make pronunciation easier.

lists common

suffixes.

6 Root Words

The main part or stem of a word is called a root word. A root

word conveys the essential meaning of the word and frequently

indicates a body part. With a combining form, the root word

and a combining vowel such as i, e, o, or a may be combined

with another root word, a prefix, or a suffix to describe a

particular structure or condition.

A frequently used term in EMS is CPR, which stands for

cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When we break it down, cardio

is a root word meaning "heart," and pulmonary is a root word

meaning "lungs." By performing CPR we introduce air into the

lungs and circulate blood by compressing the heart to resusci-

tate the patient. Some root words may also be used as prefixes or

suffixes; those already appear in the earlier tables.

lists

common root words.

6 Abbreviations

Abbreviations take the place of words to shorten notes or doc-

umentation. When you are using abbreviations in patient care

reports, remember to use only standard, accepted abbreviations

to avoid confusion and errors.

lists commonly used

abbreviations. This list is intended to help you decipher docu-

ments written by other health care professionals. Before using

any abbreviations in your own reports, you should be familiar

with accepted use of abbreviations in your local jurisdiction or

service area.

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Appendix A Medical Terminology

1405

Table A-1 Common Prefixes

Prefix a-

ababdomi(n)acr(o)ad-

aden(o)ananaangioanteantiarteri(o)-

arthro-

autobi-

bi(o)blast(o)blephar(o)brady-

calc-

cardi(o)cephal(o)cerebr(o)-

cervic(o)-

cholechondr(o)circumcontracost(o)cyan(o)-

Meaning without, lack of

Prefix cyst(o)-

away from

cyt(o)-

abdomen

de-

pertaining to an extremity dermat(o)-

to, toward

di-

pertaining to a gland without, lack of up, back, again vessel before, forward against, opposed to artery

diadysect(o)electroend(o)enter(o)epi-

pertaining to a joint

erythr(o)-

self

eu-

two

ex(o)-

pertaining to life germ or cell pertaining to an eyelid slow

extragastr(o)glyc(o)gynec(o)-

stone; also heel

hemat(o)-

pertaining to the heart

hemi-

pertaining to the head

hem(o)-

pertaining to the cerebrum, hepat(o)a part of the brain

pertaining to the neck or heterthe uterine cervix

pertaining to bile

hom-

pertaining to cartilage

hydr(o)-

around, about

hyper-

against, opposite

hypo-

pertaining to a rib

hyster(o)-

blue

infra-

Meaning

pertaining to the bladder or any fluid-containing sac

pertaining to a cell

Prefix inter-

intra-

down from pertaining to the skin twice, double

isolateroleuk(o)-

through, completely difficult, painful, abnormal out from pertaining to electricity within pertaining to the intestines upon, on

lith(o)macromalmedimegamelanmening(o)-

pertaining to anything red or to erythrocytes (red blood cells)

easy, good, normal

outside

micro-

monomyel(o)-

outside, in addition pertaining to the stomach sugar pertaining to females or the female reproductive organs pertaining to blood

my(o)nas(o)ne(o)nephr(o)-

neur(o)-

half pertaining to blood pertaining to the liver

noctolig(o)oophor(o)-

Meaning between

within equal side pertaining to anything white or to leukocytes (white blood cells) pertaining to a stone large bad or abnormal middle large black pertaining to a membrane, particularly the meninges small

one pertaining to the spinal cord, the bone marrow, or myelin pertaining to muscle pertaining to the nose new pertaining to the kidney

pertaining to a nerve or the nervous system night little, deficient pertaining to the ovary

other, different

ophthalm(o)- pertaining to the eye

same or like water over, excessive under, deficient pertaining to the uterus below

orchid(o)orchi(o)oroorthooste(o)ot(o)-

pertaining to the testicles pertaining to the testicles pertaining to the mouth straight or normal pertaining to bone pertaining to the ear

continues

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Appendix A Medical Terminology

Table A-1

Prefix para-

Common Prefixes, continued

Meaning

Prefix

by the side of

pseud(o)-

Meaning false

Prefix semi-

path(o)per-

pertaining to disease through

psych(o)pulm(o)-

pertaining to the mind pertaining to the lung

subsuper-

periphag(o)-

pharyng(o)-

phleb(o)pneum(o)-

polypostpreproproct(o)-

around pertaining to eating, ingesting, or engulfing pertaining to the throat, or pharynx pertaining to a vein pertaining to respiration, the lungs, or air many after, behind before before, in front of pertaining to the rectum

purpyel(o)-

py(o)-

quadr(i)quar-

quatretr(o)rhin(o)salping(o)scler(o)-

pertaining to pus pertaining to the kidney or pelvis pertaining to pus

four four

four backward or behind pertaining to the nose pertaining to a tube hard; also means pertaining to the sclera

supratachy-

therm-

thorac(o)trans-

triunivas(o)-

Meaning half or partial

under, moderately above, excessive, or more than normal above fast

pertaining to temperature

pertaining to the chest across

three one vessel

Table A-2 Common Suffixes

Suffix -algia -asthen(o) -blast -cele -centesis

-cyte

Meaning pertaining to pain

Suffix -emia

weakness immature cell

-genic -gram

pertaining to a tumor -graph or swelling

pertaining to a

-itis

procedure in which an

organ or body cavity

is punctured, often to

drain excess fluid or

obtain a sample for

analysis

cell

-lysis

-ectomy

surgical removal of -megaly

Meaning

pertaining to the presence of a substance in the blood

causing

Suffix -ology

-oma

record

-osis

a record or the instrument -ostomy used to create the record

inflammation

-otomy

Meaning science of

tumor

pertaining to a disease process (see also -sis) surgical creation of an opening, or hole surgical incision

decline, disintegration, or -pathy destruction

enlargement of

-phagia

disease or a system for treating disease

pertaining to eating or swallowing

continues

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Table A-2

Suffix -phasia

Common Suffixes, continued

Meaning

Suffix

pertaining to speech -rrhage

-phobia

-plasty -plegia

pertaining to an irrational fear

plastic surgery

paralysis

-rrhagia

-rrhaphy -rrhea

-pnea -ptosis

pertaining to breathing

drooping

-scope -scopy

Appendix A Medical Terminology

1407

Meaning

abnormal or excessive flow or discharge

abnormal or excessive flow or discharge

suture of; repair of

flow or discharge

Suffix -sis

-taxis

-trophic -uria

instrument for examination

examination with an instrument

Meaning a process, action, or condition

order, arrangement of

pertaining to nutrition pertaining to a substance in the urine or the condition so indicated

Table A-3 Common Root Words

Root Word acouadipalb-

algesandraorta

aquaasphyxia

asthenaudibronchbuccbursa callus

carcin-

Meaning hear fat white

Root Word carotid carpus cent-

pain

cente-

male

cili-

large artery exiting from cleid(o)the left ventricle of the heart

water

cubitus

lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that results in unconsciousness

cycl-

weak

digit

to hear

ede-

windpipe

-esthesi(o)-

cheek

febr-

pouch or sac

fl ex

hard, thick skin; also a meshwork of connective tissue that forms during the healing process after a fracture

foramen

cancer

fract-

Meaning

Root Word

great arteries of the neck gest-

wrist

gno-

a fraction in the metric system; one hundredth or 100

to puncture (a body cavity)

eyelid

clavicle

-gram

graphhumerus idi-

elbow circle or cycle

iod(o)lact-

finger or toe swelling pertaining to sensation or perception fever bend opening

lingumenocul-

ovpalpate ped-

break

percuss

Meaning carry, produce, congestion know something written or recorded

write, record the bone in the upper arm separate, distinct

iodine milk

tongue month eye egg to examine by touch child or foot

to examine by striking continues

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Appendix A Medical Terminology

Table A-3 Common Root Words, continued

Root Word Meaning

Root Word Meaning

phot-

light

pleurpod-

ptoptyalpyr-

rib, side foot

fall saliva fi re

sepsis

septserum sinus som(a)spir-

the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the blood; also the toxic condition caused by such presence

wall, divider; also seven

the clear portion of body fluids, including blood

cavity, channel, or hollow space

body

coil

Root Word tom-

toxic trichurvaricvertigo

radius

renretina sangui(n)-

sebum sect-

the forearm bone on the thumb side; also a line from the center of a circle or sphere to the edge

kidney

inner nerve-containing layer of the eye

blood

stasis

stature stern(o)stoma

a fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands

cut

tacttetra-

slowing or stopping of the normal viscerflow of a fluid, such as blood

height sternum (breastbone)

viscous xen-

any small opening on the surface of xerthe body, such as a pore; also, the opening created in the abdominal wall for the passage of urine or feces

touch

four

Meaning cut

poisonous hair

urine varicose vein a disordered sensation in which one's own body or the surroundings are perceived as moving internal organs

sticky foreign (material)

dry

Table A-4 Common Abbreviations*

*Sometimes abbreviations are written with periods (for example, abd. and a.c.), and sometimes different capitalization might be used and might convey a different meaning. Not all possible meanings for the abbreviations in this table are given here. Unless you are certain about the meaning, ask the person who used the abbreviation.

Abbreviation A&P a? a? a?

abd ABG ac

Meaning anatomy and physiology before

of each (used in writing prescriptions) abdomen arterial blood gas before meals

Abbreviation Meaning

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

Abbreviation Meaning

AK

above the knee

ad lib ADL

as much as desired activity of daily living

AKA A-line

above the knee amputation arterial line

AED AF AIDS

automated external defibrillator AMA

atrial fibrillation

amb

acquired immunodeficiency

AMI

syndrome

against medical advice ambulatory acute myocardial infarction

continues

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