THE B.U.R.P.S LIST

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Welcome to the School of Nursing at the Johns Hopkins University!

As a faculty who coordinates one of your first semester courses I am making available to you some helpful and

useful information. I have included it below for your reading pleasure! There are two documents: the

¡°B.U.R.P.S.¡± list (Building and Understanding Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes) and Talk like a Nurse. This

document lists many (not all) of the medical terms used in your first semester classes and I believe will ease

your transition into a new way of speaking.

THE B.U.R.P.S LIST

Purpose: To become proficient in Building and Understanding Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes

Rationale: Building and understanding medical terminology is simpler when the words are broken down into

roots, prefixes and suffixes.

Steps:

? Review the B.U.R.P.S. tables and try to determine the definitions of the examples

? Notice the overlap among the three groups of roots, prefixes and suffixes

? Make new words by changing one part of the word. For example, if an appendectomy is the removal

of the appendix, then a nephrectomy is the removal of a kidney. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate and

tachypnea is a fast respiration rate.

Helpful Note: R/T means ¡°related to¡±

TALK LIKE A NURSE

Purpose: To become familiar with acronyms commonly used by health care providers

Rationale: Different professions have unique languages; medicine and nursing are no exceptions. The

acronyms below are used in verbal and written communication in health care settings.

Steps:

? Review the attached list of acronyms (then you can start to critique shows like ¡°House¡± and ¡°Gray¡¯s

Anatomy¡± for accuracy!)

? Notice that some acronyms have two different meanings; e.g., ROM stands for ¡°range of motion¡± and

¡°rupture of membranes¡± - be careful when using abbreviations

? Take the Self Assessment after reading the approved terms, found in Blackboard

NOTE: All institutions have a list of accepted and ¡°do not use¡± abbreviations. Always check with the institution

before using an abbreviation.

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THE B.U.R.P.S LIST

I. Roots

R/T Body Parts

Root

Angi(o), Vas(o)

Brachi(o)

Bucc(o)

Cardi(o)

Carp(o)

Cephal(o)

Colp(o)

Crani(o)

Cyst(o)

Cyto

Dactyl(o)

Encephal(o)

Enter(o)

Gloss(o)

Hemo, sanguin(o)

Hyster(o)

Mast(o), mamm(o)

Men(o)

Nephr(o), Ren(o)

Oophor(o)

Ophthalm, Ocul(o)

Ot(o), Auri, Aud

Phleb(o), Ven(o)

Pod

Rhin(o)

Salping(o)

Thorac(o)

Thromb(o)

Meaning

Blood vessel

Arm

Cheek

Heart

Wrist

Head

Vagina

Skull

Bladder

Cell

Finger, toe

Brain

Intestine

Tongue

Blood

Womb, uterus

Breast

Month, r/t menses

Kidney

Ovary

Eye

Ear

Vein

Foot

Nose

Fallopian tube

Chest

Clot

Other Roots

Root

Gluc(o)

Hydr(o)

Lact(o)

Lip(o), adip(o)

Therm

Meaning

Sweet, sugar

Water

Milk

Fat

Heat

Example(s)

Angioplasty, vasoconstriction

Brachial

Buccal

Cardiopathy

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Cephalic

Colposcopy

Craniotomy

Cystoscopy, cystitis

Cytology, cytomegaly

Polydactyly

Encephalitis

Enteritis

Glossitis, glossopharyngeal

Hemolytic, serosanguinous

Hysterectomy

Mastitis, mammography

Menopause, menarche, dysmenorrheal

Nephrectomy, renal

Oopherectomy

Ophthalmoscope, ocular

Otitis, auricle, audiometer

Phlebitis, venous

Podiatrist

Rhinoplasty, rhinorrhea

Salpingectomy, salpingitis

Thoracotomy, thoracic

Thrombosis, thrombolytic

Example(s)

Glucose, glucometer

Hydrocephalus, hydrophobia

Lactosuria, lactating

Lipoma, adipose

Hyperthermia

II. Prefixes

R/T Colors

Prefix

Erythr(o)

Leuk(o), leuc(o)

Cyan(o)

Melan(o)

Cirrh(o)

Meaning

Red

White

Blue

Black

Yellow

Example(s)

Erythema, erythrocyte

Leukocytes, leukemia

Cyanosis

Melanin

Cirrhosis

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R/T Descriptions

Prefix

Ankyl(o)

Sten(o), Stric

Ortho

Kypho

Pseudo

R/T Measurements

Prefix

Macro

Micro

Poly, Hyper, Multi

Brady

Tachy

Oligo, Hypo

Iso

Diplo, Ambi

Hemi

Pan

R/T Positions

Prefix

Pro, Ante, Pre

Post

Super, supra

Sub

Dors(o)

Retro

Para

Re

Later(o)

Medi(o)

Schizo

Inter

Heter(o)

Hom(o)

Ad(o)

Ab(o)

Anti, Contra

Endo, In, Intra

Ex(o), Ec(to)

Epi

Dia, Trans

Peri, Circum

Sinister(a)

Dextr(o)

Meaning

Stiff, fixed, crooked

Narrow

Straight position

Bent, crooked

False

Meaning

Large

Small

Many, much

Slow

Fast

Few

Equal

Both, double

Half

All

Meaning

Before

After

Above

Below

Back

Backwards

Beside

Again

Side

Middle

Split

Between

Different

Same

Towards

Away from

Against

In, within, inside

Out

Upon, above

Through

Around

Left

Right

Example(s)

Ankylosis

Stenosis, stricture

Orthopnea, orthopedic

Kyphoscoliosis, kyphosis

Pseudostrabismus, pseudoaneurysm

Example(s)

Macrophage, macrocephaly

Microscopic, microorganism

Polydypsia, hyperthyroidism, multiple

Bradypnea

Tachycardia

Oliguria, hypothermia

Isometric, isotonic

Diplopia, ambidextrous

Hemiplegia, hemisphere

Pansystolic, pancytopenia

Example(s)

Prodromal, antepartum, precapillary

Postnatal, posterior

Superior, supraclavicular

Submandibular, subcutaneous

Dorsoflexion, dorsal

Retrograde, retrosternal

Paramedic, paranasal

Rehydrate, recuperate

Lateral

Medial, mediastinum

Schizophrenia

Intercostals, interdigital

Heterogeneous

Homozygous

Adduction, adhesion, adrenal

Abduction, abnormal

Antigen, contraception

Endocarditis, inhale, intrapartum

Exhale, ectopic

Epidermis, epigastric, epiglottis

Diameter, transfusion

Perinatal, circumcision

OS (oculus sinister ¨C left eye)

OD (oculus dexter ¨C right eye)

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R/T the Body

Prefix

Aden(o)

Arthr(o)

Cervic(o)

Costo

Cyto

Derm

Gastr(o)

Glosso

Heme

Hepat(o)

Lingu

Litho

My

Myo, myel

Neuro

Oto

Opti, Ocu

Osteo

Pneum(o), Pulm

Psycho

Rhino

Thor(a)

Vasc

Other Prefixes

Prefix

A(n)

Auto

Dys

Gravida

Neo

III. Suffixes

R/T Surgery

Suffix

Centesis

Ectomy

Lysis

Ostomy

Otomy

Plasty

R/T Diseases

Suffix

Algia

Cele

Emia

Gen

Itis

Meaning

Gland

Joint

Neck

Rib

Cell

Skin

Stomach

Tongue

Blood

Liver

Tongue

Stone

Muscle

Marrow

Nerve

Ear

Eye

Bone

Lung

Mind

Nose

Chest

Vessel

Example(s)

Adenoma, adenoids

Arthritis, arthroscopy

Cervical, cervicitis

Costochondritis, costovertebral

Cytology, cytomegaly

Dermatitis, dermatological

Gastritis, gastrointestinal

Glossopharyngeal, glossitis

Hematuria, hematemesis, hemangioma

Hepatitis, hepatocellular

Lingual, linguistic

Lithotomy, lithotripsy

Myoma, myalgia

Myelitis

Neuromyalgia

Otitis, otolaryngology

Optician, ocular

Osteoarthritis, osteopenia

Pneumothorax, pulmonary

Psychology, psychopath, psychosomatic

Rhinorrhea, rhinitis

Thoracic, thoracentesis

Vasculitis

Meaning

Without

Self

Difficult, painful

Pregnant, heavy

New

Meaning

Tap, puncture

Removal

Separate, destroy

Form an opening

Cut into

Repair

Meaning

Pain

Hernia, swelling

Blood

Producing

Inflammation

Example(s)

Anemia, avascular

Autoimmune

Dyspnea, dysuria

Gravidity

Neonatal, neoplasm

Example(s)

Thoracentesis

Mastectomy, appendectomy

Hemolysis

Colostomy

Tracheotomy, craniotomy

Rhinoplasty

Example(s)

Arthralgia, myalgia

Hydrocele, cystocele

Leukemia, anemia

Carcinogen, allergen

Appendicitis, hepatitis

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Megaly

Oid

Oma

Osis

Pathy

Penia

Phagia

Phasia

Plegia

Phobia

Pnea

Rrhage

Rrhea

Sclerosis

Spasm

Troph(o)

Uri(a)

Enlargement

Resemble

Tumor

Abnormal condition

Disease

Deficiency

Eating

Speech

Paralysis

Fear

Air, breathing

Burst forth

Flow, discharge

Hardening

Contraction

Nourishment

Urine

Other Suffixes

Suffix

Gram

Ology

Phon(o)

Scope

Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly

Fibroid, keloid

Adenoma, myoma

Dermatosis

Neuropathy, psychopathology

Cytopenia, thrombocytopenia

Dysphagia

Aphasia, dysphasia

Paraplegia, quadriplegia

Acrophobia, agoraphobia

Apnea, dyspnea, orthopnea

Hemorrhage

Diarrhea

Atherosclerosis

Bronchospasm

Atrophy, hypertrophy

Nocturia, dysuria

Meaning

Example(s)

Picture, record

Study of

Sound

Inspect

Electrocardiogram

Pathology, dermatology

Egophony, bronchophony

Microscope, laproscopic

TALK LIKE A NURSE

A-P

anterior-posterior

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

ASA

acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

BX

biopsy

A&W

alive & well

?c

with (cum)

bid

2x/day (bis in dies)

CA

cancer

BKA

below-the-knee amputation (AKA-above)

CABG coronary artery bypass graft

BM

bowel movement

CAD

coronary artery disease

BMI

body mass index

CAGE

cut down, annoyed, guilty, eye opener

BMR

basal metabolic rate

CAM

complementary alternative medicine

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

CBC

complete blood count

BR

bed rest

CBE

clinical breast exam

BRP

bathroom privileges

CC

chief complaint

BS

bowel sounds

cc

cubic centimeter

BSE

breast self-examination

CHF

congestive heart failure

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

cm

centimeter

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