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Lesson1:MedicalTerminology

LearningObjectives
x Definebasicmedicaltermsusingprefixes,rootwordsandsuffixes
x Describecommonwordsusedinoncology
x Identifyresourcesonbasicmedicalterms

KeyTakeaways
x MostscienceandmedicaltermscomefromGreekorLatinwords.
x Medicaltermsareoftenmadeupofaprefix,rootwordandsuffix,soknowing
themeaningofthesewordpartscanhelpyouunderstandmedicalterms.
x Onlinedictionariesandguides,flashcardsandcoursescanhelpyouimprove
yourunderstandingofmedicalterminology.

 

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LESSON1:MEDICALTERMINOLOGY

Prefixes,RootsandSuffixes
CommonWordsUsedinCancer
MedicalTerminologyCheatSheet
ResourcesforPatientNavigators

Prefixes,RootsandSuffixes

Mostmedicalandsciencetermswillhavethreepartsandmayseemverycomplex.Buttheycanbebroken
downintotheirpartstogiveyouabasicideaofwhattheymean.Eachwordhasaprefix,root,orsuffixthat
canhelpyoudeterminethemeaningofthetermbeingused.

Prefix Root Suffix

Partofthebodyit Describewhattheword
Location,direction,amount
relatesto orproblemrelatesto

PREFIX

Thispartofthewordwillusuallyhelpyoufigureoutsize,color,shapeaswellaslocation,directionand
amount.

Location:Near,Towards,Upon,Within,Around

Direction:AwayFrom,Beneath,Above,Between,Before,After

Amount:LackOf,Without,Excessive,Difficult

ROOT

Thispartofthewordwillusuallyhelpyoudeterminewhichpartofthebodyitrelatesto.

SUFFIX

Thispartcanalsohelpdescribesize,shapeorcolorbutmoreimportantlycantellyouwhattheproblem
actuallyis.       


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Hereisalistofcommonprefixes.Rememberthataprefixwillusuallyhelpyoudeterminesize,color,shapeas
wellaslocation,directionandamount.Takeamomentandgothrougheachone.Itisgoodtoreviewsothat
wordscanbecomeeasierforyoutorecognizeanddefine.Premeansbefore.Prefixesaretypicallyfoundat
thebeginningoftheword.

PREFIX WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

AN,A Without/LackOf anemia=lackofredbloodcells

AB AwayFrom abnormal=awayfromthenormal

AD Near/Toward adrenalgland=glandneartothekidney

BI Two/Both bilateralWilm's=tumorinbothkidneys

DYS Difficult/Painful dysfunction=notworkingproperly

ECTO Outside ectopicpregnancy=outsidetheuterinecavity

ENDO Inside endoscope=aninstrumenttolookinsidethebodycavitiesororgans

EPI Upon epidermis=theouterlayerofskin

HYPER Excessive/Above hyperglycaemia=excessivebloodsugarlevels

HYPO Beneath/Below hypodermic=injectionbelowtheskin

INTER Between intercostal=betweentheribs

INTRA Within/Inside intravenous=intoavein

PARA Beside,About,Near parathyroid=besidethethyroidgland

PERI Around pericardium=membranearoundtheheart

PRE Before prenatal=beforebirth

POST After Postsurgicalstage=stageaftersurgery

SUB Under/Below submucosa=tissuebelowmucusmembrane

SYN TogetherWith syndrome=groupofsymptomsoccurringtogether

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Example#1(Prefixes)

WORD:Anemia
Theprefixadescribesalackof
Therootnemiadescribesblood
Thecombinationofthisprefixandrootyields,(a)(nemia),awordthatmeansalackofredbloodcells.

Example#2(Prefixes)

WORD:Intercostal
Theprefixintermeansbetween
Therootcostaldescribesribs
Thecombinationofthisprefixandrootyields,(inter)(costal),awordthatmeansainbetweentheribs.

Example#3(Prefixes)

WORD:Syndrome

Theprefixsynmeanstogether
TherootdromeisafromtheGreekwordmeaningrun
Thecombinationofthisprefixandrootyields,(syn)(drome),awordthatmeansagroupofsymptoms
runningtogether.

Thistablesummarizesprefixesthatdescribesize,directionandlocation.

SIZE DIRECTIONANDLOCATION
Macro(large) Hyper(fast,elevated,
Micro(small) overproducing,energetic)
Hypo(slow,low,under
MegaloorMegaly
producing,lowenergy
(abnormallylarge) Tachy(rapid)
 Brady(slow)
Extra(outside,excess,beyond)

Endo(within)
Intra(within)
Inter(between,together,during)
Peri(about,around,surround)
Trans(across,beyond,through)



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Hereisalistofcommonrootwords,theirmeanings,andexamples.Rootwordshelpyouknowwhichpartof
thebodyawordrelatesto.

ROOT WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

BLAST germ,immaturecell blastoma=acancermadeofimmaturecells

CARCINO cancer carcinogenic=cancercausing

CARDIO heart cardiotoxicity=toxicitytotheheart

CYTO cell cytotoxic= toxictothecell

DERMA skin dermatitis=inflammationoftheskin

HISTIO tissue histology=studyoftissue

HEPATI liver hepatoblastoma=livercancer

MALIGN bad/harmful malignant=growing,spreading

NEPHRO kidney nephrotoxic=harmfultothekidneys

NEURO nerves neuroblast=animmaturenervecell

ONCO mass/tumor oncology=thestudyofcancer

OSTEO bone/bonytissue osteosarcoma=bonecancer

PAED child pediatriconcology=studyofchildhood

cancer

SARCO tissue sarcoma=tumorofbone,muscle,or

connectivetissue

TOXO poison toxicology=studyofpoisons

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Example#1(RootWords)

WORD:Dermatitis
Noprefix
TherootDERMAmeansskin.
Thesuffixitisdescribesinflammation.
Thecombinationofthisrootandsuffixyields,(Derma)t(itis),awordthatmeansinflammationoftheskin.


Example#2(RootWords)

WORD:Nephrotoxic
Theprefix/rootnephromeansdealingwiththekidney
Theroottoxdescribespoision
Thecombinationofthisprefixandrootyields,(nephro)(tox),awordthatmeanstoxictothekidneys.


Example#3(RootWords)

WORD:Osteosarcoma
Theprefix/rootosteomeansbone
Therootsarcomeanstumorofbone,muscle,orconnectivetissue
Thecombinationofthisprefixandrootyields,(osteo)(sarco)ma,awordthatmeanscancerofthebones

Thesuffixisthethirdandlastcomponentofaword.Itcanalsohelpdescribesize,shapeorcolorbutmore
importantlycantellyouwhattheproblemactuallyis.

SUFFIX WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

AEMIA conditionofblood leukemia =cancerofbloodcells

ECTOMY excision/removal nephrectomy =excisionofakidney

ITIS inflammation hepatitis =inflammationoftheliver

OLOGY study/scienceof cytology =thestudyofcells

OMA tumor retinoblastoma =tumoroftheeye

PATHY disease neuropathy =diseaseofthenervoussystem

OSIS disease/condition necrosis =dyingcells

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Example#1(Suffix)

WORD:Nephrectomy
TherootNephromeanskidney.
Thesuffixectomymeansexcisionorremoval.
Thecombinationofthisrootandsuffixyields,(nephr)(ectomy),awordthatmeansexcisionorremovalof
akidney.

Example#2(Suffix)

WORD:Retinoblastoma
Theprefix/rootretindescribestheeye
Therootblastdescribesanimmaturecell
Thesuffixomadescribesatumor
Thecombinationoftheserootsandthesuffixyields,(retino)(blast)(oma),awordthatmeanstumorof
theeye.

Therearesomeotherrootwordsandsuffixesthatmaybehelpfultoreview.Thistablesummarizescommon
rootsandsuffixesthatareusedtodescribecommontestsandprocedures.

ROOT WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

Usingultrasonic Echocardiogram=useofsoundwavestocreatea
ECHO waves pictureoftheheart

Electrocardiogram=recordstheelectricalactivityof
ELECTRO Usingelectricity theheart

SUFFIX 

ECTOMY Surgicalremovalof Appendectomy =removaloftheappendix

Writtenordrawn,a Angiogram =procedurethatusesanxrayimageand

GRAM pictureorrecord dyetoseetheflowofbloodinthebloodvessels

Processofmakingan
imageorinstrument
Angiography=medicalimagingtechniqueto
forrecording
visualizetheinsideofbloodvesselsororgansofthe
GRAPH(Y)  body

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Makingacutin
Lobotomy=makingacutinconnectionsinthe
OTOMY  prefrontallobeofthebrain

Usinganinstrument
forviewing
Endoscopy=proceduretoexaminethedigestive
SCOPY  tractusinganendoscope

STOMY Createanopening Colostomy =anopeningmadeinthecolon

Sources:OnlineEtymologyDictionary.2014;PenguinProfPages.2015.

 

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CommonWordsUsedinCancer

Thetablebelowsummarizescancerrelatedwordsthatyoumayhearorsee.

Osteosarcoma:osteodescribestheboneorbonytissueandsarcomaisdefinedasanytypeof
malignant,whichmeansharmful,tumor.Sarcomasspecificallyrefertoamalignanttumorofthe
connectivetissue.Soosteosarcomadescribesbonecancer.

Anotherexample:Carcinogenic.Carcinodescribescancerandrememberthatcancermeansuncontrolled
growthofabnormalcells.Geniccanbedefinedasproducingorcausing.Sowhenyouputallthewordsand
meaningstogetheryoufindthatcarcinogenicdescribessomethingthatcausescancer.

ROOT MEANING
OSTEO BONE
MYO MUSCLETISSUE
NEURO NERVES
DERM SKIN
ANGIO BLOODVESSELS
VENO/PHLEBO VEINS
CARDIO HEART
RHINO NOSE
NEPH KIDNEY
CRANIO SKULL
OPTHALMO/OCULO EYEOREYEBALL
OTO EAR
THROMBO BLOODBLOT
HEPATO LIVER
MAMMO BREAST
COLO COLONORLARGEINTESTINE
GASTRO STOMACH
ILEO SMALLINTESTINE
THORACO THORAX
PNEUMO/PLEURO LUNGSORRESPIRATORYFUNCTIONS

Source:OnlineEtymologyDictionary.2014.


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MedicalTerminologyCheatSheet

PREFIX WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

AN,A Without/LackOf anemia=lackofredbloodcells

AB AwayFrom abnormal=awayfromthenormal

AD Near/Toward adrenalgland=glandneartothekidney

BI Two/Both bilateralWilm's=tumorinbothkidneys

DYS Difficult/Painful dysfunction=notworkingproperly

ECTO Outside ectopicpregnancy=outsidetheuterinecavity

ENDO Inside endoscope=aninstrumenttolookinsidethebodycavitiesororgans

EPI Upon epidermis=theouterlayerofskin

HYPER Excessive/Above hyperglycaemia=excessivebloodsugarlevels

HYPO Beneath/Below hypodermic=injectionbelowtheskin

INTER Between intercostal=betweentheribs

INTRA Within/Inside intravenous=intoavein

PARA Beside,About,Near parathyroid=besidethethyroidgland

PERI Around pericardium=membranearoundtheheart

PRE Before prenatal=beforebirth

POST After post surgicalstage=stageaftersurgery

SUB Under/Below submucosa=tissuebelowmucusmembrane

SYN TogetherWith syndrome=groupofsymptomsoccurringtogether

ROOT WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

BLAST germ,immaturecell blastoma=acancermadeofimmaturecells

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CARCINO cancer carcinogenic=cancercausing

CARDIO heart cardiotoxicity=toxicitytotheheart

CYTO cell cytotoxic=toxictothecell

DERMA skin dermatitis=inflammationoftheskin

HISTIO tissue histology=studyoftissue

HEPATI liver hepatoblastoma=livercancer

MALIGN bad/harmful malignant=growing,spreading

NEPHRO kidney nephrotoxic=harmfultothekidneys

NEURO nerves neuroblast=animmaturenervecell

ONCO mass/tumor oncology=thestudyofcancer

OSTEO bone/bonytissue osteosarcoma=bonecancer

SARCO tissue sarcoma=tumorofbone,muscle,orconnectivetissue

TOXO poison toxicology=studyofpoisons

SUFFIX WHATITDESCRIBES EXAMPLE

AEMIA conditionofblood leukemia =cancerofbloodcells

ECTOMY excision/removal nephrectomy =excisionofakidney

ITIS inflammation hepatitis =inflammationoftheliver

OLOGY study/scienceof cytology =thestudyofcells

OMA tumor retinoblastoma =tumoroftheeye

PATHY disease neuropathy =diseaseofthenervoussystem

OSIS disease/condition necrosis =dyingcells


Sources:OnlineEtymologyDictionary.2014;PenguinProfPages.2015.
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ResourcesforPatientNavigators

x AmericanCancerSocietysGuidetoTreatmentTypes
Youmaywanttousethisresourcetobecomefamiliarwiththenamesofsomeofthemorecommon
drugsandtreatmentoptionsforcancerpatients.
x NationalCancerInstitutesDictionaryofCancerTerms
Thisresourcehasmorethan7,000termsrelatedtocancerandmedicine.
x Quizlet
YoucanstudyanythingforfreeonQuizlet,includingmedicalterminology.Theflashcardtoolisagreat
waytomakelearningfunandengaging.
x UniversityofMinnesotasWebAnatomy
Thisseriesofselftestquestionscanhelpyoupracticeyourknowledgeofroots,prefixesandsuffixes.
 

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Module3,Lesson1:MedicalTerminology

References:Presentations

CollinsEnglishDictionary.2015.Retrievedfrom:http://dictionary.reference.com/.

Dictionary.comUnabridged.2015.Retrievedfrom:http://dictionary.reference.com/.

NationalCancerInstitute.DictionaryofCancerTerms.n.d.Retrievedfrom:http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary.

OnlineEtymologyDictionary.2015.Retrievedfrom:http://dictionary.reference.com/.

PenguinProfPages.[ThePenguinProf].2011.MedicalTerminology[Videofile].Retrievedfrom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiEszFPRE8&feature=youtu.be.

TheAmericanHeritageScienceDictionary.2015.Retrievedfrom:http://dictionary.reference.com/.

TheAmericanHeritageStedmansMedicalDictionary.2015.Retrievedfrom:http://dictionary.reference.com/.

References:BriefQuiz

BanayG.AnIntroductiontoMedicalTerminologyI.GreekandLatinDerivations.BullMedLibrAssoc.1948;
36(1):127.

PenguinProfPages.[ThePenguinProf].2011.MedicalTerminology[Videofile].Retrievedfrom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fiEszFPRE8&feature=youtu.be.

WulffH.Thelanguageofmedicine.JRSocMed.2004;97(4):187188.

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