Tutorial Materials - Medical Terminology | Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools

University:
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
Course:
AP Biology
Academic year:

2014
Views:

259

Pages:

3
Author:

Marlie Mcpherson

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY The Language of the Health Profession ORIGIN OF MEDICAL TERMS Hippocrates was a Greek physician and is known as the “father of medicine.” 75% of medical terms are based on either Greek or Latin words. ROOT WORDS A root is the foundation or basic meaning of a word. May appear with a prefix or suffix, or between a prefix or suffix. cardi - root for heart hepat- root for liver neur - root for nerve nephr - root for kidney cyt- root for cell PREFIX Pre - prefix means before peri- prefix means around hemi - prefix means half micro - prefix means large neo- prefix means new The prefix is a part of the word that precedes the word root and changes its meaning. Often indicates location, time, or number. SUFFIX A suffix is the word ending that follows the word root and changes its meaning. Often indicates the procedure, condition, disorder, or disease. -itis - suffix means inflammation -ology - suffix means the study of - ectomy- suffix means surgical removal-plast- suffix means surgical repair Cardiology Cardi - root means heart. -ology - suffix means the study of. Cardiology - the study of the heart. Nephritis Nephr - root words means kidney -itis suffix means inflammation Nephritis means inflammation of the kidney Break down and define the following medical terms. pericarditis leukocyte hepatitis neuroplasty pericarditis leukocyte leuko- prefix means white cyte - root word means cell leukocyte means white cell hepatitis hepat - root word means liver -itis - suffix means inflammation hepatitis - means inflammation of the liver neuroplasty neuro - root word means nerve or nerves -plasty - suffix means surgical repair neuroplasty means surgical repair of the nerve Combining Forms Combining form consists of the word root and a connecting vowel to make it easier to pronounce and attach another root word or suffix. Combining form for heart is cardi Combining form associated with cells is cyt Basic Rules for the Combining Vowel The combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a vowel. (neuritis) The combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant. (neuroplasty) THE END