PRINCIPAL
MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY
Prepared by: Ellaine Anne G. Serrano, RRT
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME
Apply the word-building process for the
various word building systems, rules of
pronunciation, prefixes, and suffixes
related to medical application
01.
Principal Medical
Root Word
Elements
Root Word
● Foundation to which other elements are added to form a complete meaning
● the central meaning of a term
● Ex. gastr - stomach
Suffix
● Word element added at the end of a root word to modify its meaning
● Ex. -itis means inflammation
Prefix
● Word element added at the beginning of a root word to modify its meaning
● Ex. hyper- means excessive or increased
Elements
Combining Form
● A root word with a vowel at the end so that a suffix beginning with a
consonant can be added
● When a combining form appears alone, it is shown with a slash (/) between
the word root and the combining vowel
● Combining form vowel
○ Letter ‘o’ is the most commonly used combining vowel
Elements
Rules for using combining form vowels
● A combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant
○ Ex. Neur/o + -plasty = Neuroplasty
● A combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a vowel
○ Ex. Neur/o + -itis = Neuritis
● A combining vowel is used when two or more word roots are joined
Determining meanings based on word parts
● Always start with the suffix, and work toward the beginning
● If a term has no suffix, start with the prefix and then the root word
● As you separate the word parts, identify the meaning of each part
● Because some word parts have more than one meaning, it is also necessary
to determine the context in which the term is being used
● Be careful: always double check for accuracy because some terms have
more than one meaning
○ Example: Lithotomy - surgical incision for the removal of a stone
Singular and Plural Endings
Singular Plural
If the singular term ends in the suffix -a, the - Bursa - Bursae
plural usually formed by changing it to -ae - Vertebra - Vertebrae
If the singular term ends in the suffix -ex or -ix, the
- Appendix - Appendices
plural is usually formed by changing these ending
to -ices - Index - Indices
If the singular term ends in the suffix -is, the plural - Diagnosis - Diagnoses
is usually formed by changing the ending to -es - Metastasis - metastases
Singular and Plural Endings
Singular Plural
If the singular term ends in -itis, the plural is
- Arthritis - Arthritides
usually formed by changing the -is ending to
- Meningitis - Meningitides
-ides
If the singular term ends in the suffix -nx, the plural - Phalanx - Phalanges
is usually formed by changing the -x ending to -ges - Meninx - Meninges
If the singular term ends in the suffix -on, the
- Criterion - Criteria
plural is usually formed by changing the ending to
-a - Ganglion - Ganglia
Singular and Plural Endings
Singular Plural
If the singular term ends in the suffix -um,
- Diverticulum - Diverticula
the plural usually is formed by changing the
- Ovum - Ova
ending to -a
If the singular term ends in the suffix -us, the
- Alveolus - Alveoli
plural is usually formed by changing the
- Malleolus - Malleoli
ending to -i
Suffix
Suffixes as Noun Endings
● Some suffixes change the word root into a noun
● For example, the cranium is the portion of the skull that encloses the brain
(crani- means skull, and -um is a noun ending)
● Examples:
○ -a
○ -e
○ -um
○ -us
○ -y
Suffix
Adjective Suffixes
● Many suffixes meaning “pertaining to” change the word root into an adjective
● Example: the term cardiac is an adjective that means pertaining to the heart
(cardi- means heart, and -ac means pertaining to)
Suffix Meaning Example
-ac, -ic, iac - cardiac , hypochondriac
-ar, -ary, -ior - Superior
-al, -eal, -ical - Abdominal
- Pertaining to
-ile, -tic - Necrotic
-ous, -ad - Mucous
-an, -ine - Ovarian
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Surgery
Suffix Meaning Example
-centesis - Puncture to remove fluid - Thoracentesis
-desis - Binding, fusion - Pleurodesis
-ectomy - Surgical removal, excision - Tonsillectomy
-pexy - Surgical fixation - Uteropexy
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Surgery
Suffix Meaning Example
-plasty - Plastic repair, reconstruction - Rhinoplasty
-rrhaphy - Surgical repair, suture - Herniorrhaphy
- (surgical creation of) an
-stomy - Colostomy
opening
- Instrument for incising
-tome - Dermatome
(cutting)
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Surgery
Suffix Meaning Example
-tomy - Incision, cutting - Laparotomy
-tripsy - Crushing - Lithotripsy
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Pathology
Suffix Meaning Example
- Gastralgia
-algia, -dynia - Pain
- Cephalodynia
- Hernia localized dilation,
-cele - Hydrocele
tumor, swelling
-clasis, -clasia,
- Breaking - Karyoclasis
-clast
-itis - Inflammation - Colitis
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Pathology
Suffix Meaning Example
- -Megaly - Enlargement - Hepatomegaly
- -Oma - Tumor - Lipoma
- -paresis - weakness - Hemiparesis
- -pathy - Disease of - Neuropathy
Suffix
Suffixes Pertaining to Pathology
Suffix Meaning Example
- -penia - Lack of, deficiency - Leukopenia
- -rrhage,
- Burst forth, profuse flow - Hemorrhage
-rrhagia
- -rrhea - Flow, discharge - Diarrhea
- -rrhexis - Rupture - Amniorrhexis
Suffix
Suffixes Related to Procedures
Suffix Meaning Example
- Process of producing a
- -graphy - Angiography
picture or record
- -gram - A picture or record - Mammogram
- -meter - Instrument for measuring - Ergometer
- Instrument for viewing or
- -scope - Cystoscope
examining
Suffix
Words Pertaining to Disease and used as a Suffix
Suffix Meaning Example
- -dilation
- Expansion, widening - Vasodilation
- -dilatation
- -ectasis, -ectasy,
- Dilation - Bronchiectasis
-ectasia
- -edema - Accumulation of fluid, swelling - Cephaledema
Suffix
Words Pertaining to Disease and used as a Suffix
Suffix Meaning Example
- -emesis - Vomiting - Hematemesis
- Separation, dissolving,
- -lysis - Hemolysis
destruction
- -malacia - Softening - Osteomalacia
- -necrosis - Death of tissue - Hepatonecrosis
Suffix
Words Pertaining to Disease and used as a Suffix
Suffix Meaning Example
- Dropping, downward
- -ptosis - Nephroptosis
displacement
- -spasm - Sudden contraction, cramp - Bronchospasm
- -stasis - Suppression, stoppage - Menostasis
- -tension - Pressure - Hypertension
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Direction
Prefix Meaning Example
- Ab- - Away from - Abnormal
- Ad- - Toward, near - Adrenal Gland
- Dia- - Through, complete - Dialysis
- Per- - Through - Percutaneous
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Numbers
Prefix Meaning Example
- prim/i, prot/o - First - Primigravida
- Monoclonal
- mon/o, uni- - One, single
- Unicellular
- Duo- , bi-, di-` - Two, twice - Bicuspid, diplegia
- dipl/o- - Double - Diplopia
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Numbers
Prefix Meaning Example
- Hemi- - Half, one side - Hemithorax
- Semi- - Half, partial - Semilunar
- tri- , ter- - Three, third - Triad, tertiary
- quadr/i-, tetra- - Four - Quadrant
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Numbers
Prefix Meaning Example
- Penta-, Quint- - five - Pentose
- Multi- - Many - Multiple
- Poly- - Many, much - Polymorphic
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Position
Prefix Meaning Example
- Ambi- - Both - Ambilateral
- dextr/o - Right - Dextrose
- ect/o, ec- - Outside, outer - Ectopic
- end/o - In, inside - Endoscope
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Position
Prefix Meaning Example
- Epi-, ep- - Above - Epigastric
- Infra-, infer- - below - Infrared radiation
- Intra-, en- - Within - Intracellular
- lev/o, sinister/o - Left - Sinistrad
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Position
Prefix Meaning Example
- Beyond, over, between,
- Meta- - Metastasis
change
- Para- - Beside, alongside - Paraplegia
- retr/o - backward - Retroperitoneal
- syn/o, sym- - Together - Synapse, symbiosis
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Time/Position
Prefix Meaning Example
- Hyper- - Over, excess, high - Hypertension
- Hypo- - Under, below, low - Hypotension
- olig/o - few - Oligospermia
- Pan- - all - Panplegia
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Degree
Prefix Meaning Example
- Ante- - Before - Antepartum
- Pre- - Predisposing
- Before, in front of
- Pro- - Prophylaxis
- Post- - After, behind - Postoperative
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Disease
Prefix Meaning Example
- Brady- - Slow - Bradycardia
- Tachy- - Fast - Tachypnea
- Pachy- - Thick - Pachyderma
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Disease
Prefix Meaning Example
- Dys- - Painful, difficult, abnormal - Dyspnea
- Mal- - Bad, poor - Malabsorption
- Xero- - Dry - Xeroderma
Prefix
Negative Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
- A-, an- - Not, without, lack of, absence - Apnea
- Anti-, contra- - Against - Antidote, Contralateral
- De- - Down, without, loss, removal - Detoxify
- In-, im-, un - Not - Incontinence, unconscious
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Size and Comparison
Prefix Meaning Example
- heter/o - Other, different, unequal - Heterogenous
- Homo-, homeo- - Same, unchanging - Homothermic
- Iso - Equal, same - isograft
- Macro- - large - Macroscopic
Prefix
Prefixes Pertaining to Size and Comparison
Prefix Meaning Example
- Mega-, Megalo- - Abnormally large - Megabladder
- Micro- - small - Microorganism
- Neo- - new - Neonate
- Normo- - Regular - Normal
02.
Root Words
FOR EACH ORGAN SYSTEM
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
chondr/o spondyl/o synov/o
crani/o arthr/o ankyl/o
myel/o burs/o kyph/o
oste/o ligament/o lord/o
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
fasci/o tax/o
fibr/o ten/o
kinesi/o tendin/o
my/o ton/o
THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
angi/o capill/o leuk/o
aort/o cardi/o phleb/o
arteri/o erythr/o thromb/o
ather/o hemat/o ven/o
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
laryng/o alveol/o pulmon/o
nas/o bronch/o trache/o
pharyng/o pleur/o ox/o
sinus/o pneum/o spir/o
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
colon/o sigmoid/o pancreat/o
enter/o chol/e esophag/o
gastr/o cholecyst/o stomat/o
rect/o hepat/o proct/o
THE URINARY SYSTEM
WORD PARTS
cyst/o nephr/o ren/o urethr/o
glomerul/o pyel/o ureter/o ur/o
Thank you!
REFERENCES:
● Nath, J. and Lindsley, K. A short Course for Medical Terminology
4th Edition 2019
● Ehrilch, Ann, Carol L. Schroeder. Medical Terminology for Health
Professions 7th ed. 2012