សាកលវិទ្យាល័យ​ន័រតុន

NORTON UNIVERSITY

ការសិក្សាពាក្យបច្ចេកទេសវេជ្ជសាស្រ្ត

Medical Terminology

Lectured by
LIM NGUON, MD, MPH
(855) 067/077 39 5657

E-mail:nguonlim999@[Link]
 Chapter I:INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY(1)

COURSE OUTLINE:
I) Definition : What is medical terminology ?
II) Singular and Plural ending
III) Building Medical Term
IV) Word Root
V) Combining Forms
1) What is combining forms ?
2) Commonly used combining forms
 Chapter I:INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL
TERMINOLOGY(2)

COURSE OUTLINE:
VI) Prefixes
1) What is prefix ?
2) Commonly used prefixes
VII) Suffixes
1) What is Suffix ?
2) Commonly used Suffixes
VIII) Exercises
 To built students capacity
confidently to read medical
documents and work as health
Professional.ដើម្បីកសាងសម្ថភាព
និស្សិត

ចេះអានឯកសារវេជ្ជសាស្ត្រប្រកបដោយ
ទំនុកចិត្ត

និងប្រកបការងារវិជ្ជាជីវៈខាងសុខភាព
 គោលដៅ
• After study this course the students will
be able :ក្រោយពីសិក្សានិស្សិតអាច
– Define medical terminology terms. អោយនិយមន័យពាក្យ
បច្ចេកទេសវេជ្ជសាស្រ្ត

– Make Plural medical terms.ចេះពហុវចនៈពាក្យបច្ចេកទេសវេជ្ជ

សាស្រ្ត

– Define the four word parts to build medical terms.

– Define Common Medical Combining Forms.
– Define Common Medical Prefixes.
– Define Common Medical Suffixes.
 I Definition: What is medical terminology?
(1)
• Medical(Adj): related to the treatment of illness
and injuries.
-Medical advice
- Medical books
- Medical term
- Medical Workers
-A person’s medical reports are confidential.
 I Definition: What is medical terminology?
(2)
• Without more food and medical supplies,
these people will surely not survive.
Medical terminology is the study of medical
terms.
Ex: Dermatitis inflammation of skin
Gastrectomy excision of the stomach
Rhinitis inflammation of nasal
mucous membranes
 II) Singular and Plural Forms : Guideline to
plural forms(1)
Guideline Singular Plural
1. If the term ends in a, the plural is bursa Bursae
usually formed by adding an e vertebra vertebrae
2. If the term ends in ex or ix, the plural Appendix appendices
is usually formed by changing ex or ix to
ices
3. If the term ends in is, the plural is Diagnosis Diagnoses
usually formed by changing is to es metastasis metastases
4. If the term ends in itis, the plural is Arthritis Arthritides
usually formed by dropping the s and meningitis meningitides
adding des.
5. If the term ends in nx, the plural is phalanx phalanges
usually formed by changing x to g and
adding es

Burs/o = Bursa = sac of fluid near joint, Vertebr/o = vertebra = backbone

 II) Singular and Plural Forms : Guideline to
plural forms(2)
Guideline Singular Plural
6. If the term ends in on, the plural is criterion criteria
usually formed by dropping the on
adding a
7. If the term ends in um, the plural is Diverticulum Diverticula
usually formed by changing the um to a ovum ova
8. If the term ends in us, the plural is alveolus alveoli
usually formed by changing the us to i malleolus malleoli
III)Building Medical Term(1)
• Many medical terms are formed from two or
more word parts. In the study of medical
terminology, there are four word parts to learn
about:
-Word root
-Combining forms
-Prefixes
-Suffixes
 III)Building Medical Term(2)
• A word Root is the fundamental portion of a
word that contains the basic meaning. For
example, the word root Cardi mean heart.
• Combining Forms are the word root and a
combing vowel that enable two parts to be
connected. For example, the word root Cardi 
the combining vowel O can form words relating
to the basic meaning “heart” such as cardiology,
the practice that studies, diagnoses, and
disorders of the heart.
 III)Building Medical Term(3)
• Prefix is a letter or group of letters added to
the beginning of a word to make a new word.
• The prefix is usually found at the beginning of
each word and indicate a size and comparison.
Uni-
Macro-
Note that after prefix, it always continue with
hyphen(-).
• A suffix is a letter or group of letters added at the
end of a word to make a new word.
For examples: suffix –algia means pain. Combining
form Cervic/o means neck. (Cervic/o) + (-algia)
Cervicalgia means neck pain. suffix –asthenia
means weakness. Combining form my/o means
muscle. (my/o) + (-asthenia) myasthenia
means muscle weakness. suffix –logy means
study. Combining form Path/o means disease.
(Path/o) + (-logy) Pathology means study
of disease.
 Building Medical Wordការបង្កើតពាក្យ
បច្ចេកទេសវេជ្ជសាស្រ្ត
Combining vowel Combining form
Word Rood

o Hepato
Hepat

Combining Form Suffix Medical term

Cost/o -algia Costalgia

 1)-Commonly Used Prefixes(1)
1) A- means away from, negative, and without.
Afebrile means without fever.
2)AB- means away from. Abnormal means not
normal or away from normal.
3) DYS-means difficult, painful, or bad.
Dysfunctional means an organ or body part that
is not working properly.(functional means
working normally.)
 Commonly Used Prefixes(2)
4)HYPER- means Over, above, or increased.
Hypertension is higher than normal blood
pressure.
5)HYPO- means below, under, or decreased.
Hypotension is lower than normal blood pressure.
6)INTER- means between or among.
Interstitial means between, but not within, the
part of a tissue
 Commonly Used Prefixes(3)
7)INTRA- means within or inside. Intramuscular
means within the muscle.
8)POLY- means many. Polyneuritis is an
inflammation or affecting many nerves.
9)SUB- means under, less, or below. Subcostal
means below a rib or ribs.
10)SUPER-and SUPRA- both mean above,
excessive or beyond. Supracostal means above
the ribs.
 Commonly Used Prefixes(4)
[Link]- is the opposite 0f SUPER- and SUPRA-
[Link]- means without: an cephalic – without a
brain.
[Link]- means before: antemortem – before
death.
[Link]- means against: antibacterial –
preventing the growth of bacteria.
 Commonly Used Prefixes(5)
[Link] - means short: brachyesophagus –
abnormally short esophagus.
[Link]- means slow: bradycardia – abnormally slow
heartbeat.
[Link] - means down: cataplexy – sudden extreme
muscle weakness.
[Link]- means around: circumoral – around the
mouth.
[Link]- means against: contraindicated – not
recommended.
 2)-COMBINING FORMS: 1)What is
Combining form?(1)
• Combining form is a word or group of letters
which is added to the beginning or end of
words to change or add meaning.
• Combining forms that usually, but not always,
indicate the part of the body that is involved.
MY/O means muscle.
CARDI/O means heart.
 What is Combining form?(2)
• Combining forms are used with prefixes, other
combining forms, and suffixes to create new
words.
 Combining Forms related to major body
system(1)
BODY SYSTEMS MAJOR COMPONENTS MAJOR FUNCTION
Bones OSTE/O Support and Shape
SKELETAL SYSTEM Joints ARTHR/O Protective,
Cartilage CHONDR/O hematopoietic

Muscle MY/O Locomotion, holding

MUSCULAR SYSTEM Fascia FASCI/O body erect, movement
Tendon TEN/O, of body fluids.
TEND/O, TENDIN/O
Heart CARDI/O Respiratory, nutritive,
CARDIOVASCULAR Arteries ARTERI/O excretory.
SYSTEM Veins VEN/O,
PHLEB/O
Blood HEM/O,
HEMAT/O
Fascia: is the sheet or band of fibrous
connective tissue that covers,
supports, and separates muscles.

Tendon is a narrow band of fibrous tissue

that attached a muscle to bone.
 MAJOR BODY SYSTEMS(2)
BODY SYSTEMS MAJOR COMPONENTS MAJOR FUNCTION
White Blood Cells Defense against disease,
LYMPHATIC and LEUC/O conserve plasma
IMMUNE SYSTEM Lymph Fluid Vessels and proteins and fluid, lipid
nodes LYMPH/O absorption, hemolytic
Spleen SPLEN/O action.
Tonsils TONSILL/O
Nose NAS/O Oxygen to the cells.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Pharynx PHARYNG/O Excretion of carbon
dioxide and some water
Trachea TRACHE/O wastes.
Larynx LARYNG/O
Lungs PNEUM/O,
PNEUMON/O
Mouth OR/O Digestion of ingested
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Esophagus ESOPHAG/O food, absorption of
Stomach GASTR/O digested food,
Small intestines ENTER/O elimination of solid
Large intestines COL/O wastes.
Liver HEPAT/O
 MAJOR BODY SYSTEMS(3)
BODY SYSTEMS MAJOR COMPONENTS MAJOR FUNCTION
Kidneys NEPHR/O Formation and
URINARY SYSTEM Ureters URETER/O elimination of urines,
Urinary bladder CYST/O maintenance of
Urethra URETHR/O homeostasis.
Nerves NEUR/O Coordinating
NERVOUS Brain ENCEPHAL/O mechanism, reception
SYSTEM Spinal Cord MYEL/O of stimuli, transmission
Eyes OCUL/O of messages.
Ears OT/O
Skin CUTANE/O, DERMAT/O, Protection of body,
INTEGUMENTARY DERM/O temperature and
SYSTEM Sebaceous glands SEB/O water regulation.
Sweat glands HYDR/O
Trocar
 MAJOR BODY SYSTEMS(4)
BODY SYSTEMS MAJOR COMPONENTS MAJOR FUNCTION
Adrenals ADREN/O Integrating body
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM Gonads GONAD/O functions,
Pancreas PANCREAT/O homeostatic, growth
Pineal PINEAL/O
Pituitary PITUIT/O
Thyroid and Parathyroids
THYROID/O
Thymus THYM/O

Testes ORCH/O, ORCHID/O Production of new life.

REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM Ovaries OOPHOR/O,
OVARI/O
Uterus HYSTER/O, UTER/O
Pituitary gland / pih-TOO- ih –tair-ee/ = hypophysis / high-
POF-ih-sis/ is a small gland located at the base of the brain.
 Thymus : is
composed largely
of lymphatic
tissue and is
located in the
upper anterior
portion of the
thorax superior to
the heart. The
thymus produces
lymphocytes and
play an important
role in the body’s
immunologic
system.
Cystoscopy
3-Combining Vowel(1)
• Combining vowel may be used to modify the
spelling so the new word is easier to
pronounce.
• The combining vowel is not used when the
suffix begin with a vowel. For example, when a
combining form NEUR/O is joined with the
suffix –itis, the resulting term is neuritis.
Because the suffix –itis begin with a vowel, the
combining “O” is not used.
Combining Vowel(2)
• The Combining Vowel is used when the suffix
begin with a consonant. For example, when
NEUR/O is joined with the suffix –plasty, they
form Neuroplasty. Because the Suffix –plasty
begins with a consonant, the combining “O” is
used.
 4-Commonly used suffixes : 1) What is suffix
?(1)
• A suffix is a letter or group of letters added at the end
of a word to make a new word.
For examples: suffix –algia means pain. Combining form
Cervic/o means neck. (Cervic/o) + (-algia)
Cervicalgia means neck pain. suffix –asthenia means
weakness. Combining form my/o means muscle. (my/o)
+ (-asthenia) myasthenia means muscle
weakness. suffix –logy means study. Combining form
Path/o means disease. (Path/o) + (-logy)
Pathology means study of disease.
 Commonly used suffixes : 1) What is suffix ?
(2)
suffix –Oxia means Oxygen. Combining form Hyp/o
means low level. (Hyp/o) + (–Oxia)
Hypoxia means abnormal low level of oxygen prior
to anoxia. suffix –Spasm means Contraction.
Combining form my/o means muscle. (my/o) + (-
spasm) myospasm means contraction of
muscle. suffix –poiesis means production. Combining
form Hemat/o means blood. (Hemat/o) + (-poiesis)
Hematopoiesis means production of blood.
 Commonly used suffixes : 1) What is suffix ?
(3)
• A suffix is added to the end of a combining form.
Suffixes usually, but not always, indicate the
procedure, condition, disorder, or disease,
• For example, the combining form TONSILL/O
means tonsil. The suffix –ITIS means inflammation.(
This indicate the condition)
•
TONSILL/O -ITIS TONSILLITIS
(tonsil/tonsils) (inflammation) (inflammation
of the tonsils
 -COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(1)
• -AC means pertaining to or relating to. This suffix
is used to create the adjective form of a word.
Cardiac arrest is the sudden stopping of the
heart. ( The combining form CARDI/O means
heart, and arrest means to stop).
• -ALGIA means pain and suffering. Gastralgia
means pain in the stomach. ( The combining form
GASTR/O means stomach.)
• -DYNIA also means pain. Gastrodynia means pain
in the stomach.
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(2)
• -CENTESIS means a surgical puncture to remove fluid.
Abdominocentesis is the surgical puncture of the
abdominal cavity. This procedure may be performed
for diagnosis purpose or to remove excess fluids.
( The combining form ABDOMIN/O means abdomen.)
• -ECTOMY means surgical removal. An appendectomy
is the surgical removal of the appendix. (The
combining form APPEND/O and APPENDIC/O both
mean appendix.)
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(3)
• -GRAPHY means the process of recording a picture
or record. Arteriography is the process of recording
a picture of an artery or arteries. ( The combining
form ARTERI/O means artery.)
• GRAM and GRAPH both describe the resulting
record or picture. An arteriogram is the film
produced by arteriography.
• -ITIS means inflammation. Gastritis is an
inflammation of the stomach. The combining form
GASTR/O means Stomach.
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(4)
• -MALACIA means abnormal softening.
Arteriomalacia is the abnormal softening of
the walls of an artery or arteries. (the
combining form ARTERI/O means artery.)
• -MEGALY means large or enlargement.
Cardiomegaly is an enlargement of the heart.
• -NECROSIS means the death of tissue.
Arterionecrosis means the necrosis (tissue
death.) of an artery or arteries.
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(5)
• -OSIS means a disease or abnormal condition.
Gastrosis means any disease of the stomach.
• -OSTOMY means to create surgically a mouth or
opening. A Colostomy is surgically creating an
opening between the colon and body surface.
( The Combining form COL/O means Colon.)
• OTOMY means Cutting into or a surgical
incision. A Colotomy means is a surgical incision
into the colon.
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(6)
• -PLASTY means surgical repair. Myoplasty is the
surgical repair of a muscle. The Combining form
MY/O means muscle.)
• -SCLEROSIS means abnormal hardening.
Arteriosclerosis is the abnormal hardening of the
wall of an artery or arteries. (-sclerosis and –
malacia are opposites.)
• -SCOPY means to see or a visual examination.
Endoscopy is the visual examination of the
interior of a body cavity or organ by means of
endoscope. ( The combining form END/O means
within.
 COMMONLY USED SUFFIXES(7)
• -STENOSIS means abnormal tightening or
narrowing. Arteriostenosis is the abnormal
narrowing of an artery or arteries.
• -ist means one who specializes in . Dentist a
doctor who specialize in teeth.
• -Penia means deficiency. Leuc/o means White
Blood Cell. Leucopenia mean deficiency in
White Blood Cell.
3)The “FOUR Rs “
• This group of suffixes, which are often referred
to as the “four Rs” are particularly confusing.
The examples here have been selected to help
you remember these word parts.
1) -RRHAGIA or -RRHAGE mean bursting forth,
or abnormal excessive flow. This suffix generally
indicates an abnormal flow of blood.
Hemorrhage is the bursting forth of blood from
vessels.( Hem/o means relating to blood.)
2) -RRHAPHY means to suture or stitch.
Myorrhaphy means to suture a muscle wound. (
The combining form MY/O means muscle.)
3) –RRHEA means flow or discharge. Diarrhea
means the frequent flow of loose or watery
stools and an increase in bowel movements.
( The prefix DIA- means through.)
4) –RRHEXIS means rupture. Myorrhexis means
the rupture of the muscle.
 Additional Part: Confusing Word
• Arteri/o means artery. • A laceration is a torn,
• Ather/o means plaque ragged wound.
or fatty • A lesion is a pathological
substance. of the tissues due to
• Arthr/o means joint. disease or injury.
• Ileum: is part of the -Mucous describes mucous
small intestine. membranes that line the
body cavities.
Combining Form ile/o
-Mucus is the substance
means ileum.
secreted by mucous
• Ilium: is part of the hip membranes.
 Myc/o means fungus. Myel/o means both bone
marrow and spinal cord. My/o means muscle.
• Palpation is an • Prostate means a gland
examination technique surrounding the neck of
which the examiner’s the bladder.
hands are used to feel • Prostrate means to
the texture, size, collapse or to be
consistency, location of overcome with
certain body part. exhaustion.
• Palpitation is a • Pyel/o renal pelvis
pounding or racing • Py/o means pus
heart.
សូមអគុណ