GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

BIOM1010 Engineering in Medicine and Biology

Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology is not meant to mystify, confuse,
or confront.

BUT IT DOES!

Medical terms are based on:
Greek or Latin
There is continuous evolution.

Latin is predominant. A fundamental understanding of
word construction is required to crack the code.

Suggested internet medical dictionary:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html

An easier way:

Google "medical dictionary" and bookmark the ones you like.








FUNDAMENTALS OF

MEDICAL VOCABULARY



1. Break down word and identify its parts:

prefix
suffix
root


2. Identify key components of anatomy and physiology.


3. Relate words and their parts to each body system.


4. Construct meaning.

e.g. periosteum
subcutaneous
suprarenal

RELATING TERMINOLOGY TO BODY SYSTEMS



A very brief synopsis

Tissue similar cells

Organs defined shape consisting of
various tissues

Parenchyma tissue specific for a
particular organ

cyt(o)- cells
-cyte

Tissue types :

Epithelium
Endothelium

fibro -
lip (o) -
oste(o) -
my(o) -
neuro -
gli -

Liquid tissue:

haem(o)- blood
-aemia blood
lymph- lymph fluid


Pathology:

-osis necrosis
fibrosis
sclerosis

-itis inflammation

-lith stone

Tumour Diseases:

-oma tumour

-angioma vascular tissue tumour

-carcinoma malignant tumour
from epithelial cells

-sarcoma malignant tumour from
connective tissue

BODY SYSTEMS


Digestion:

gastr(o)- stomach
chol- bile
cholecys-t gall bladder
col- colon


Respiration:

laryng(o)- larynx
bronch(o)- bronchi
pleur- pleura
pneumo- air/lung


Circulation:

cardi(o)- heart
arteri- artery
phleb(o)- vein
also ven(o)-
vas(o)- vessel
lymph- lymph

Excretory system:

ren- kidney
nephr(o)- kidney
pyel(o)- renal pelvis
uretero- ureter
cyst(o)- bladder
urethr(o)- urethra
ur(o)- urine


Nervous system:

encephal- brain
cerebr(o)- brain,cerebrum


Sensory:

-esthesia feeling
rhin(o)- nose
ot- ear
-opia vision

Prefix Meaning Examples
a-, an- without,lack of, not Aphasia (without speech)
Anaemia (lack of blood)
ab- away from Abductor (leading away from)
Aboral (away from mouth)
ad- toward, to, near Adductor (leading toward)
Adrenal (near the kidney)
ambi-, both Ambidextrous (ability to use both hands
ampho- equally)
Amphogenic (producing young of both
sexes)
amphi- on both sides, Amphibious (living on both land in water)
double Amphithymia (dual mental state of
depression and elation)
ana- up, toward, apart Anatomy (to cut apart)
Anacatharsis (vomiting up)
ante- before, in front of,
forward
Antecubital (before elbow)
forward Anteflex (to bend forward)
anti- against, opposing Antisepsis (against infection)
Anticarious (against cavities)
ap-, apo- separation from, Apobiosis (death of a part)
derived from Apocleisis (aversion to food)
aut-, auto- self Autoanalysis (self analysis)
Autoerotism (sexual self love)
bi- two,double,twice Bifocal (two foci)
Biarticulate (double joint)
cata- down,under,lower,
against
Catabolism (breaking down)
Catalepsy (reduced movement)
circum- around Circumflex (winding around)
Circumarticular (around joint)
co-, com-, with, together Commissure (coming together)
Conductor (leading together)
contra- opposed, against Contralateral (opposite side)
Contraception (prevention of conception)
de- down, from Dehydrate (remove water from)
Decay (break down)
di- two, twice Dicephalous (two headed)
Dichromic (having two colors)
dia- between, through,
apart,
across,
completely
Diapedesis (ooze through)
Diaphragm (wall across)
Diagnosis (complete knowledge)
dis- apart or free from Disinfection (infection)
Dissect (cut apart)
Disarticulation (separation at a joint)
dys- difficult, bad, painful Dyskinesis (difficult motion)
Dyspepsia (bad digestion)
Dyspareunia (painful coitus)
e-, ec-, ex- out of, from Enucleate (remove whole from)
ect-, ecto-,
exo-
outer, outside,
situated on
Ectal (on the surface)
Ectoderm (outer skin)
Ectocytic (outside of cell)
Exogenic (originating outside)
em-,* en- in Empyema (pus in)
Encranial (in the cranium)
*em- before b, m, and p
end-, endo-,
ent-, ento-
within, inner Endaural (within the ear)
Endocranial (within cranium)
Entiris (inner eye color)
Entocele (internal hernia)
ep-, epi- upon, on, over Epicostal (upon a rib)
Epidermis (outer skin layer)
Eponychia (infection over the nail
bed)
eu- normal, good, well, healthy Eucrasia (normal health)
Euplastic (healing well)
extra-,
extro-
outside of, beyond,
outward
Extraoral (outside of mouth)
Extroversion (turning inside out)
hemi- half Hemiepilepsy (epilepsy on one side
of body)
Hemilingual (half of tongue)
hyper- excessive, above,
beyond
Hyperactive (overactive)
Hypertension (above normal blood
pressure)
hyp-, hypo- under, deficient,
beneath
Hypalgia (reduced pain sense)
Hypothyroidism (deficiency of
thyroid activity)
in-,* in- in, into, within Implant (insert into)
Injection (forcing fluid into)
*im- before b, m, and p
infra- below, beneath Infraorbital (beneath eye)
Infracostal (below a rib)
inter- between Intercostal (between ribs)
Internodal (between nodes)
intra- within Intracardiac (within heart)
Intraocular (within the eye)

intro- into, within Introversion turning inward)
Introrsus (turned in)
mes-, meso- middle Mesencephalon (midbrain)
Mesonasal (middle of nose)
meta- change, beyond Metachrosis (color change)
Metabasis (disease changes)
micr-, micro- small Micracoustic (faint sounds)
Microbe (minute organism)
mult-, multi- many Multiangular (many angles)
Multiform (many shapes)
neo- new, recent Neoblastic (new tissue growth)
Neonatal (new born)
pan- all, entire Panacea (cure-all)
Pantalgia (entire body pain)
para- beside, beyond, after Paracardiac (beside the heart)
Paracyesis (pregnancy outside the
uterus)
per- through, excessive Permeable (may pass through)
Peracute (excessively sharp)
peri- around Periosteum (around bone)
Peribulbar (around eye bulb)
poly- many, much, excessive Polycystic (many cysts)
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
post- after, behind Postoperative (after surgery)
Postocular (behind the eye)
pre-, pro- before, in front of Prenatal (before birth)
Project (throw forward)
pseud-,
pseudo-
false Pseudarthrosis (false joint)
Pseudocyesis (false pregnancy)
re- again, backward Reflex (bend back)
Regurgitation (vomiting)
retro- backward, behind Retrograde (going backward)
Retrolingual (behind tongue)

semi- half Semiconscious (partly aware)
Seminormal (half normal)
sub- under, beneath Subcutaneous (under the skin)
Subungual (beneath the nail)
super-,
supra
above, superior, excess Superactivity (overactivity)
Suprarenal (above kidneys)
sym-,* syn- together, with Symmelia (fusion of limbs)
Synclinal (bent together)
*sym- before b, m, p, and ph.
trans- across, through Transection (cut across)
Transaortic (through aorta)
ultra- beyond, excess Ultravirus (very small virus)
Ultrasonic

Suffix Meaning Examples
-ac,-al,-ic,
-ous, -tic
pertaining to,
relating to
Cardiac (pertaining to the heart)
Neural (pertaining to nerve)
Haemorrhagic (relating to bleeding)
Delirious (relating to mental disturbance)
Acoustic (pertaining to sound)
-algia,-dynia pain Neuralgia (pain in nerves)
Mastodynia (pain in breast)
-ate,-ize use, subject to Impregnate (to make pregnant)
Visualize (use imagination)
-cele protrusion (hernia) Cystocele (bladder hernia)
Rectocele (rectal protrusion into vagina)
-centesis surgical puncture
to remove fluid
Paracentesis (from a body cavity)
Thoracentesis (from chest cavity)
-cle, -cule,
-ole, -ola,
-ule, -ulum,
-ulus
small Follicle (little bag)
Molecule (small mass)
Arteriole, arteriola
-cyte cell Leukocyte (white blood cell)
Erythrocyte (red blood cell)
-ectomy, cutting out Lobectomy (of a lobe)
Appendectomy (of the appendix)
-emesis vomit Haematemesis (vomiting blood)
Hyperemesis (excessive vomiting)
-emia blood condition Leukemia (malignant blood disease)
Anaemia (lack of red blood cells)
-ent. -er,
-ist, -or
person or agent Recipient (one who receives)
Examiner (one who examines)
Oculist (eye physician)
Donor (one who donates)
-esis, -ia,
-iasis, -ity
-osis, -sis
tion, -y
state or condition Paresis (partial paralysis)
Anaesthesia (not feeling)
Acidity (excess acid)
Narcosis (drugged state)
Inhalation (inhaling)
Therapy (treatment condition)
-form, -oid resembling,
shaped like
Fusiform (spindle shaped)
Ovoid (egg shaped)
-genesis

beginning process,
origin
Pathogenesis (origin of disease)
Homogenesis (young same as parent)
-gram,
-graphy
recording,
written record
Mammogram (x-ray of breast)
Cardiography (heart action record)
-graph instrument that records Cardiograph (heart action)
Encephalograph (brain function)
-ible, -ile capable, able Flexible (capable of bending)
Contractile (able to contract)
-ites, -itis inflammation Tympanites (drumlike swelling of abdomen
Adenitis (inflammation of a gland)
-logy science, study of Biology (science of life)
Histology (study of tissues)
-oma tumour Carcinoma (malignant growth)
Sarcoma (cancerous tumour
-penia deficiency of,
lack of
Glycopenia (sugar in tissues)
Leukopenia (white blood cells)
-pexy, -
pexis
fixation
storing
Nephropexy (of floating kidney)
Glycopexis (glycogen in liver)
-phagia,
-phagy
eating, devouring Geophagia (eating dirt or clay)
Aerophagy (swallowing air)
-phobia abnormal fear or
intolerance
Acrophobia (fear of heights)
Photophobia (of light)
-plasty surgical shaping or
formation
Rhinoplasty (nose formation)
Otoplasy (external ear)
-pnea breathing Apnea (absence of breathing)
Dyspnea (difficult breathing)
-ptosis prolapse, downward
displacement
Proctoptosis (prolapse of anus)
Nephroptosis (prolapse of kidney)
-rrhage,
-rrhagia
excessive flow Haemorrhage (excessive blood flow)
Menorrhagia (abnormal menses)
-rrhaphy suturing in place Herniorrhaphy (repair of hernia)
Osteorrhaphy (wiring of bone)
-rrhea flow or discharge Rhinorrhea (nasal discharge)
Galactorrhea (breast milk)
-rrhexis rupture Enterorrhexis (intestinal rupture)
Metrorrhexis (rupture of uterus)
-stomy surgical opening Colostomy (colon to body surface)
Gastrostomy (into stomach)
-scope instrument for
examining
Microscope (minute objects)
Cystoscope (urinary bladder)
-scopy act of examining Microscopy (minute objects)
Cystoscopy (urinary bladder)
-tome instrument for Cystotome (cutting into bladder)
Neurotome (dissecting nerves)
-tomy cutting, incision Cystotomy (of urinary bladder)
Phlebotomy (incision of vein)