Dr Walid Daoud Al Azhar university Gaza Lama K El Banna

1. Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology
Dr. Walid DaoudDr. Walid Daoud
A. ProfessorA. Professor

2. IntroductionIntroduction
Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology is the study ofis the study of
words that relate to body systems,words that relate to body systems,
anatomical structures, medicalanatomical structures, medical
processes and procedures, andprocesses and procedures, and
a variety of diseases that afflicta variety of diseases that afflict
human organismhuman organism..

3. Word Root (WRWord Root (WR((
It is the basic stem word, usually derivedIt is the basic stem word, usually derived
from Greek or Latin languagefrom Greek or Latin language..
WR is theWR is the building blocksbuilding blocks for many Prefixes,for many Prefixes,
Suffixes, Anatomical Words, MedicalSuffixes, Anatomical Words, Medical
proceduresprocedures..
Greek WordGreek Word Word Root (WRWord Root (WR((
Kardia (heartKardia (heart((
osteon (boneosteon (bone((
nephros (kidneynephros (kidney((
gastros (stomachgastros (stomach((
erythros (rederythros (red((
cardicardi
osteoste
nephrnephr
gastrgastr
erythrerythr

4. Combining Form (CFCombining Form (CF((
It is a WR to which a final vowel (usually “O”( isIt is a WR to which a final vowel (usually “O”( is
added (CF = WR / Oadded (CF = WR / O(.(.
WRWR CFCF MeaningMeaning
cardicardi
cytcyt
osteoste
nephrnephr
gastrgastr
erythrerythr
cardi / ocardi / o
cyt / ocyt / o
oste / ooste / o
nephr / onephr / o
gastr / ogastr / o
erythr / oerythr / o
heartheart
cellcell
bonebone
kidneykidney
stomachstomach
redred

5. Building Compound WordsBuilding Compound Words
The vowel performs a connecting function.The vowel performs a connecting function.
IfIf second WR begins with asecond WR begins with a consonantconsonant::
leuk / o cyt / o = whiteleuk / o cyt / o = white
erythr / o cyt / o = rederythr / o cyt / o = red
If the second WR begins with a vowel, theIf the second WR begins with a vowel, the
“O” is sometimes retained“O” is sometimes retained::
gastr / o / enter / o = stomach and intestinegastr / o / enter / o = stomach and intestine
In others, a combining vowel is not addedIn others, a combining vowel is not added::
hem / angio = blood vesselhem / angio = blood vessel

6. SuffixesSuffixes
A suffix is a word element placed at the end of aA suffix is a word element placed at the end of a
word or stem to form a new wordword or stem to form a new word..
Suffixes beginning with vowelsSuffixes beginning with vowels::
WR + Suffix = Medical WordWR + Suffix = Medical Word
gastr +gastr + itisitis (inflammation) = gastritis(inflammation) = gastritis
gastr +gastr + algiaalgia (pain) = gastralgia(pain) = gastralgia
gastr +gastr + ectomyectomy (excision) = gastrectomy(excision) = gastrectomy

7. SuffixesSuffixes
Suffixes beginning with consonantsSuffixes beginning with consonants::
Combining Form + Suffix = Medical WordCombining Form + Suffix = Medical Word
WR + OWR + O
col + O +col + O + tomytomy (incision) = colotomy(incision) = colotomy
col + O +col + O + scopyscopy (examination) = coloscopy(examination) = coloscopy
col + O +col + O + rrhaphyrrhaphy (suture) = colorrhaphy(suture) = colorrhaphy

8. Summary of RulesSummary of Rules
Build medical words by the following rulesBuild medical words by the following rules::
RULE 1RULE 1..
Add suffixes that begin with an initial vowelAdd suffixes that begin with an initial vowel
directly to the word rootdirectly to the word root..
RULE 2RULE 2..
Add a connecting vowel “O” to the word rootAdd a connecting vowel “O” to the word root
when the suffix begins withwhen the suffix begins with a consonanta consonant..

9. Surgical Procedure SuffixesSurgical Procedure Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--ectomyectomy
--o/centesiso/centesis
--o/stomyo/stomy
--o/tomyo/tomy
excisionexcision
puncturepuncture
mouth, formingmouth, forming
an openingan opening
incision to cutincision to cut
intointo
append/append/ectomyectomy
appendixappendix
arthr/o/arthr/o/centesiscentesis
jointjoint
col/o/col/o/stomystomy
coloncolon
phleb/o/phleb/o/tomytomy
veinvein

10. Surgical Procedures SuffixesSurgical Procedures Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--desisdesis
--o/rrhaphyo/rrhaphy
--o/pexyo/pexy
--o/plastyo/plasty
bindingbinding,,
stabilizationstabilization
suturesuture
fixationfixation,,
suspensionsuspension
formationformation,,
plastic repairplastic repair
arthr/o/arthr/o/desisdesis
jointjoint
neur/o/neur/o/rrhaphyrrhaphy
gastr/o/pexygastr/o/pexy
stomachstomach
rhin/o/rhin/o/plastyplasty
nosenose

11. Surgical Procedure SuffixesSurgical Procedure Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--o/clasiso/clasis
--o/lysiso/lysis
--o/tripsyo/tripsy
to break down,to break down,
refracturerefracture
loosen, freeloosen, free
from adhesionsfrom adhesions,,
destructiondestruction
to crushto crush
oste/o/clasisoste/o/clasis
bonebone
enter/o/lysisenter/o/lysis
small intestinesmall intestine
lith/o/tripsylith/o/tripsy
stonestone

12. Diagnostic and Symptomatic SuffixesDiagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--algiaalgia
--o/dyniao/dynia
--o/celeo/cele
--ectasisectasis
--o/geno/gen
painpain
painpain
hernia, swellinghernia, swelling
dilatationdilatation
beginning,beginning,
originorigin
cephal/cephal/algiaalgia
headhead
cephal/o/cephal/o/dyniadynia
headhead
hepato/hepato/celecele
liverliver
bronchi/bronchi/ectasisectasis
bronchusbronchus
carcin/o/carcin/o/gengen
cancercancer

13. Diagnostic and Symptomatic SuffixesDiagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--iasisiasis
--itisitis
--o/logyo/logy
--o/malaciao/malacia
--o/megalyo/megaly
condition,condition,
formation offormation of
InflammationInflammation
study ofstudy of
softeningsoftening
enlargementenlargement
chole/lith/chole/lith/iasisiasis
gall stonegall stone
gastr/gastr/itisitis
stomachstomach
bio/bio/logylogy
lifelife
oste/o/oste/o/malaciamalacia
bonebone
hepat/o/hepat/o/megalymegaly
liverliver

14. Diagnostic and Symptomatic SuffixesDiagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--oidoid
--omaoma
--osisosis
--o/pathyo/pathy
--o/peniao/penia
resembleresemble
tumortumor
abnormalabnormal
conditioncondition
diseasedisease
decrease,decrease,
deficiencydeficiency
lip/lip/oidoid
lipidlipid
aden/aden/omaoma
glandgland
dermat/dermat/osisosis
skinskin
nephr/o/nephr/o/pathypathy
kidneykidney
leuk/o/leuk/o/peniapenia
white (cellwhite (cell((

15. Diagnostic and Symptomatic SuffixesDiagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--phagiaphagia
--phasiaphasia
--plegiaplegia
--phobiaphobia
--o/ptosiso/ptosis
eatingeating
speechspeech
paralysisparalysis
fearfear
prolapse, fallingprolapse, falling
dys/dys/phagiaphagia
difficultdifficult
a/a/phasiaphasia
withoutwithout
hemi/hemi/plegiaplegia
halfhalf
acro/acro/phobiaphobia
extremitiesextremities
hyster/o/hyster/o/ptosisptosis
uterusuterus

16. Diagnostic and Symptomatic SuffixesDiagnostic and Symptomatic Suffixes
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--o/rrhageo/rrhage
--o/rrheao/rrhea
--o/rrhexiso/rrhexis
--o/sclerosiso/sclerosis
--o/scopyo/scopy
hemorrhagehemorrhage
discharge, flowdischarge, flow
rupturerupture
hardeninghardening
examinationexamination
hem/o/hem/o/rrhagerrhage
bloodblood
men/o/men/o/rrhearrhea
mensesmenses
angi/o/angi/o/rrhexisrrhexis
blood vesselblood vessel
arteri/o/arteri/o/sclerosissclerosis
arteryartery
ot/o/ot/o/scopyscopy
earear

17. General Review-SuffixesGeneral Review-Suffixes
For building a medical termFor building a medical term
The CF is used when a suffix begins withThe CF is used when a suffix begins with
a consonanta consonant::
gastr/ogastr/o/pexy/pexy leuk/oleuk/o/cyte/cyte
nephr/o/nephr/o/pexypexy oste/ooste/o/cyte/cyte
The WR is directly joined to the suffix whenThe WR is directly joined to the suffix when
the suffix begins with a vowelthe suffix begins with a vowel::
gastr/gastr/algiaalgia dermatdermat/osis/osis
nephrnephr/oma/oma mastmast/ectomy/ectomy

18. Suffixes: Adjective EndingsSuffixes: Adjective Endings
Adjective EndingAdjective Ending ExampleExample
--acac
--alal
--aryary
--icic
--icalical
--ousous
--tictic
cardi/cardi/acac (heart(heart((
neur/neur/alal (nerve(nerve((
saliv/saliv/aryary (saliva(saliva((
hypo/derm/hypo/derm/icic (under skin(under skin((
med/med/icalical (medicine(medicine((
sub/cutane/sub/cutane/ousous (under skin(under skin((
paraly/paraly/tictic (paralysis(paralysis((

19. Suffixes: Noun EndingsSuffixes: Noun Endings
Noun EndingNoun Ending MeaningMeaning ExampleExample
--iaciac
--iaia
--isis
--ismism
--istist
--yy
Indicates personIndicates person
afflicted with diseaseafflicted with disease
Forms noun from rootForms noun from root
Abnormal conditionAbnormal condition
One who specializesOne who specializes
Condition or processCondition or process
Hemo/o/phil/Hemo/o/phil/iaciac
((Blood loveBlood love((
Pneumon/Pneumon/iaia
Cut/is (skinCut/is (skin((
Alcohol/Alcohol/ismism
Uro/log/Uro/log/istist
Myo/path/Myo/path/yy
((muscle diseasemuscle disease((

20. Plural EndingsPlural Endings
SingularSingular Plural FormPlural Form SingularSingular PluralPlural
aa
axax
enen
ixix
sissis
onon
umum
usus
yy
mama
aeae
acesaces
inaina
icesices
sesses
aa
aa
ii
iesies
matamata
pleurpleuraa
thorthoraxax
lumlumenen
appendappendixix
diagnodiagnosissis
gangliganglionon
bacteribacteriumum
digitdigitusus
deformitdeformityy
carcinomcarcinomaa
pleurpleuraeae
thorthoraces
lumluminaina
appendappendicesices
diagnodiagnosesses
gangligangliaa
bacteribacteriaa
digitdigitii
deformitdeformitiesies
carcinomcarcinomataata