BIS, Badr Academy, Amany Elshamy's lectures, Medical terminology

1. Medical Terminology
Prepared and presented by:
Amany Mohamed Elshamy
Teaching Lecturer of Biochemistry and Molecular biology
High tech Institute of Applied Medical Sciences, Badr Academy

2. • Definition
• Importance of Medical Terminology
• Term elements
• Word root
• Prefix
• Suffix
• Basic Medical Terms to Describe Disease Conditions
• Abbreviations
Outline

3. • Medical terminology is language
that is used to accurately describe
the human body and associated
components, conditions, processes
and procedures in a science-based
manner.
Definition

4. • Communication between medical
specialists and supporting staff.
• Accurate understanding, and usage
of medical terms is of extreme
importance in the care of a patients.
Importance of Medical terminology

5. • Most medical terms come from the
Greek and Latin languages.
• Prefixes / Roots or Words/
Combining / Suffixes.
• The medical terms will contain two
or more of these components.
Medical term

6. 1. Root (middle)
 it is the core of the word ( It often
indicates the involved body part).
 For example
Stomach is gastr
Four Parts of Word elements

7. 2. Suffix
 A word part attached to the end of
the word root to modify its meaning
(indicates the procedure, condition,
or disease).
Four Parts of Word elements

8. 3. Prefix (beginning)
To describe number, size,
location, direction, color,…etc
Four Parts of Word elements

9. 4. Combining Vowel
a word part, usually an “o” or
“e” or “i” ex; gastr/o
Combined form= word root + o
Four Parts of Word elements

10. Prefix Roots Combing Suffix
Four parts of the medical term

11. Example
• Dermatitis = defined as the inflammation of
the skin.
Derma= skin; itis= inflammation
• Peritonsillitis = Inflammation of the tissues
surrounding the tonsil.
Peri= around

12. • Most of word root are either in Greek or
Latin language.
• A word root cannot stand alone.
• Contains the basic meaning of the term.
• All medical terms have at least one word
root.
1. Word Root

13. • “dent” means tooth
• “derma” means skin
• “cardi” means heart
• hemat/o means blood
• “gastr” means stomach
• “pancreat” means pancreas
• “Hepat/o” means Liver
Examples of Word Root

15. Examples of Word Root
Bluecyan/o
Rederythr/o
WhiteAlbin/o
leuk/o
Blackmelan/o
Graypoli/o
GreenChlor/o

16. Examples of Word Root

17. Examples of Word Root
Erythrocyte

18. Examples of Word Root
Leukocyte

19.  A prefix is a word component placed in
front of a root/word to change or modify
its meaning.
• A prefix can give a root a specific type/
classification, quality, or quantity.
• It often indicates location, direction,
time, size amount or number.
2. PREFIX

20. Common PREFIXIES
withcon-Smallmicr/o
removedisLarge, abnormal size, or longMacro
OutsideEx-Great, very largemega-, megal/o
SelfAutobeforePre-
againstAntiAfter, behindPost
Working
improperly
DysFew, littleolig/o
deficientHypoLifeBio
excessiveHyperabnormalAb
WithinEndoAbove or excessiveSuper, supra
Without, noneA or AnUnder or below or lesssub

21. PREFIX

22. • There are 5 divisions:
A. Prefixes of time or speed
B. Prefixes of direction
C. Prefixes of position
D. Prefixes of size or number
E. Prefixes of negation
PREFIX

23. Prefix
Position
Time
speed
sizeNumber
Negation
Direction
1, 2, 3,

25. Prefixes of Number and Measurement
Ex; Unilateral (one side) ‫جهة‬
‫واحدة‬
oneUni-
Ex; monolayer ‫واحدة‬ ‫طبمة‬oneMono
Ex; bilateral (two sides) ً‫ثنائ‬
Ex; diplococci ً‫ثنائ‬‫كروٌة‬
Two or
double
Bi- or
diplo
Ex; Multilayers ‫الطبمات‬ ‫متعدد‬manyMulti-
Ex; polygenic (phenotype is
influenced by more than one
gene) ‫الوراثٌة‬ ‫الصفات‬ ‫متعدد‬
manyPoly-

26. Ex: Hemisphere ‫نص‬‫فص‬) ),
hemiplegia ( ً‫نصف‬ ‫)شلل‬
HalfHemi
Ex: semicircular‫بالدائرة‬ ‫شبٌه‬partialSemi
Ex; Micro-organism‫دلٌك‬ ً‫ح‬ ‫كائن‬smallMicro
Ex; Macrophage ‫خلٌة‬‫كبٌرة‬ ‫بلعمٌة‬ ,
Macromolecules ‫جزٌئات‬‫كبٌرة‬
(proteins)
LargeMacro
Prefixes of Number and Measurement

27. Prefixes cont.
EX; quadriplegia ‫شلل‬ً‫رباع‬
‫التكافؤ‬ ً‫رباع‬ tetravalent
FourQuadri-
, tetra
Ex; Trimester (a period of three
months) ‫اشهر‬ ‫ثالثة‬ ‫فترة‬
threeTri
Ex: primigravida (a woman who is
pregnant for the first time) ‫السٌدة‬
‫االولى‬ ‫للمرة‬ ‫الحامل‬
FirstPrimi

28. Ex: Oliguria ‫للة‬‫البول‬Few,
little
Oligo
Hypoglycemia ‫نمص‬‫الدم‬ ً‫ف‬ ‫السكر‬ ,
Hypotension ‫منخفض‬ ‫دم‬ ‫ضغط‬ ,
Hypothyroidism ‫نمص‬‫الدرلٌة‬ ‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬
deficientHypo
Hyperglycemia ‫الدم‬ ً‫ف‬ ‫السكر‬ ‫,زٌادة‬
Hypertension ً‫العال‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫ضغط‬ ,
Hyperthyroidism ‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬ ‫زٌادة‬
‫الدرلٌة‬
ExcessiveHyper
Prefixes cont.

30. Prefixes of Number
Uni-
Unicellular
Unit ‫وحدة‬
Unipolar ‫إحادى‬
‫المطب‬
Union ‫إتحاد‬
Uni-valence
‫التكافؤ‬ ‫احادي‬
Uni-nuclear
‫النواة‬ ‫إحادي‬ Unidirectional
‫االتجاه‬ ‫وحٌد‬

31. Prefixes of Number
Mono
Monochromatic
‫اللون‬ ‫احادي‬
Monochromatism
‫االلوان‬ ‫عمى‬
Monocyte
Monoxide
‫االكسٌد‬ ‫احادي‬
Monovalent
‫التكافؤ‬ ‫احادي‬
Mononuclear
‫النواة‬ ‫احادي‬

32. Prefixes of Number
Bi-
ً‫ثنائ‬
Bivalent
Bipolar ً‫ثنائ‬
‫المطب‬
Binary ً‫ثنائ‬
Binuclear ‫النواة‬ ‫ثنائٌة‬
Binocular microscope
‫عٌنٌن‬ ‫ذو‬ ‫مجهر‬
Bisexual ‫الجنس‬ ً‫ثنائ‬
Bilobed nucleus
‫الفصوص‬ ً‫ثنائ‬

33. Prefixes of Number
Diplo-
‫مزدوج‬
Diplococcus
Diplobacillus

34. Prefixes of Number
Multi-
‫متعدد‬
Multivalent
Multiform
‫االشكال‬ ‫متعدد‬
Multifocal
‫البؤر‬ ‫متعدد‬
Multifactorial
‫العوامل‬ ‫متعدد‬Multiple
infection
Multihospital
system

35. Prefixes of Number
Poly
‫كثٌر‬
Polymer
Polypeptide
‫البٌبتد‬ ‫كثٌر‬
Polyvalent
Polyarthritis ‫التهاب‬
‫المتعدد‬ ‫المفاصل‬
Polydipsia
‫و‬ ‫الشدٌد‬ ‫العطش‬
‫الماء‬ ‫شرب‬ ‫كثرة‬

36. Prefixes of measurement
Hemi-
Hemianopia
‫النصفى‬ ‫العمى‬
Hemi anesthesia
‫النصفى‬ ‫التخدٌر‬
Hemi facial
‫وجهى‬ ‫شك‬
Hemi spasm
‫النصفى‬ ‫التشنج‬

37. Prefixes of measurement
Semi
Semicircular
line
semipermeable
semi quantitative
‫كمى‬ ‫نص‬
Semisynthetic

38. Prefixes of measurement
Micro
Micro analysis
Microbe
Microbiology
technologist
Microliter (µl)
=106 Liter
Micron (µ)
=106 meter
Micropipette
Microscope

39. Prefixes of measurement
Micro
Microcytic
anemia

40. Prefixes of measurement
Macr-
Macrocytic
anemia

41. Prefixes of measurement
Macr-
Macro
chemistry
Macro
elements
Macro
aggregate
Macroscopic
examination
‫بالعٌن‬ ‫فحص‬
‫المجردة‬

42. Prefixes of measurement
Hypo
Hypoglycemia
Hypo secretion
Hypoparathyroidism
‫درلٌة‬ ‫الجار‬ ‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬ ‫نمص‬
Hypothyroidism
‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬ ‫نمص‬
‫الدرلٌة‬

43. Prefixes of measurement
Hyper-
Hyperglycemia
Hyper secretion
Hyperthyroidism
‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬ ‫زٌادة‬
‫الدرلٌة‬
Hyperparathyroidism
‫درلٌة‬ ‫الجار‬ ‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬ ‫زٌادة‬

44. !!Absence or opposite

45. Prefixes of Negation
Ex; asymptomatic ‫االعراض‬ ‫عدٌم‬ ,
anesthesia ‫تخدٌر‬
nota-,
an-
Deionized water ‫خالى‬ ‫ممطر‬ ‫ماء‬/‫منزوع‬
‫االٌونات‬
Dehumidifier ‫الرطوبة‬ ‫مزٌل‬
withoutde-
Disable ‫الحركة‬ ‫على‬ ‫المدرة‬ ‫عدم‬ , disinfect
‫تطهٌر‬
removedis-
Insensitive ‫االحساس‬ ‫عدٌم‬OppositeIn-

47. Prefixes of position
Intra-
or
Endo-
Inter
Between
Extra-
Outside
Trans-
across Peri-
around

48. Prefixes of Position
Subcutaneous
‫الجلد‬ ‫تحت‬
belowsub-
Pancarditis ‫الشامل‬ ‫الملب‬ ‫التهاب‬All,
everywhere
Pan

49. Prefixes of Position
Postnatal ‫بعد‬‫الوالدة‬
Posterior ‫الخلفٌة‬/‫طرفٌة‬
After, beyondpost-
Interior gland /‫الداخلٌة‬ ‫االمامٌة‬ ‫الغدة‬Front ofinterior
Retrosternal ‫وراء‬/‫لصٌة‬ ‫خلف‬(‫عظم‬
‫الصدرى‬ ‫المفص‬)
backward,
behind
retro-

50. Sub-
Prefixes of Position
Subacute ‫اعراض‬
‫شدٌدة‬ ‫لٌست‬
Subendothelial
‫المخاطى‬ ‫الغشاء‬ ‫تحت‬
‫للعضو‬
Subfamily
Sublingual ‫تحت‬
‫اللسان‬
Submersion
SubmucousaSub gland

51. Superior,
Super,
supra-
Prefixes of Position
Above or excessive
Supernatant
‫على‬ ً‫الطاف‬ ‫الجزء‬
‫السطح‬
Superoxide
‫شدٌد‬ ‫االكسجٌن‬
‫السمٌة‬
Supersaturate
‫التشبع‬ ‫افراط‬
Suprarenal
gland ‫الغدة‬
‫كلوٌة‬ ‫الفوق‬
Supra vital stain
(Crystal violet)

52. Pan-
Prefixes of Position
Pan-arthritis
‫المفاصل‬ ‫التهاب‬
‫الشامل‬
Panarteritis
‫شراٌٌنى‬ ‫التهاب‬
‫الشامل‬
Pancolectomy
‫المولون‬ ‫استئصال‬
ً‫الكل‬
Pancystitis
‫المثانة‬ ‫التهاب‬
‫الشامل‬

53. Post-
Prefixes of Position
Post cibal
‫االكل‬ ‫بعد‬
Postpartum
‫الوالدة‬ ‫بعد‬
Postprandial
‫االكل‬ ‫بعد‬
Post-trumatic
stress disorder
‫بعد‬ ‫ما‬ ‫اضطراب‬
‫الصدمة‬

54. Retro-
Prefixes of Position
Retroversion
‫خلفى‬ ‫انمالب‬
Retrobulbar
‫الكورة‬ ‫وراء‬
‫العٌنٌة‬
Retrovirus
‫فٌروس‬

56. Prefixes of Direction
Antibiotic ‫حٌوي‬ ‫مضاد‬
Antibodies ‫االجسام‬‫المضادة‬
Againstanti-
Contradiction ‫:تنالض‬
Action of two drugs or
procedures that affect
each other or make
harmful lesions.
Contraception ‫منع‬‫الحمل‬
againstContra-

57. Prefixes of Direction
Diarrhea ‫اسهال‬across,
through
dia-
Dextrocardia ‫الملب‬
‫الٌمٌنى‬
Right sidedextr/o
Sinistrocardia
‫الملب‬ ‫اٌسرٌة‬
Left sidesinistr/o

58. Anti-
Prefixes of Direction
Anticancer
drug
Anticoagulant
drug
Antifungal
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
( Vit C, Vit E)

59. Contra-
Prefixes of Direction
Contrast
‫تباٌن‬
Contraceptive
‫الحمل‬ ‫مانع‬
Contraction
‫انكماش‬ ‫تملص‬Contralateral
‫الممابل‬ ‫او‬ ‫النظٌر‬

60. dia-
Prefixes of Direction
Diameter
‫طر‬ُ‫ل‬
Diaphragm
Diapedesis
‫الدم‬ ‫كرات‬ ‫خروج‬
‫المسام‬ ‫من‬ ‫البٌضاء‬
‫الدلٌمة‬
Dialysis

61. Prefixes of Direction

62. Prefixes of rate & time
Antepartum ‫الوضع‬ ‫لبل‬/‫الوالدة‬ ,
Premature ‫لبل‬‫االكتمال‬
beforeante-,
pre-
Bradycardia ‫بطء‬‫معدل‬‫الملب‬ ‫ضربات‬slow
rate
brady-
Tachycardia ‫معدل‬ ‫زٌاده‬‫الملب‬ ‫ضربات‬Rapid
rate
tachy-
Neonatal ً‫حدٌث‬‫الوالدة‬NewNeo-

63. Pre-
Prefixes of Position
Precipitate
‫راسب‬
Precapillary
‫الدموٌة‬ ‫الشعٌره‬ ‫لبل‬
Precancerous
stage ‫مرحلة‬
‫التسرطن‬ ‫لبل‬
Preclinical
disease ‫لم‬ ‫مرض‬
‫اعراض‬ ‫له‬ ‫ٌظهر‬
Preparation

64. Neo-
Prefixes of Position
Neonatal
medicine
Neonate
‫حدٌث‬ ‫الولٌد‬
‫الوالدة‬

66. Suffix
• A suffix must be added to complete
the term!!
• -logia, -logy : study of
Ex: Terminology, Biology, Histology,
Endocrinology, Microbiology,
Physiology.

67. Suffix
Uremia ‫البول‬ ً‫ف‬ ‫دم‬ ,
Anemia ‫الدم‬ ‫احمرار‬ ‫نمص‬
blood-emia
Hypothyroidism ‫نمص‬
‫الدرلٌة‬ ‫الغدة‬ ‫افراز‬
a condition of, a
process, or a state of
-ism
Appendicitis ‫التهاب‬
‫الدودٌة‬ ‫الزائدة‬
Inflammation-itis
Hepatomegaly ‫تضخم‬
‫الكبد‬
enlargement-megaly

68. Suffix
Leukocyte ‫الدم‬ ‫كرات‬
‫البٌضاء‬
Cell-cyte
Endoscopy ‫المنظار‬process of
examining,
examination
-scopy
Angioedema ‫انتفاخ‬
‫الجلد‬ ‫تحت‬ ‫الداخلٌة‬ ‫الطبمة‬
‫المخاطٌة‬ ‫واالغشٌة‬
Excessive fluid-edema

69. • Angioedema
Examples

70. Suffix cont.
Erythropoiesis ‫تكوٌن‬
‫الحمراء‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫كرات‬
producing-poiesis
Leukopenia ‫نمص‬
‫البٌضاء‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫كرات‬
Reducing-Penia
Diarrhea ‫اسهال‬discharge-rrhea
Hemorrhage ‫نزٌف‬
‫الدم‬
flowing-rrhage

71. Suffix cont.
Angiospasm ‫تشنج‬/
ً‫وعائ‬ ‫(تملص‬Angio;
blood vessels)
Muscular
contraction
-spasm
Hemostasis ‫اتزان‬
‫الدم‬
level, unchanging-stasis
Atherosclerosis
‫الشراٌٌن‬ ‫تصلب‬
hardness-
sclerosis

72. Hemiplegia ‫شلل‬
‫نصفى‬
paralysis-plegia
Arthralgia ‫الم‬
‫المفاصل‬
pain-algia
Suffix cont.

73. Suffix
Abnormal
condition
-ago
-iasis
-ism
-lysis
-ia
-ion
-osis
-esis Filariasis
Thrombosis Thyroidism
Gastrosis
Destruction

74. Adjective suffixes
• For converting a root or noun to an adjective {-
ac, -al, -an, -aneous, -ar, -ary, -eal, -eous,-iac, -
iatric, -ic, -ical, -oid, -otic, -ous, -tic, -ular}.
• Examples:
• Orthopedic: ‫العظام‬ ‫تموٌم‬
• Geriatric: person >65years old (elderly)
“Gerontology”

75. • There are some suffixes that are
related to test information,
diagnoses, and procedures are
often attached to a root that signifies a
body part.
Suffixes

76. Examples:
-ectomy means “removal of” So, the
appendectomy is removal of the
appendix.
 Gastrectomy ? Tonsillectomy??
Colectomy??
Suffixes

77. • -centesis is a surgical puncture to remove
fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove
excess fluid.
(Abdominocentesis ‫البطن‬ ‫)بزل‬
• -graphy means the process of producing a
picture or record.
(Angiography ‫الدموٌة‬ ‫االوعٌة‬ ‫)تصوٌر‬
Suffixes

78. Suffixes

79. • -plasty means surgical repair.
(Myoplasty ً‫عضل‬ ‫)رأب‬
My/o= muscle
• -scopy means visual examination.
(Arthroscopy ‫المفصل‬ ‫)منظار‬
Arthr/o= joint
Suffixes

80. Suffixes

81. EXsoundword begins
with
jaundice ‫الصفراء‬ ‫الٌرلان‬ ‫(مرض‬JAWN-dis),
Gastrointestinal tract ‫الهضمى‬ ‫الجهاز‬
JG , J
crepitus ‫(الفرلعة‬KREP-ih-tus), cholera (KOL-er-
ah), quadriplegia (kwad-rih-PLEE-jee-ah)
KC, CH, K, QU
cytology (sigh-TOL-oh-jee), psychologist
(sigh-KOL-oh-jist), serum (SEER-um)
SC, PS, S
Xeroderma ‫الجلد‬ ‫جفاف‬ (zee-roh-DER-mah),
zygote ‫الملمحة‬ ‫الخلٌة‬ (ZYE-goht)
ZX,Z
Flatus ‫الغازات‬/‫الرٌح‬ (FLAY-tus), phlegm
‫(البلغم‬FLEM)
FF, PH

82. Rules
Gastroenteritis
Rule #1
–Define the suffix,
Rule #2
–Define word root, combining form, or
prefix.

83. Rules
Gastroenteritis
• So, gastroenteritis meaning is:
1. inflammation (of)
2. stomach (and)
3. intestine
• Thus, the definition of gastroenteritis is
“inflammation (of) stomach (and) intestine.”

84. • hemolysis?
• Myopathy?
• Leukopenia?
• Gastroscopy?
• Anemia?
• Erythropoiesis?
Rules

85. • Symptom ‫(االعراض‬SIMP-tum): is
subjective evidence of a disease, such
as pain or a headache (by the patient).
• Sign‫:عالمة‬ is objective evidence of
disease such as a fever (by the doctor).
Basic Medical Terms

86. • Syndrome ‫(متالزمة‬SIN-drohm): is a set
of the signs and symptoms that occur
together as part of a specific disease
process.
• Disease ‫:المرض‬ is a condition in which
one or more body parts are not
functioning normally.
Basic Medical Terms

87. • Ex of syndrome: Down syndrome
Symptoms and signs:
o Neurological dysfunction
o Heart disease
o Endocrine
o Hearing and vision disorders
o Fertility
Basic Medical Terms

88. • An acute condition ‫حادة‬: has a rapid
onset, a severe course, and a relatively
short duration.
• A chronic condition ‫مزمن‬ ‫:مرض‬ is of long
duration. Although such diseases can be
controlled, they are rarely cured.
Basic Medical Terms

89. • Diagnosis ‫التشخٌص‬ (dye-ag-NOH-sis):
(DX) is the identification of a
disease.
Basic Medical Terms

90. • Differential diagnosis (D/DX), also
known as a rule out (R/O) is an
attempt to determine which one of
several diseases can be causing the
signs and symptoms that are
present.
Basic Medical Terms

91. • Prognosis ‫االنذار‬/‫المؤشر‬ (prog-NOH-
sis) is a prediction of the probable
course and outcome of a disorder.
Basic Medical Terms

92. • DX: diagnosis.
• D/DX: differential diagnosis.
• ACH: adrenocortical hormone.
• GH: growth hormone.
• CBC: complete blood count.
• Ca: calcium.
Abbreviations

93. • DM: diabetes mellitus.
• DI: diabetes insipidus.
• CVD: cardiovascular disease.
• E coli: Escherichia coli.
• EPO: erythropoietin.
• HCV: hepatitis C virus.
Abbreviations

94. Prefix Roots Combing Suffix
Summary
Body part Process , condition, ProcedureNumber , size,…….
 Basic Medical Terms  Abbreviations
Terminology