1. Dumessa E. (B.Pharm; M. Pharm;
PGDHET)
Lecturer, Therapeutics & Pharmacy Practice
School of Pharmacy
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGIES &
ABBREVIATIONS
3/19/2024
1
2. Objectives
To demonstrate competence – the
composition of medical terms
To define how medical terms are
formed
To list some of the common medical
terminology and abbreviations used
in practices
3/19/2024
2
3. Part I: Medical Terminologies
3/19/2024
3
Medical Terminologies were derived
primarily from Greek & Latin
They were the languages of scholarly
people in ancient times
Since it is impossible to memorize all
the medical words individually,
determining meaning of the words by
breaking it into parts is important
4. Medical Terminologies (2)
3/19/2024
4
These word parts are used over and
over in different combinations
If the word parts are known, then the
word can be broken down and
interpreted
Medical terms may have 4 word
parts:
Root
Prefix
Suffix
Combining form
5. 1. The word ‘root’
3/19/2024
5
Gives basic meaning of term
Each medical term contains one or
more roots
Unlike English roots, which can stand
alone, most medical roots are meant
to be used in combinations
Example: heart - cardi/
6. In medical terminology “roots”
usually indicate a body part:
3/19/2024
6
dent/o
pulmon/o
cardi/o
enter/o
7. 2. The prefix
3/19/2024
7
Is a word part added before a root to
modify its meaning
Many medical terms do not have a
prefix
A prefix usually indicates a:
Number
Time
Position
Sense of negation
9. 3. The suffix
3/19/2024
9
A word part added to end of root to modify
its meaning
Most medical terms have a suffix
E.g., Neuropathy . . . . underlined part is
the suffix.
In medical terminology, a suffix often times
indicates:
A procedure (-ectomy = surgical removal
of)
A condition (-osis = abnormal condition
of) e.g., hyalin-osis
A disease (-itis = inflammation of) e.g.,
tonsill-itis
10. 4. Combining vowel
3/19/2024
10
Usually an “o” that is used between word
parts eases pronunciation
Examples: therm/o/meter
Occasionally other vowels are used: such
as “i” or “e”
Pelv/i or chol/e
A root word plus a vowel is referred to as
a “combining form”
E.g., root = hepat combining form =
hepat/o
11. Combining vowel (2)
3/19/2024
11
Roots & combining forms are indicated by
slash “/” between root and vowel.
E.g., Cardi/O
Try to learn combining forms rather than word
roots because:
Combining forms are easier to pronounce
Difficult to pronounce: gastr
Easier to pronounce: gastr/o
12. Guidelines for using combining
vowels
3/19/2024
12
Rule 1
If a suffix begins with a vowel,
only use word root—not the
combining form
Example
suffix: -itis
root + suffix
hepat + -it is = hepat/itis
13. Guidelines for using combining
vowels (2)
3/19/2024
13
Rule 2
If a suffix begins with a consonant, use the
combining vowel. . . . E.g., cardi-o-logy
Rule 3
To link two root words, always use a
combining vowel. . . . . E.g., spleen-o-
hepatitis
In most instances, the combining vowel is
retained between two roots -even if the 2nd
root begins with a vowel. E.g., chondr-o-arthr-
algia
14. Guidelines for using combining
vowels (3)
3/19/2024
14
Even if the last letter of the 1st root ends with
a vowel (oste/) & the 1st letter of the 2nd root
begins with a vowel (arthr/), you must still
use the combining “o”
E.g., oste/ + o + arthr/ + -itis
Rule 4:
Never use a combining vowel after a
prefix, even if root begins with a consonant
E.g., post/ rhin /o - plasty
15. Medical Words: Three Basic Steps to
Defining & Interpreting
3/19/2024
15
1. First, define the suffix
2. Second, define the prefix (if one is used)
3. Last, define the middle part (root) of word
Example 1: sub/gastr/algia
Definition and interpretation
1) Suffix= algia = meaning “pain”
2) Prefix = sub= meaning “under”
3) Root = gastr = meaning “stomach”
Example 2: trans/cardi/o/pulmon/itis ?????
16. Common prefixes
cyano – blue
dys – difficult,
painful
hypo – below,
under, less than
normal
leuco – white
macro – large
mal – bad,
abnormal
micro – small
neo – new
endo – within,
inside
haemo – blood
hyper – above, in
excess of normal
pan – all
peri – around
3/19/2024
16
17. Common suffixes
aemia – blood
algia – pain
blast – immature
cell
centesis –
puncture /drawing
off
desis – binding
together
ectasis – dilatation
ectomy – removal of
gram – a picture
iasis – condition of /
state of
itis – inflammation of
lith – stone
lithiasis – condition
of stones
3/19/2024
17
18. Common suffixes (2)
3/19/2024
18
malacia – softening
megaly – enlargement
oma – tumor
ostomy – making an opening
otomy – to cut into / divide
paresis – weakness
pathy – disease
penia – lack of / decreased
19. Common suffixes (3)
phagia –
swallowing
phasiac – speech
phobia – irrational
/ fear of
plegia – paralysis
pnea – breathing
sclerosis –
hardening
stasis – cessation
of movement /flow
staxis – dripping
(blood)
stenosis –
narrowing
trophy –
nourishment
uria – condition
of urine
3/19/2024
19
25. Part II: Common Medical
Abbreviations
3/19/2024
25
Shortened forms for convenience
Usually just letters
Healthcare workers are expected to
recognize most common
abbreviations
The following are little of the
commonly used abbreviations in
the hospital, medical and dental
records
26. Common Medical Abbreviations
(2)
3/19/2024
26
Examples:
AB = Abortion
ABG = Arterial Blood Gases
AC = Before Meals
ADL = Activities of Daily Living
AED = Automated External Defibrillator
AF = Atrial Fibrillation
AFB = Acid-fast Bacilli
27. Common Medical Abbreviations
(3)
3/19/2024
27
B/K = Below Knee
BA = Breathing Apparatus
BAC = Blood Alcohol Content
BE = Barium Enema
BG = Blood Glucose
BGL = Blood Glucose Level
BI = Brain Injury
BM = Bowel Movement or Breast Milk
BPH = Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
CAD = Coronary Artery Disease
28. Common Medical Abbreviations
(4)
3/19/2024
28
CAOX4 = Conscious
CAPD = Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal
Dialysis
CBC = Complete Blood Count
CBD = Common Bile Duct
CBE = Clinical Breast Examination
CBG = Capillary Blood Glucose
CBI = Continuous Bladder Irrigation
CBS = Capillary Blood Sugar
CC = Chief Complaint
29. Common Medical Abbreviations
(5)
3/19/2024
29
CX = Cervix
CXR = Chest X-ray
D5W = Dextrose 5% in water (IV)
DAT = Diet As Tolerated
DC (dc) = Discontinue
DIC = Disseminated Intravascular
Coagulation
DKA = Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DM = Diabetic Mellitus
30. Common Medical Abbreviations
(6)
3/19/2024
30
EBV = Epstein-Barr Virus
ECF = Extracellular Fluid
ECG = Electro CardioGram
EEG = ElectroEncephaloGram
ESRD = End Stage Renal Disease
ET = Endotracheal
FB = Foreign Body
FBS = Fasting Blood Sugar
FX = Fracture
31. Common Medical Abbreviations
(7)
3/19/2024
31
GDM = Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
GERD = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
GFR = Glomerular Filtration Rate
HD = Hemodialysis
HA = Headache
HASHD = Hypertensive Arterio Sclerotic Heart
Disease
HB = Hemoglobin
HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCT = Hematocrit
Etc.
