DISSECTING TERMINOLOGY

ANATOMY OF A MEDICAL TERM

Prefix- word part found at the beginning of a word

Root- word part that gives the essential meaning of a word

Suffix- word part found at the end of a word

PREFIX EXAMPLES

Pre- means beforePreoperative means before an operation

Peri- means aroundPerioperative means around an operation time

Post- means afterPostoperative means after operation

A, An- Means without or no

Ab- Means away from

Ad- Means towards

Anti- Means against

Dys- Means difficult, painful or bad

Eu- Means good, easy or normal

Ex, exo- Means without, out of, outside, or away from

Ecto- Means outside

Endo- Means within or inside

Hyper- Means increased or more than normal

Hypo- Means decreased or less than normal

Inter- Means between

Intra- Means within

Oligo- Means scant or little (oliguria-infrequent urination)

Poly- Means many

Sub- Means below

Super/ supra- Mean above, beyond, or excessive

SUFFIXES

“Pertaining to” Suffixes

Surgical Suffixes Procedural Suffixes

-ac -ectomy: surgical removal -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas

-al -stomy: surgically create opening

-gram: record of

-ar -tomy: cutting into -graph: instrument that records

-ary -pexy: suture to stabilize -graphy: procedure that records

-an -plasty: surgical repair -Lysis: separation or breakdown

-eal -scope: instrument to visually examine

-ic -therapy: treatment

-ine

-ous

-tic

SUFFIXES CONT…Double “R” Suffixes Conditional Suffixes

-rrhagia, -rrhage: Bursting forth -algia, -dynia: pain

-rrhaphy: To suture -itis: inflammation

-rrhea: Flow or discharge -malacia: abnormal softening

-rhexis: rupture -megaly: enlargement

-osis: abnormal condition

-pathy: disease

-sclerosis: abnormal hardening

-um: strcture

ANALYZING MEDICAL TERMS

1. Dissect: analyze the word structurally by dividing it into components

2. Begin at the end: define the suffix first, then prefix, then roots

-Gastroenteritis: inflammation of stomach and intestines

-Define itis, then gastro, then entero….

3. Anatomic order: if multiple roots, they are listed in anatomic order based on order found in the body

- Gastroenteritis: inflammation of stomach and intestines