FOR THEMASSAGE THERAPIST

NCBTMB Approved Provider #154019-00 Florida Board of Massage CE Broker Provider #50-1997

CE Broker Course Tracking # 20-6749

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida 330841-954-441-9553

1

MEDICAL LANGUAGEFOR THE

MASSAGE THERAPIST

Consultants:

Joel D. Stein, D.O., A.O.B.F.P., A.O.B.O.M.M.

Research and Development:

Charles Edwin Cook, L.M. T., C.R. T.

Editor:

Mark D. Blum, D.D.S.

By:

Renee J. Demmery, C.R.T.

©2002 Renee J. Demmery

2

All Rights Reserved

3

MEDICAL LANGUAGEFOR THE

MASSSAGE THERAPIST

Published By:

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida 330841-954-441-9553 tel1-954-432-1824 fax

This course was developed to help expand the knowledge and skills of massage therapists with respect to the subject of medical language.

The information in this course has been carefully researched and is generally accepted as factual at the time of publication. The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc. disclaims responsibility for any contradictory data prior to the publication of the next revision of this course.

*The image used herein was obtained from IMSI's MasterClips® and MasterPhotos Premium Image Collection, 1895 Francisco Blvd. East, San Rafael, CA 94901-5506, USA.

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COURSE DIRECTIONS

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

COURSE OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER 1 THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MEDICAL LANGUAGE

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF MEDICAL LANGUAGEROOTSCOMBINING VOWELSPLURAL AND SINGULAR WORD ENDINGS

CHAPTER 2 PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

PREFIXESSUFFIXESMUSCULOSKELETAL AND ARTICULAR SYSTEM WORDS

MEDICAL LANGUAGE FOR MASSAGE THERAPIST TEST

TEST ANSWER CARD/COURSE EVALUATION

REFERENCE LIST

5

COURSE DIRECTIONS

HOW TO BEST PROCEED WITH THIS COURSE

Each chapter should be approached systematically in a careful and objective manner. It is important to master each chapter before going on to the next. Relax, take your time, and go at your own pace. As 2 credits of continuing education are rewarded after successfully completing this course, the reading of this manual and completion of the test questions should not take less than 2 hours. Only after you have successfully mastered all the material in the course should you proceed to the test questions.

COMPLETING THE TEST

Before beginning, please clearly write your name, address, zip code, and license number on your test answer card. Read each question carefully before answering. Please use a ballpoint pen to fill-in your answers on the answer card by completely shading your choice. Keep in mind that each question has only one correct answer. The test consists of 20 questions. For a passing grade, you must correctly answer 16 questions. We encourage your input and would welcome any suggestions to improve our course or test questions. Please feel free to note your suggestions or comments on the course evaluation found at the bottom of the test answer card.

INFORMATION FOR CERTIFICATION

In order to receive your 2 hours of continuing education credit, you must be a registered purchaser of this course. Please notify us of any address or name changes as we keep permanent records for certification and licensure.

6

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Please send your completed test answer card and course evaluation to:

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida 33084

If you have any questions regarding this course, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-954-441-9553 or fax us at 1-954- 432-1824.

7

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Learn how to break down medical terms into their component parts.

2. List singular and plural endings to common medical terms.

3. Define common prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

4. Understand the meaning of words used to describe common conditions of the musculoskeletal and articular system.

8

CHAPTER 1THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF

MEDICAL LANGUAGE

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF MEDICAL LANGUAGE

As massage therapists increasingly interact with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, understanding the language of medicine becomes an important tool in communicating effectively. The language of medicine may seem foreign to most as many are derived from Greek and Latin words.

In this course, we will attempt to unravel the mystery of medical terminology by breaking down terms into their component parts. Most medical terms are made up of small parts that fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each word part has a specific meaning. When one learns to recognize the word parts and their meanings, previously unfamiliar terms can be unraveled and understood.

The first step in understanding medical language is to break down terms into their component parts. Most medical terms only contain two parts: a prefix and root or root and suffix. Some medical terms contain a prefix, root, and suffix.

1. Root.

2. Prefix.

3. Suffix.

ROOTS

The root is what gives basic meaning to the word. Other names for root include stem, core, core element, and root element. It is the foundation or essential core of the word. Medical terms can have one or more roots. Roots can be combined with prefixes, suffixes, and other roots to form medical terms. Some examples include:

9

ROOT MEANING

cervic neckcheil lipchrond cartilagedactyl finger or toeencephal braingastr stomachgingiv gumgnath jawhepat liverhyster uterusleiomy smooth musclemamm breastmyring eardrumodont teethomphal navelonych fingernail or toenailopthalm eyeoptic eye or visionoophor ovary or eggpector chestpyo pussplen spleen

COMBINING VOWELS

Many times, a vowel is added between the ending consonant of one root and the beginning consonant of the next word part. This is done to make the word easier to pronounce. Some examples include:

Blepharoplasty – Surgical repair of the eyelid.Cardiopathy – Disease of the heart.Hepatomegaly – Enlargement of the liver.Mastopathy – Disease of the breast.Ovariogenic – Originating from the ovary.Proctocele – Prolapse of the rectum.Sideropenia – Abnormally low iron level.Splenomegaly – Enlargement of the spleen.Unguiculate – Having nails or claws.

10

PLURAL AND SINGULAR WORD ENDINGS

SINGULAR PLURAL

antrum antracecum cecacommisura commisuraecurvatura curvaturaeepididymis epididymidesexostosis exostosesfolium foliafolliculus folliculiforamen foraminafornix fornicis or fornicesfossa fossaeglobus globigumma gummata or gummasgyrus gyrihelix heliceshilum hilailium iliaincisura incisuraeincus incudesinsula insulaelamina laminaelentigo lentiginesmandibula mandibulaemusculus musculinervus nervioliva olivaeovarium ovariapapilla papillaephalanx phalangespinna pinnaeradius radiirete retiascapula scapulaestoma stomas or stomatatentorium tentoriavertebra vertebrae

11

CHAPTER 2PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

PREFIXES

As stated previously, many medical terms can be broken down into three parts: prefix, root, and suffix. A prefix is part of the word that comes before the root and modifies the meaning of the root word. It is usually a letter or syllable. Prefixes can be categorized by how they modify the root. They can indicate:

1. Size.2. Location.3. Time.4. Position.5. Amount.6. Color.7. Negation.

Prefixes are commonly used in the English language but the following examples are specific to medical language:

PREFIX MEANING

a- without, not

ab- away from, from, off

acro- extremity, tip, peak

actino- ray of light, beam

ad- increase, adherence, toward

adeno- gland, glandular

adipo- fat, fatty

aero- air, a gas

12

PREFIX MEANING

alge-, algia-, algesi-, algio-, algo- pain

allo- differing from the usual

ambi-, ambo- both, around, double

ambly- blunt, dull, dim

amphi-, ampho- on both sides, double

ana- again, back, up

andro- masculine

angio-, angi- blood or lymph vessels

anhydro- without water

aniso- unlike, unequal

ankylo- crooked, bent

ano- anus

ante- before

antero- anterior

anti- opposing, against

apico- summit or tip

arche-, archi- primitive, first, extreme

arthro- joint

13

PREFIX MEANING

athero- soft, pasty

atmo- steam or vapor

auri- ear

auto- self

auxano-, auxo-, aux- to increase

balan-, balano- glans penis

baro- weight, pressure

basi-, baso-, basio-, base

bathy-, batho- depth

bi- twice, double

bili- bile

bio- life

blepharo- eyelid

brady- slow

bronch-, bronchi-, broncho- bronchus

caco-, caci-, cac- bad

carcino- cancer, malignant

cardio- the heart

cata- down

14

PREFIX MEANING

caud- tail

celio- the abdomen

centri-, centro- center

cephalo- head

cero- wax

cervico- neck, cervix

chemo- chemistry

chilo- lips

chiro- the hand

chloro- green

chole- bile

cholecysto- gall bladder

choledocho- common bile duct

chorio- membrane

chromato-, chromo- color

chrono- time

chryso- gold

cine- movement

15

PREFIX MEANING

cis- on this side

cleido- the clavicle

colo- the large intestine

colpo- the vagina

con- with, together

contra- opposed, against

copro- feces

costo- rib

cranio- skull

cryo- cold

crypto- hidden

cyano- blue

cysto- bladder

dactylo- the fingers or toes

de- away from, without

denti-, dento- teeth

dermato- skin

desmo- ligament

16

PREFIX MEANING

dextro- right side

diplo- double

dynamo- force, energy

ec- away from, out of

ecto- on the outside

encephalo- the brain

endo- inner, within

entero- the intestine

epi- following, subsequent to

episio- the vulva

ergo- work

erythro- red, red blood cell

etio- cause

eu- good, well

extra- without, outside of

facio- the face

ferro- the presence of iron

galvano- electrical

17

PREFIX MEANING

gastro- the stomach

gen- birth

geronto- old age

giganto- huge

gingivo- the gums of the mouth

glio- glue-like

glosso- tongue

glyco- relating to sugars

gnatho- the jaw

gonio- angle

grapho- writing

gyne-, gyno-, gyneco- female

hemato-, heme-, hemo- blood

hemi- one-half

hepato- the liver

hetero- the opposite, different

hidro- sweat

histio-, histo- tissue

18

PREFIX MEANING

holo- whole, complete

homeo-, homo- the same, alike

hydro- water

hygro- moisture, dampness

hyo- U-shaped

hyper- above normal, excessive

hypno- sleep

hypo- below normal, deficient

hystero- the uterus

ileo- the ileum

ilio- the ilium

intra- inside, within

intro- into, inward

iso- like, equal

kerato- the cornea

kino-, kinesi-, kinesio-, kineso- movement

labio- the lips

lacti-, lacto- milk

laparo- abdomen

19

PREFIX MEANING

latero- to one side

leio- smooth

lepto- thin, frail

leuko- white, white blood cell

levo- left side

linguo- the tongue

lipo- fatty

litho- a stone

lyso- dissolution

macro- large

mal- bad

malaco- soft

mammo- the breasts

masto- the breast

medio- middle

melano- black

meno- menstruation

meso- middle

meta- after, behind

20

PREFIX MEANING

metra-, metro- the uterus

micro- small

mid- middle

mio- less

mono- single, one

morpho- shape

multi- many

myco- fungus

myelo- bone marrow

myo- muscle

nano- dwarfism

narco- stupor

necro- death

nemato- threadlike

neo- new

nephro- the kidney

neuri-, neuro- nerve

noct- night

normo- normal

21

PREFIX MEANING

noso- disease

odonto- teeth

odyno- pain

oligo- a little, too few

omo- the shoulder

onco- a tumor

onycho- a fingernail or toenail

oophoro- the ovary

ophthalmo- relationship to the eye

opistho- behind, dorsal

orchido-, orchio- the testes

oro- the mouth

ortho- straight, normal

oscheo- the scrotum

osseo-, osteo-, ossi- bone

oto- the ear

ovo-, ovi- egg

pachy- thick

paleo- primitive, early

22

PREFIX MEANING

pan- all

parieto- a wall

path-, patho- disease

penta- denoting five

peri- near, around

phaco- shaped like a lens

phago- eating

pharmaco- drugs

phlebo- vein

phos- light

phreno- the diaphragm

phyllo- leaf-like

pico- small

pilo- hair

plagio- oblique

plano- flat

pleo- more

pleura-, pleuro- side, rib

pluri- several

23

PREFIX MEANING

pneo- denoting breath

pneumo-, pneumato- air, gas, lungs, breathing

podo- foot

poikilo- irregular

post- posterior, behind, after

pre- before, anterior

presby- old age

proto- first

proximo- nearest

pseudo- false

psycho- the mind

ptero- wing or feather

pulmono- the lungs

pyelo- pelvis, renal pelvis

pykno- dense

pyo- pus

pyro- fire, heat

quadri- denoting four

rachio- the spine

24

PREFIX MEANING

radio- radiation

recto- the rectum

reno-, reni- the kidney

retro- behind, backward

rhabdo- rod-shaped

rhino- the nose

rhizo- root

rhodo- red

salpingo- a tube

sarco- flesh or muscular substance

schisto- division

schizo- division, split

sclero- hardness

semi- half, part

sialo- saliva

sidero- iron

somato- the body

sphygmo- pulse

spiro- coil-shaped

25

PREFIX MEANING

spleno- the spleen

spondylo- the vertebrae

steno- narrowness

stereo- solid, three-dimensional

stetho- denoting the chest

stomato- mouth

strepto- twisted

sub- beneath, inferior

super- excessive, above

supra- over, above

syn- joined, together

syndesmo- ligament

tachy- fast

talo- ankle bone

tele- distant

tendo- or teno- a tendon

terato- deformed, misshapen

thermo- heat

thoraco- the chest, thorax

26

PREFIX MEANING

thrombo- blood clot

toxico- poison

tracheo- the trachea

trans- across

tri- denoting three

tricho- the hair

tympano- drum, eardrum

ultra- excess

uni- single, one

uro- urine

vasculo- a blood vessel

veno-, veni- the veins

vivi- alive

xantho- yellow

xeno- foreign substance

xero- dry

27

SUFFIXES

As stated previously, many medical terms can be broken down into three parts: prefix, root, and suffix. A suffix is part of the word that comes after the root and modifies the meaning of the root word. It is usually a letter or syllable. Suffixes can change roots into nouns or adjectives. They can describe a condition, appearance, or symptom. Suffixes can also describe surgical procedures. The following is a list of some of the common suffixes encountered in medical language.

SUFFIX MEANING

-agogue, -agog a promoter or stimulant of

-agra sudden attack of acute pain

-ase denotes an enzyme

-ate a replacement for “-ic acid”

-cele a swelling, hernia

-ceptor receiver, taker

-chrome relationship to color

-cide an agent that kills

-cleisis closure

-didymus fused parts

-ectasia, -ectasis dilation

-ectomy removal of part

-esis condition or process

-facient causing

28

SUFFIX MEANING

-form in the form, shape of

-fugal to move away from

-fuge flight

-gen precursor of

-genia producing, formed by

-graph written or recorded

-graphy a writing

-ia a condition, usually abnormal

-iasis a condition, usually unhealthy

-ic pertaining to

-ics practice or treatment

-ine forms names of chemicals

-ism a condition or disease

-ismus implies contraction or spasm

-ite resembling

-itis denotes inflammatory disorders

-legia reading

-lepsis, lepsy a seizure

-logia the study of

29

SUFFIX MEANING

-mania an abnormal love for

-megaly large

-mer member of a particular group

-mone denoting a hormone

-odes resembling

-oid resemblance to

-ol denotes an alcohol

-oma a tumor

-ology the study of a subject

-one indicating a ketone group

-opia vision

-ose indicating a carbohydrate

-osis an abnormal or diseased process

-ostomy creating an opening

-otomy cutting into

-pagus fused parts

-paresis paralysis

-pathy disease

-penia deficiency

30

SUFFIX MEANING

-phage, -phagia, -phagy eating

-phil, -phile, -philia, -philic craving or affinity for

-phrenia the diaphragm, the mind

-plasty molding or surgical repair

-plegia paralysis

-pnea breath

-poiesis producing

-ptosis prolapse or sinking down

-rrhagia discharge or hemorrhage

-rrhaphy suturing

-rrhea flowing

-scope a device used to view

-scopy activity involving a device to view

-stat to keep from changing or moving

-thymia mind, emotions

-trophic nutrition

-trophy nutrition

-tropic having an affinity for

-uretic urine

31

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND ARTICULAR SYSTEM WORDS

As a massage therapist, it is important to understand the meaning of words used to describe conditions of the musculoskeletal and articular system. This understanding will help you to communicate with other members of the healthcare team and treat your patients more effectively. The following is a list of common musculoskeletal and articular system words broken down into their component parts and defined.

WORD COMPONENTS AND MEANING

arthritis arthr- = joint -itis = inflammationinflammation of a joint

bursitis burs- = bursa -itis = inflammationinflammation of a bursa

WORD COMPONENTS AND MEANING

hemarthrosis hem- = blood arthr- = joint-osis = an abnormal processblood in a joint

laminectomy lamin- = lamina -ectomy = removal of removal of the lamina

leiomyoma leio- = smooth myo- = muscle-oma = a tumora tumor of the smooth muscle

myopathy myo- = muscle -pathy = diseasedisease of the muscular tissues

myositis myo- = muscle -itis - inflammationinflammation of a muscle

32

myorrhaphy myo- = muscle -rrhaphy = suturingsuturing of a muscle

osteomyelitis osteo- = bone myel- = bone marrow-itis = inflammationinflammation of the bone marrow

osteonecrosis osteo- = bone necro- = death-osis = an abnormal processthe death of bone

osteogenic osteo- = bone -genic = formed byformed by bone

WORD COMPONENTS AND MEANING

osteoid osteo- = bone -oid = resemblance toresembling bone

pseudoarthritis pseudo- = falsefalse arthritis

somatology somat- = the body -ology = the study ofthe study of the body

subpatellar sub- = beneathbeneath the patella

suprascapular supra- = aboveabove the scapula

33

syndesmitis syndesm- = ligament -itis = inflammationinflammation of a ligament

tenoplasty teno- = tendon -plasty = surgical repairsurgical repair of a tendon

END OF BOOK

34

REFERENCE LIST1. “Stedman’s Medical Dictionary”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 27th

Edition. 2000.

2. “Stedman’s Orthopaedic & Rehab Words”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Third Edition. 1999.

3. “Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary”. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Tenth Edition. 1994.

4. “Stedman’s Medical Speller”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 3rd

Edition. 2001.

5. “The Medical Transcription Workbook”. Health Professions Institute. 1999.

6. “Vera Pyle’s Current Medical Terminology”. Health Professions Institute. Eighth Edition. 2000.

35