medical language, second edition, by susan turley...

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Medical Language, Second Edition, by Susan Turley. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

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Measure Your Progress:Learning Objectives

After you study this chapter, you should be able to

1. Identify the five skills of medical language communication.

2. Describe the origins of medical language.

3. Recognize common Latin and Greek singular nouns and form theirplurals.

4. Describe characteristics of combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.

5. Give the medical meaning of common word parts.

6. Build medical words from word parts and divide medical words into word parts.

7. Spell and pronounce common medical words.

8. Describe the format and contents of common medical documents.

9. Dive deeper into the structure of medical language by reviewing the activities at the end of this chapter and online at Medical Terminology Interactive.

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The Structure of Medical Language | Chapter 1 5

Welcome to MedicalLanguage

You are about to begin the study of medical language. This will involve timeand effort on your part. But what can you expect in return? What benefitscome from learning medical language? To find out, read Scenario 1 (thatfollows) and contrast it with Scenario 2.

Scenario 1

Imagine that you just made an important decision that will affect therest of your life: You decided to move to a foreign country. You areexcited and anxious to get going! When you arrive, you are thrilledto be in this new, exotic environment. It is fascinating to you! Thereare so many new sights and sounds. You want to embrace this newculture and become part of it, but your first attempts at interactingare awkward because you do not know the language. You can’t seemto make anyone understand you. All around you, people are en-gaged in interesting activities and important conversations, but youcan’t join in because you can’t understand them. You feel confusedand helpless. Your future in this country now seems uncertain, andyou wonder if you will ever be anything more than just a spectatorhere. What went wrong?

Scenario 2

Imagine that you just made an important decision that will affect therest of your life: You decided to pursue a career in the healthcarefield. You are excited and anxious to get going! When you walk intoa physician’s office, clinic, or hospital, you are thrilled to be in thisnew, fast-paced, exotic environment. It is fascinating to you! Thereare so many new sights and sounds. You want to embrace the med-ical culture and become part of it. Your first attempts at interactingwith other healthcare professionals are successful because you knowmedical language. Immediately, you are immersed in interestingmedical activities and important conversations, and you understandwhat is going on. You feel excited and empowered! Your future inthe healthcare field is certain because you took the time to studymedical language.

Healthcare professionals know that there is no substitute for a thor-ough, working knowledge of medical language (see Figure 1-1 ■). Medicallanguage is the language of the healthcare profession, and medical wordsare the tools of the trade! Learning medical language is your key to a suc-cessful career in the healthcare field.

Figure 1-1 ■ Medicallanguage.This paramedic is using medical language to communicate withhealthcare professionals in theemergency department anddescribe the condition of a patientin the ambulance. How importantdo you think it is for this paramedicto have a thorough, workingknowledge of medical language?

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6 Chapter 1 | The Structure of Medical Language

Medical Language and CommunicationCommunication in any language consists of five language skills. Thesesame skills apply to medical language. You need to master all five skills inorder to communicate on the job with other healthcare professionals (seeFigure 1-2 ■).

communication(koh-MYOO-nih-KAY-shun)

communicat/o- impart; transmit-ion action; condition

medical (MED-ih-kal)medic/o- physician; medicine-al pertaining to

language (LANG-gwij)

1. Reading2. Listening

These skills involve receiving medical language. This is similar to the input coming into a computer.

• You read medical words. Each chapter in this book contains many medical words.

• You read actual medical reports in the Chapter Review Exercises.

• You listen to your course instructor speak medical language.

• You listen to exercises with actual physicians speaking medical language excerpts from medicalreports.

3. Thinking, analyzing, and understandingThis skill involves processing medical language. This is similar to the processing function of a computer.

• You analyze medical words by dividing them into word parts.

• You recall the medical meaning of word parts.

• You build medical words from word parts.

• You complete exercises to test your understanding of medical language.

• You read actual medical reports and answer critical thinking questions.

• You correlate common English words with their medical equivalents.

4. Writing (or typing) and spelling5. Speaking and pronouncing

These skills involve relaying medical language. This is similar to output coming from a computer.

• You write or type a medical word and spell it correctly.

• You spell the plural and adjective forms of medical words.

• You identify misspelled medical words in a paragraph.

• You speak medical words, using the “see-and-say” pronunciation guides to practice pronouncingthem correctly.

• You read a medical word and identify the primary accented syllable.

• You read the “see-and-say” pronunciation, identify the medical word, and then spell the word correctly.

Figure 1-2 ■ Medical language communication.These healthcare professionals are using all five medical language skills inorder to communicate successfully.

WORD BUILDING

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etymology (ET-ih-MAWL-oh-jee)etym/o- word origin-logy the study of

These skills are critical in the communication of medical language. Thisbook Medical Language helps you develop all five skills by giving you manyopportunities to practice until you have mastered all of them.

Let’s begin the study of medical language by looking at how medicallanguage began.

The Beginning of Medical LanguageEtymology is the study of word origins. In medical language, many wordshave come from other languages, particularly from Latin and Greek. Why?Because in ancient times both the Romans and the Greeks advanced thestudy and practice of medicine. They named anatomical structures, dis-eases, and treatments in their own languages, and these Latin and Greekwords remain a part of medical language today. You’ll be surprised to seehow many of these words are familiar to you.

Word AlertSome medical words are identical to Latin and Greek words from centuries ago.

Medical Word Language of Origin

nucleus Latin nucleuspelvis Latin pelvissinus Latin sinusparanoia Greek paranoiathorax Greek thorax

Some medical words are similar (but not identical) to Latin and Greek words.


artery Latin arteriamuscle Latin musculusvein Latin venaphobia Greek phobossperm Greek sperma

Some medical words are similar to words from older versions of the English,Dutch, and French languages.


bladder English blaedreheart English heortedrug Dutch droogphysician French physicien

WORD BUILDING

This It’s Greek to Me feature appears in each chapter. It lists many of thecombining forms, their language of origin, and the medical words in whichthey were used in that chapter.

It’s Greek to Me!Did you notice that some words have two different combining forms? Combining forms from bothGreek and Latin languages remain a part of medical language today.

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Latin Singular and Plural Nouns and PronunciationsWhen a Latin singular noun ends in –a, form the plural by changing –a to –ae.

Singular Pronunciation Plural Pronunciation

areola (ah-REE-oh-lah) areolae (ah-REE-oh-lee)

bursa (BER-sah) bursae (BER-see)

conjunctiva (CON-junk-TY-vah) conjunctivae (CON-junk-TY-vee)

patella (pah-TEL-ah) patellae (pah-TEL-ee)

petechia (peh-TEE-kee-ah) petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-ee)

ruga (ROO-gah) rugae (ROO-gee)

scapula (SKAP-yoo-lah) scapulae (SKAP-yoo-lee)

sclera (SKLEER-ah) sclerae (SKLEER-ee)

vena (VEE-nah) venae (VEE-nee)

vertebra (VER-teh-brah) vertebrae (VER-teh-bree)

When a Latin singular noun ends in –us, form the plural by changing –us to –i.(Note: Exceptions to this rule are the Latin words fetus, virus, and sinus, whose plural forms are the English-type plurals offetuses, viruses, and sinuses.)

alveolus (al-VEE-oh-lus) alveoli (al-VEE-oh-lie)

bronchus (BRONG-kus) bronchi (BRONG-kigh)

calculus (KAL-kyoo-lus) calculi (KAL-kyoo-lie)

decubitus (dee-KYOO-bih-tus) decubiti (dee-KYOO-bih-tie)

glomerulus (gloh-MAIR-yoo-lus) glomeruli (gloh-MAIR-yoo-lie)

gyrus (JY-rus) gyri (JY-rye)

nucleus (NOO-klee-us) nuclei (NOO-klee-eye)

sulcus (SUL-kus) sulci (SUL-sigh)

thrombus (THRAWM-bus) thrombi (THRAWM-by)

villus (VIL-us) villi (VIL-eye)

When a Latin singular noun ends in –um, form the plural by changing –um to –a.

atrium (AA-tree-um) atria (AA-tree-ah)

bacterium (bak-TEER-ee-um) bacteria (bak-TEER-ee-ah)

diverticulum (DY-ver-TIK-yoo-lum) diverticula (DY-ver-TIK-yoo-lah)

haustrum (HAW-strum) haustra (HAW-strah)

hilum (HY-lum) hila (HY-lah)

labium (LAY-bee-um) labia (LAY-bee-ah)

ovum (OH-vum) ova (OH-vah)

Medical Word Singular and Plural NounsThe Latin and Greek languages are the main sources of medical words.These languages had rules that told how to form plural nouns and how topronounce singular and plural nouns; those rules still apply today. Note:When a Latin or Greek word is used in a chapter, there will be a note thereto remind you of those rules. Here are some common Latin and Greek sin-gular and plural nouns and their pronunciations.

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Singular Pronunciation Plural Pronunciation

When a Latin singular noun ends in –is, form the plural by changing –is to –es.

diagnosis (DY-ag-NOH-sis) diagnoses (DY-ag-NOH-seez)

testis (TES-tis) testes (TES-teez)

When a Latin singular noun ends in –ex, form the plural by changing –ex to –ices.

apex (AA-peks) apices (AA-pih-seez)

cortex (KOR-teks) cortices (KOR-tih-seez)

index (IN-deks) indices (IN-dih-seez)

When a Latin singular noun ends in –ix, form the plural by changing –ix to –ices.

calix (KAY-liks) calices (KAL-ih-seez)

helix (HEE-liks) helices (HEE-lih-seez)

Greek Singular and Plural Nouns and PronunciationsWhen a Greek singular noun ends in –is, form the plural by changing –is to –ides.

epididymis (EP-ih-DID-ih-mis) epididymides (EP-ih-dih-DIM-ih-deez)

iris (EYE-ris) irides (IHR-ih-deez)

When a Greek singular noun ends in –nx, form the plural by changing –nx to –nges.

phalanx (FAY-langks) phalanges (fah-LAN-jeez)

When a Greek singular noun ends in –oma, form the plural by changing –oma to –omata.

carcinoma (KAR-sih-NOH-mah) carcinomata (KAR-sih-NOH-mah-tah)

fibroma (fy-BROH-mah) fibromata (FY-broh-MAH-tah)

leiomyoma (LIE-oh-my-OH-mah) leiomyomata (LIE-oh-my-OH-mah-tah)

When a Greek singular noun ends in –on, form the plural by changing –on to –a.

ganglion (GANG-glee-on) ganglia (GANG-glee-ah)

mitochondrion (MY-toh-CON-dree-on) mitochondria (MY-toh-CON-dree-ah)

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Did You Know?

When you learn something new, it is always best to learn it the right way the very first time! That is why the spelling (and punctuation) ofcombining forms, suffixes, and prefixes used in this book are based on those used in medical dictionaries that are the recognized authorities onmedical language origin and use.

Combining FormsCharacteristics of a Combining Form

Combining forms have the following characteristics.

• A combining form is a word part that is the foundation of a word.

• A combining form gives the word its main medical meaning.

• A combining form has a root (with medical meaning), a forward slash(to separate the root from the combining vowel), a combining vowel(usually an o, but occasionally an a, i, or y), and a final hyphen (seeFigure 1-3 ■).

• Most medical words contain a combining form. (Note: Some medicalwords, such as blood, health, heart, or nurse are from early versions of theEnglish or French languages and do not contain any word parts.)

• Sometimes a medical word contains two or more combining forms, oneright after the other.

cardi/o-root forward

slashcombining

vowelhyphen

Figure 1-3 ■ Combining form.A combining form contains a root,forward slash, combining vowel, andhyphen. The hyphen shows that thecombining form is a word part, not acomplete word. The combining formcardi/o- means heart.

Word AlertLearning medical language requires some memorization of combining forms and their medical meanings. Why is this necessary? Because knowing the meaning of the combining form allows you to look at a medical word and already have an idea about its definition. Knowing the meaning of oneword part allows you to apply it to the many medical words where it appears.The alternative is having to use a medical dictionary to look up the definition ofeach new medical word you encounter!

Medical Words and Word PartsMedical language contains medical words, and medical words containword parts. Word parts are the puzzle pieces that, when fit together, builda medical word.

There are three different kinds of word parts: combining form, suffix,and prefix.

Word Partcombining formsuffixprefix

Meaningthe foundation of the wordthe word endingan optional word beginning

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Here are some tips on how to manage your time and the amount of memo-rization you need to do as you study medical language.

Tip #1: Some combining forms are nearly identical to their medicalmeanings. When you see combining forms like these, you already knowtheir medical meanings.

Combining Formabdomin/o-append/o-arteri/o-intestin/o-laryng/o-muscul/o-thyroid/o-tonsill/o-ven/o-

Medical Meaningabdomenappendixarteryintestinelarynx (voice box)musclethyroid glandtonsilvein

Tip #2: Some combining forms bring to mind a word you alreadyknow. That helps you to remember the medical meaning of combiningforms like these.

Combining Formarthr/o-cardi/o-derm/o-gastr/o-mamm/o-nas/o-psych/o-

Related Wordarthritiscardiacdermatologistgastricmammogramnasalpsychiatrist

Tip #3: Other combining forms are very different from their medicalmeanings. Combining forms like these and their medical meanings need tobe memorized.

Combining Formcholecyst/o-cost/o-enter/o-hepat/o-hyster/o-lapar/o-

Medical Meaninggallbladderribintestineliveruterusabdomen

Medical Meaningjointheartskinstomachbreastnosemind

Word AlertTwo combining forms can have the same medical meaning. For example, the combining forms enter/o- and intestin/o- both mean intestine. When this occurs in a chapter, there will be a note to remind you.

The Structure of Medical Language | Chapter 1 11IS

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Suffixes for Adjective Forms

Suffix Meaning Medical Word Example Definition

-ac pertaining to cardiac (KAR-dee-ak) pertaining to the heart(cardi/o- means heart)

-al pertaining to intestinal (in-TES-tih-nal) pertaining to the intestine(intestin/o- means intestine)

-ar pertaining to muscular (MUS-kyoo-lar) pertaining to the muscle(muscul/o- means muscle)

-ary pertaining to urinary (YOO-rih-NAIR-ee) pertaining to the urine(urin/o- means urine; urinary tract)

-ic pertaining to pelvic (PEL-vik) pertaining to the pelvis(pelv/o- means pelvis)

-ine pertaining to uterine (YOO-ter-in) pertaining to the uterus(uter/o- means uterus)

-ive pertaining to digestive (dy-JES-tiv) pertaining to digestion(digest/o- means break down food; digest)

-ous pertaining to venous (VEE-nus) pertaining to a vein(ven/o- means vein)

SuffixesCharacteristics of a Suffix

Suffixes have the following characteristics.

• A suffix is a word part that is at the end of a word.

• A suffix modifies or clarifies the medical meaning of the combining form.

• A suffix is a single letter or group of letters that begins with a hyphen (seeFigure 1-4 ■).

• Most medical words contain a suffix (see Note with Combining Forms).

Here are some common suffixes. Take a moment to review them and learntheir meanings so that you will be ready to use them in medical words.

-ac

Figure 1-4 ■ Suffix.A suffix begins with a hyphen to showthat it is a word part, not a completeword. The suffix -ac means pertaining to.

Suffixes for Processes

-ation a process; being or urination (YOO-rih-NAY-shun) a process of (making) urinehaving (urin/o- means urine; urinary system)

-ion action; condition digestion (dy-JES-chun) action of break(ing) down food(digest/o- means break down food; digest)

-lysis process of breaking hemolysis (hee-MAWL-ih-sis) process of breaking down or down or destroying (hem/o- means blood) destroying blood

Suffixes for Diseases and Conditions

-ia condition; state; thing pneumonia (noo-MOH-nee-ah) condition of the lung(pneumon/o- means lung; air)

-ism process; disease from hypothyroidism disease from the specific cause of a specific cause (HY-poh-THY-royd-izm) deficient thyroid (hormone)

(thyroid/o- means thyroid gland)

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-itis inflammation of; tonsillitis (TAWN-sih-LY-tis) infection of the tonsilinfection of (tonsill/o- means tonsil)

-megaly enlargement cardiomegaly enlargement of the heart(KAR-dee-oh-MEG-ah-lee)(cardi/o- means heart)

-oma tumor; mass neuroma (nyoo-ROH-mah) tumor on a nerve(neur/o- means nerve)

-osis condition; abnormal psychosis (sy-KOH-sis) abnormal condition of the mindcondition; process (psych/o- means mind)

-pathy disease; suffering arthropathy (ar-THRAWP-ah-thee) disease of the joint(arthr/o- means joint)

Suffix Meaning Medical Word Example Definition

Suffixes for Diagnostic, Medical, and Surgical Procedures-ectomy surgical excision appendectomy surgical excision of the appendix

(AP-pen-DEK-toh-mee)(append/o- means appendix)

-gram a record or picture mammogram (MAM-oh-gram) a record or picture of the breast(mamm/o- means breast)

-graphy process of recording mammography process of recording the breast(mah-MAWG-rah-fee)(mamm/o- means breast)

-metry process of measuring spirometry (spih-RAWM-eh-tree) process of measuring the (spir/o- means breathe) breathing

-scope instrument used to colonoscope (koh-LAWN-oh-skop) instrument used to examine the examine (colon/o- means colon) colon

-scopy process of using an gastroscopy process of using an instrument to instrument to examine (gas-TRAWS-koh-pee) examine the stomach

(gastr/o- means stomach)

-stomy surgically created colostomy (koh-LAWS-toh-mee) surgically created opening in the opening (col/o- means colon) colon

-therapy treatment psychotherapy treatment of the mind(SY-koh-THAIR-ah-pee)(psych/o- means mind)

-tomy process of cutting or laparotomy (LAP-ah-RAW-toh-mee) process of making an incision in making an incision (lapar/o- means abdomen) the abdomen

Suffixes for Medical Specialties

-iatry medical treatment psychiatry (sy-KY-ah-tree) medical treatment for the mind(psych/o- means mind)

-ist one who specializes in therapist (THAIR-ah-pist) one who specializes in treatment(therap/o- means treatment)

-logy the study of cardiology (KAR-dee-AWL-oh-jee) the study of the heart(cardi/o- means heart)


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PrefixesCharacteristics of a Prefix

Prefixes have the following characteristics.

• A prefix is a word part that is at the beginning of a word. A prefix is anoptional word part, and not every word contains a prefix.

• A prefix modifies or clarifies the medical meaning of the combining form.

• A prefix is a single letter or group of letters that ends with a hyphen (seeFigure 1-5 ■).

• Occasionally, a medical word has two prefixes, one right after the other.

Here are some common prefixes. Take a moment to review them and learntheir meanings so that you will be ready to use them in medical words.

intra-Figure 1-5 ■ Prefix.A prefix ends with a hyphen to show thatit is a word part, not a complete word.The prefix intra- means within.

Prefixes for Location or DirectionPrefix Meaning Medical Word Example Definition

endo- innermost; within endotracheal (EN-doh-TRAY-kee-al) pertaining to within the trachea(trache/o- means trachea)

epi- upon; above epidermal (EP-ih-DER-mal) pertaining to upon the skin(derm/o- means skin)

inter- between intercostal (IN-ter-KAWS-tal) pertaining to between the ribs(cost/o- means rib)

intra- within intravenous (IN-trah-VEE-nus) pertaining to within a vein(ven/o- means vein)

peri- around pericardial (PAIR-ih-KAR-dee-al) pertaining to around the heart(cardi/o- means heart)

post- after; behind postnasal (post-NAY-zal) pertaining to behind the nose(nas/o- means nose)

pre- before; in front of premenstrual (pree-MEN-stroo-al) pertaining to before menstruation(menstru/o- means monthly discharge of blood)

sub- below; underneath; subcutaneous (SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) pertaining to underneath the skinless than (cutane/o- means skin)

trans- across; through transvaginal (trans-VAJ-ih-nal) pertaining to through the vagina(vagin/o- means vagina)

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Prefixes for Amount, Number, or Speed

Prefix Meaning Medical Word Example Definition

bi- two bilateral (bi-LAT-er-al) pertaining to two sides(later/o- means side)

brady- slow bradycardia (BRAD-ee-KAR-dee-ah) condition of a slow heart(card/i- means heart)

hemi- one half hemiplegia (HEM-ee-PLEE-jee-ah) condition of one half (of the body) (pleg/o- means paralysis) with paralysis

hyper- above; more than hypertension (HY-per-TEN-shun) condition of more than normal normal (tens/o- means pressure) pressure

hypo- below; deficient hypothyroidism disease from a specific cause of (HY-poh-THY-royd-izm) deficient thyroid gland (thyroid/o- means thyroid gland) (hormone)

mono- one; single mononucleosis abnormal condition of (white (MAWN-oh-noo-klee-OH-sis) blood cells that each have) one (nucle/o- means nucleus) (large) nucleus

poly- many; much polyneuritis (PAWL-ee-nyoo-RY-tis) inflammation of many nerves(neur/o- means nerve)

quadri- four quadriplegia (KWAH-drih-PLEE-jee-ah) condition of four (limbs) with (pleg/o- means paralysis) paralysis

tachy- fast tachycardia (TAK-ih-KAR-dee-ah) condition of a fast heart(card/i- means heart)

tri- three trigeminal (try-JEM-ih-nal) pertaining to three (nerve (gemin/o- means set or group) branches in a) group

Prefixes for Degree or Quality

a- away from; without aspermia (aa-SPER-mee-ah) condition (of being) without sperm(sperm/o- means sperm)

an- without; not anesthesia (AN-es-THEE-zee-ah) condition (of being) without sensation(esthes/o- means sensation; feeling)

anti- against antibiotic (AN-tee-by-AWT-ik) pertaining to against living organisms(bi/o- means living organisms (such as bacteria)

de- reversal of; without dementia (dee-MEN-shee-ah) condition (of being) without a mind(ment/o- means mind)

dys- painful; difficult; dysphagia (dis-FAY-jee-ah) condition of painful or difficult eating abnormal (phag/o- means eating; swallowing) and swallowing

eu- normal; good euthyroidism process of normal thyroid gland (yoo-THY-royd-izm) (function)(thyroid/o- means thyroid gland)

mal- bad; inadequate malnutrition being or having inadequate (MAL-noo-TRISH-un) nourishment(nutri/o- means nourishment)

re- again and again respiration (RES-pih-RAY-shun) a process of again and again breathing(spir/o- means breathe)


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cardi/o- -logy+

cardi/o-meansheart

cardi/o- -logy

-logymeans

the study of

cardi/o- -alperi-

Analyze and Define Medical WordsThe third skill of medical language involves thinking, analyzing, and under-standing. When you analyze something, you break it into smaller piecesthat are easier to understand. To analyze a medical word, break it into itsword parts. Then you combine the meanings of the word parts to give youthe definition of the medical word. Here are the steps for analyzing anddefining a medical word.

Medical Word with a Combining Form and Suffix Follow thesesteps to analyze and define a medical word that has a combining form anda suffix.

Medical word example: cardiology.

Step 1. Divide the medical word into its combining form and suffix.(Note: At this point in your study, you will not be able to look at a

medical word and know that it contains a combining form and a suf-fix. However, as you memorize various word parts and their mean-ings, you will be able to do this.)

combining form suffix

Step 2. Define each word part.

Step 3. Put the word part meanings in this order: the meaning of thesuffix first, followed by the meaning of the combining form.

suffix combining formthe study of heart

Step 4. Add small connecting words, if needed, to make a correct andcomplete definition of the medical word.

Cardiology: The study of (the) heart (and related structures).

Medical Word with a Combining Form, Suffix, and Prefix Followthese steps to analyze and define a medical word that has a combiningform, suffix, and prefix.

Medical word example: pericardial.

Step 1. Divide the medical word into its prefix, combining form, and suffix.

prefix combining form suffix

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cardi/o-meansheart

cardi/o- -al

-almeans

pertaining to

peri-

peri-meansaround

Step 3. Put the word part meanings in this order: the meaning of thesuffix first, followed by the meaning of the prefix, followed by themeaning of the combining form.

suffix prefix combining formpertaining to around heart

Step 4. Add small connecting words, if needed, to make a correct andcomplete definition of the medical word.

Pericardial: Pertaining to around the heart.

Build Medical WordsMedical words are like puzzles, and their word parts are the pieces of thepuzzle. To build a medical word, begin with its definition. Select word partsthat match that definition, and then put the word part puzzle pieces to-gether in the correct way. Here are the steps for building a medical word.

Suffix that Begins with a Consonant Follow these steps to build amedical word when the suffix begins with a consonant.

Medical word definition: The study of the heart.

Step 1. Select the suffix and combining form whose meanings match thedefinition of the medical word.

suffix combining form

Step 2. Define each word part.

cardi/o-meansheart

cardi/o--logy

-logymeans

the study of

cardi/o- -logy

Step 2. Change the order of the word parts to put the suffix last.



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cardio logy

Suffix that Begins with a Vowel Follow these steps to build a medicalword when the suffix begins with a vowel.

Medical word definition: Pertaining to the heart.

Step 1. Select the suffix and combining form whose meanings match thedefinition of the medical word.

suffix combining form

cardi/o-meansheart

cardi/o--ac

-acmeans

pertaining to

cardi/o- -ac

cardi ac

Step 3. Delete the forward slash and hyphen from the combining form.Delete the hyphen from the suffix.


-logycardio

-



Step 3. Delete the forward slash, combining vowel, and hyphen from thecombining form. Delete the hyphen from the suffix.


Step 4. Join the two word parts.

-accardi

-

Step 4. Join the two word parts.

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Contains a Prefix Follow these steps to build a medical word thatcontains a prefix.

Medical word definition: Pertaining to within the heart.

Step 1. Select the suffix, prefix, and combining form whose meaningsmatch the definition of the medical word.

suffix prefix combining form

cardi/o-meansheart

cardi/o--ac

-acmeans

pertaining to

intra-

intra-meanswithin

intra- -accardi/o-

intra accardi- /o- -

intra cardi ac



Step 3. Delete the hyphen from the prefix. Delete the forward slash, com-bining vowel, and hyphen from the combining form. Delete thehyphen from the suffix.


Step 4. Join the three word parts.


Word AlertSome medical words contain two or more combining forms.

Example:

combining form combining form suffix medical word

intestin/o-means

intestine

intestin/o- -al

-almeans

pertaining to

gastr/o-

gastr/o-means

stomach

gastrointestinal

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Medical Word Medical Word Pronunciation

1. abdominal (ab-DAWM-ih-nal)2. appendectomy (AP-pen-DEK-toh-mee)

3. arthritis (ar-THRY-tis)

4. cardiac (KAR-dee-ak)

5. cardiology (KAR-dee-AWL-oh-jee)

6. digestion (dy-JES-chun)

7. gastric (GAS-trik)

8. intestinal (in-TES-tih-nal)

9. intravenous (IN-trah-VEE-nus)

10. laryngitis (LAIR-in-JY-tis)

11. mammography (mah-MAWG-rah-fee)

12. muscular (MUS-kyoo-lar)

13. pneumonia (noo-MOH-nee-ah)

14. psychiatry (sy-KY-ah-tree)

15. therapist (THAIR-ah-pist)

16. tonsillectomy (TAWN-sih-LEK-toh-mee)

17. urinary (YOO-rih-NAIR-ee)

Pronounce Medical WordsKnowing the definition of a medical word is important, but being able topronounce the word correctly is equally important. One of the five medicallanguage skills is pronunciation. In each chapter, as you read a medicalword (in bold), there is an accompanying “see-and-say” pronunciation, soyou can immediately pronounce the word you are learning. These guidesare straightforward and easy to use. The syllables in the medical word areseparated by hyphens. The primary (main) accented syllable is in all capitalletters. The secondary accented syllable is in smaller capital letters. Just sayeach syllable by following the “see-and-say” pronunciation guide. Whenyou read a medical word and then speak and pronounce it correctly, youare forming an accurate word memory for that medical word.

Now use the “see-and-say” pronunciation guides to practice pronounc-ing common medical words, many of which are presented in this chapter.

Pronouncing Medical Words Look at each medical word and itspronunciation guide. Practice pronouncing the word several times.

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Vocabulary ReviewHere are the word parts presented in this chapter. (They are also used in other chapters as well.) Take time toreview them and learn their meanings so that you will be ready to use them in medical words.

Combining FormsCombining Form

abdomin/o-

append/o-

arteri/o-

arthr/o-

bi/o-

card/i-

cardi/o-

cholecyst/o-

col/o-

colon/o-

cost/o-

cutane/o-

derm/o-

digest/o-

enter/o-

esthes/o-

gastr/o-

gemin/o-

hem/o-

hepat/o-

hyster/o-

intestin/o-

lapar/o-

laryng/o-

later/o-

Medical Meaning

abdomen

appendix

artery

joint

life; living organisms

heart

heart

gallbladder

colon

colon

rib

skin

skin

break down food; digest

intestine

sensation; feeling

stomach

set or group

blood

liver

uterus (womb)

intestine

abdomen

larynx (voice box)

side

mamm/o-

menstru/o-

ment/o-

muscul/o-

nas/o-

neur/o-

nucle/o-

nutri/o-

pelv/o-

phag/o-

pleg/o-

pneumon/o-

psych/o-

sperm/o-

spir/o-

tens/o-

therap/o-

thyroid/o-

tonsill/o-

trache/o-

urin/o-

uter/o-

vagin/o-

ven/o-

breast

monthly discharge of blood

mind

muscle

nose

nerve

nucleus

nourishment

pelvis

eating; swallowing

paralysis

lung; air

mind

sperm

breathe

pressure

therapy

thyroid gland

tonsil

trachea

urine; urinary system

uterus (womb)

vagina

vein

Combining Form Medical Meaning

SuffixesSuffix

-ac

-al

-ar

-ary

-ation

-ectomy

-gram

-graphy

-ia

-iatry

-ic

Medical Meaning

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

a process; being or having

surgical excision

a record or picture

process of recording

condition; state; thing

medical treatment

pertaining to

-ine

-ion

-ism

-ist

-itis

-ive

-logy

-lysis

-megaly

-metry

-oma

pertaining to

action; condition

process; disease from a specific cause

one who specializes in

inflammation of; infection of

pertaining to

the study of

process or breaking down or destroying

enlargement

process of measuring

tumor; mass

Suffix Medical Meaning


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Prefixes

Prefix

a-

an-

anti-

bi-

brady-

de-

dys-

endo-

epi-

eu-

hemi-

hyper-

hypo-

inter-

Medical Meaning

away from; without

without; not

against

two

slow

reversal of; without

painful; difficult; abnormal

innermost; within

upon; above

normal; good

one half

above; more than normal

below; deficient

between

intra-

mal-

mono-

peri-

poly-

post-

pre-

quadri-

re-

sub-

tachy-

trans-

tri-

within

bad; inadequate

one; single

around

many; much

after; behind

before; in front of

four

again and again

below; underneath; less than

fast

across; through

three

-osis

-ous

-pathy

-scope

condition; abnormal condition; process

pertaining to

disease; suffering

instrument used to examine

-scopy

-stomy

-therapy

-tomy

process of using an instrument to examine

surgically created opening

treatment

process of cutting or making an incision

Suffix Medical Meaning Suffix Medical Meaning

Prefix Medical Meaning

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Figure 1-6 ■ Computerized patient record (CPR).The computerized patient record can provide immediate access to a patient’scurrent and previous medical records from within one facility or betweenrelated facilities. The computerized patient record has not yet entirely replacedthe paper record.


The Medical RecordMany of the medical language skills discussed at the beginning of thechapter are used when dealing with medical documents. Let’s briefly lookat some of the more common types of medical documents.

The medical record is where healthcare professionals document all careprovided to a patient. In the past, the medical record was mainly used todocument diseases, treatments, surgeries, etc. Now, the medical record re-flects an emphasis on keeping the patient in good health and preventingdisease. Most physicians’ office medical records include a checklist thatdocuments preventive care given to the patient (immunizations, routinephysical exams, etc.), as well as things the patient should do (limit sun ex-posure and apply sunscreen, have smoke detectors in the home, use seatbelts, do monthly self-examination of the breasts or testicles, securefirearms kept in the home, etc.).

The paper medical record has been the traditional form of medicalrecord. Its disadvantages are that only one healthcare professional can ac-cess it at a time, it can become lost or damaged, and it can take hours oreven days to retrieve a patient’s past medical records that are stored off-site. This delay can compromise the delivery of quality care.

Recently, however, more and more offices, hospitals, and other health-care facilities are converting some or all of their paper medical records tocomputerized patient records (CPRs) (see Figure 1-6 ■). In these facilities,several healthcare professionals can access the same record at the sametime, the record cannot be lost or damaged (because there is always aback-up electronic copy), it takes only seconds to retrieve a patient’s pastmedical records (because the record is stored in a computer that is on-siteor can be accessed electronically in a remote location).

medical (MED-ih-kal)medic/o- physician; medicine-al pertaining to

WORD BUILDING

In the future, it is hoped that an all-encompassing electronic medicalrecord (EMR), electronic patient record (EPR), or electronic health record (EHR)will provide seamless, immediate, and simultaneous access for severalIS

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healthcare professionals to all parts of a patient’s record regardless ofwhere those parts were created or stored. The federal government set agoal to have the electronic medical record and electronic prescribing ofdrugs (e-prescribing) done everywhere in health care.

Types of Documents in the Medical RecordThe medical record is a medicolegal record. This means that it not onlycontains medical documents but that those are also legal documents thatcan be used in a court of law.

The medical record varies in format and content from one facility to thenext. Short narrative notes and checklists are used in many physicians’ of-fices and clinics. These notes usually contain a brief history of the presentillness, pertinent past medical or surgical history, a physical examination, adiagnosis, treatments given, and a follow-up plan.

Hospitals use more extensive documentation than physicians’ offices.Common documents for a hospitalized patient include the AdmissionHistory and Physical Examination (H&P), Operative Report, and Dis-charge Summary (DS). These documents include standard headings, asdescribed below.

Standard Headings in Hospital Admission and Discharge Documents

• Chief Complaint (CC)

• History of Present Illness (HPI)

• Past Medical (and Surgical) History (PMH)

• Social History (SH) and Family History (FH)

• Review of Systems (ROS)

• Physical Examination (PE)

• Laboratory and X-Ray Data

• Diagnosis (Dx)

• Disposition

Before patients can be treated at any type of healthcare facility, theymust sign a consent to treatment form that gives physicians and otherhealthcare professionals the right to treat them. Treatment without consentis against the law and could constitute battery (touching another personwithout his or her consent or causing harm). For a patient who is a minor,the parent or legal guardian signs the consent to treatment form. In anemergency situation, implied consent allows care to be provided until thepatient is awake and able to consent or until a legally appropriate person isable to consent for the patient. Prior to a surgery, the physician describesthe purpose of the surgery and informs the patient of alternatives, risks,and possible outcomes or complications. Then the patient signs a consentto surgery form.

A patient must also sign a form that allows the facility to contact the in-surance company to obtain payment for any health care that is provided.Under the federal regulations of HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act of 1996), all healthcare settings must provide patientswith a statement verifying that their medical record information is secureand is released only to authorized healthcare providers, insurance compa-nies, or healthcare quality monitoring organizations.

In addition, physicians write orders and progress notes, nurses writenurses’ notes, and other departments contribute to these notes or usepreprinted forms to record information in the medical record.

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CC chief complaint

CPR computerized patient record

DS discharge summary

Dx diagnosis

EHR electronic health record

EMR electronic medical record

EPR electronic patient record

FH family history

H&P history and physical (examination)

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and AccountabilityAct (pronounced “HIP-ah”)

HPI history of present illness

PE physical examination

PMH past medical history

ROS review of systems

SH social history

Word AlertABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations are commonly used in all types of medical documents; however, they can mean different things to different people and their meanings can be misinterpreted. Always verify the meaning of an abbreviation.

CC means chief complaint, but it also means cubic centimeter (a measure ofvolume).

CPR means computerized patient record, but it also means cardiopulmonaryresuscitation.

H&P means history and physical (examination), but the sound-alike abbreviationHNP stands for herniated nucleus pulposus.

AbbreviationsAbbreviations are commonly used in medical language and understanding their meanings is a part of learning medical language. Eachchapter in this book includes a list of commonly used abbreviations.


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paramedic (PAIR-ah-MED-ik)Paramedic contains the prefix para-(apart from) and medic (a shortenedform of medical). A paramedic worksapart from the medical personnel inhealthcare facilities.

C A R E E R F O C U SMeet Erica, a paramedic

“I was always interested in health care. EMTs give basic life support.They can do things such as backboarding a patient, splinting, givingoxygen, taking vital signs, and transporting patients to the hospital.Paramedics give advanced life support. We can start intravenous lines,give medications. We can defibrillate, give electrocardiotherapy. It’shard to describe a typical day, because no day is like any other. We givecare to patients with chest pain, shortness of breath, diabetes, seizures, andtrauma (obviously auto accidents, but also industrial accidents) and transportthem to the hospital. I use medical terminology when I’m writing my run reports.Those reports are medical and legal documents. They can be looked at bylawyers in the future. I always want my reports to look professional and bemedically correct.”

Paramedics are allied health professionals who respond to emergency calls fromthe community, treat patients in ambulances, and transport them to theemergency department of the hospital. The paramedic provides medical care in asetting that is apart from a hospital or physician’s office.

To see Erica’s complete video profile, visit Medical Terminology Interactive atwww.myhealthprofessionskit.com. Select this book, log in, and go to the 1st floor of Pearson General Hospital. Enterthe Laboratory, and click on the computer screen.

PEARSON

Did You Know?

Each healthcare facility develops its own list of acceptable abbreviations (that can be used in documents produced in that facility) and a list of unacceptable or “do not use” abbreviations. In addition to that, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(JCAHO) has a list of abbreviations that should not be used because they causeerrors. JCAHO’s National Safety Goal states that these abbreviations mustappear on a facility’s “Do Not Use” list. The JCAHO list is a short list because itis the minimum required for a facility to be accredited. Some of these “do notuse” abbreviations are included in this book because they are still in commonuse by some healthcare providers, but they are marked with an asterisk (*)and a reminder note. Other “do not use” abbreviations compiled by theInstitute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) are also marked (.). Finally, someabbreviations (such as the abbreviation SOB, meaning shortness of breath)have an alternate undesirable meaning. Even though many hospitals haveremoved some or all of these abbreviations from their official list of abbreviations,they still continue to be used and are noted when they are included in a chapter.

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CHAPTER REVIEW EXERCISESTest your knowledge of the chapter by completing these review questions. Use the Answer Key at the end of the book to check your answers.

Welcome to Medical LanguageMatching ExerciseMatch each word part to its description. The word parts may be used more than once.

1. combining form

2. suffix

3. prefix

______ Begins with a hyphen

______ Contains the main meaning of a medical word

______ Ends with a combining vowel

______ Always positioned at the end of a medical word

______ If present, it is always at the beginning of a medical word

______ When there is no prefix, this is the first part of a medical word

True or False ExerciseIndicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F on the line.

1. ______ The three word parts in medical language are spelling, reading, and Greek.

2. ______ Every medical word contains a prefix.

3. ______ The suffix is the foundation of a medical word.

4. ______ You can form the plural of a Latin singular noun that ends in –a by changing the -a to -ae.

5. ______ A root and a combining vowel together form a medical word.

6. ______ The suffixes -ac and -al both mean pertaining to.

7. ______ All medical words originally come from Latin words.

8. ______ You can increase your chances of success in a healthcare career by learning medical language.

Fill in the Blank Exercise1. Name the three word parts that are used to build medical words.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

2. Name the five medical language skills needed for successful communication.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

d. _____________________________________

e. _____________________________________

3. Write the two combining forms that have a medical meaning of

a. skin _____________________________________ _____________________________________

b. intestine _____________________________________ _____________________________________

c. mind _____________________________________ _____________________________________

4. Write the prefix that has the opposite medical meaning of

a. hypo- _____________________________________

b. epi- _____________________________________

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Latin Singular Latin Plural

Greek Singular Greek Plural

Building Medical WordsWord Parts ExerciseBefore you build medical words, review these word parts. Next to each word part, indicate what type it is, and then write its medicalmeaning. Be sure to check your spelling. The first one has been done for you.

Prefix = P Combining Form = CF Suffix = SWord Part Type Medical Meaning

Latin and Greek Singular and Plural Nouns ExerciseWrite the plural form of these Latin or Greek singular nouns. Be sure to check your spelling. The first one has been done for you.

1. vertebra vertebrae2. bursa _____________________________

3. petechia _____________________________

4. ruga _____________________________

5. bronchus _____________________________

6. alveolus _____________________________

7. thrombus _____________________________

8. nucleus _____________________________

9. bacterium _____________________________

10. hilum _____________________________

11. diverticulum _____________________________

12. labium _____________________________

13. ovum _____________________________

14. testis _____________________________

15. diagnosis _____________________________

Latin Singular Latin Plural

16. iris _____________________________

17. epididymis _____________________________

18. phalanx _____________________________

19. carcinoma _____________________________

20. leiomyoma _____________________________

21. ganglion _____________________________

22. mitochondrion _____________________________

Greek Singular Greek Plural

1. a- P away from; without2. abdomin/o- ______ ______________________

3. -ac ______ ______________________

4. -al ______ ______________________

5. an- ______ ______________________

6. anti- ______ ______________________

7. append/o- ______ ______________________

8. -ar ______ ______________________

9. arteri/o- ______ ______________________

10. arthr/o- ______ ______________________

11. -ary ______ ______________________

12. -ation ______ ______________________

13. bi- ______ ______________________

14. bi/o- ______ ______________________

15. brady- ______ ______________________

16. card/i- ______ ______________________

17. cardi/o- ______ ______________________

18. cholecyst/o- ______ ______________________

19. col/o- ______ ______________________

20. colon/o- ______ ______________________

21. cost/o- ______ ______________________

22. cutane/o- ______ ______________________

23. de- ______ ______________________

24. derm/o- ______ ______________________

25. digest/o- ______ ______________________

26. dys- ______ ______________________

27. -ectomy ______ ______________________

28. endo- ______ ______________________

29. enter/o- ______ ______________________

30. epi- ______ ______________________

31. esthes/o- ______ ______________________

32. eu- ______ ______________________

33. gastr/o- ______ ______________________

34. gemin/o- ______ ______________________

Word Part Type Medical Meaning

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35. -gram ______ ______________________

36. -graphy ______ ______________________

37. hemi- ______ ______________________

38. hem/o- ______ ______________________

39. hepat/o- ______ ______________________

40. hyper- ______ ______________________

41. hypo- ______ ______________________

42. hyster/o- ______ ______________________

43. -ia ______ ______________________

44. -iatry ______ ______________________

45. -ic ______ ______________________

46. -ine ______ ______________________

47. inter- ______ ______________________

48. intestin/o- ______ ______________________

49. intra- ______ ______________________

50. -ion ______ ______________________

51. -ism ______ ______________________

52. -ist ______ ______________________

53. -itis ______ ______________________

54. -ive ______ ______________________

55. lapar/o- ______ ______________________

56. laryng/o- ______ ______________________

57. later/o- ______ ______________________

58. -logy ______ ______________________

59. -lysis ______ ______________________

60. mal- ______ ______________________

61. mamm/o- ______ ______________________

62. -megaly ______ ______________________

63. menstru/o- ______ ______________________

64. ment/o- ______ ______________________

65. -metry ______ ______________________

66. mono- ______ ______________________

67. muscul/o- ______ ______________________

68. nas/o- ______ ______________________

69. neur/o- ______ ______________________

70. nucle/o- ______ ______________________

71. nutri/o- ______ ______________________

72. -oma ______ ______________________

73. -osis ______ ______________________

74. -ous ______ ______________________

75. -pathy ______ ______________________

76. pelv/o- ______ ______________________

77. peri- ______ ______________________

78. phag/o- ______ ______________________

79. pleg/o- ______ ______________________

80. pneumon/o- ______ ______________________

81. poly- ______ ______________________

82. post- ______ ______________________

83. pre- ______ ______________________

84. psych/o- ______ ______________________

85. quadri- ______ ______________________

86. re- ______ ______________________

87. -scope ______ ______________________

88. -scopy ______ ______________________

89. sperm/o- ______ ______________________

90. spir/o- ______ ______________________

91. -stomy ______ ______________________

92. sub- ______ ______________________

93. tachy- ______ ______________________

94. tens/o- ______ ______________________

95. therap/o- ______ ______________________

96. -therapy ______ ______________________

97. thyroid/o- ______ ______________________

98. -tomy ______ ______________________

99. tonsill/o- ______ ______________________

100. trache/o- ______ ______________________

101. trans- ______ ______________________

102. tri- ______ ______________________

103. urin/o- ______ ______________________

104. uter/o- ______ ______________________

105. vagin/o- ______ ______________________

106. ven/o- ______ ______________________

Word Part Type Medical Meaning Word Part Type Medical Meaning


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Meaning of a Word Part ExerciseRead the meaning of the word part. Write the word part on the line. Be sure to include a hyphen or forward slash, if needed. Then writea medical word from this chapter that includes that word part. Be sure to check your spelling. The first one has been done for you.

Word Part Meaning Word Part Medical Word Example

1. many; much poly- polyneuritis2. joint _______________________ _______________________

3. the study of _______________________ _______________________

4. surgical excision _______________________ _______________________

5. slow _______________________ _______________________

6. tonsil _______________________ _______________________

7. muscle _______________________ _______________________

8. vein _______________________ _______________________

9. disease from a specific cause _______________________ _______________________

10. lung; air _______________________ _______________________

11. inflammation of; infection of _______________________ _______________________

12. below; underneath; less than _______________________ _______________________

13. enlargement _______________________ _______________________

14. disease; suffering _______________________ _______________________

15. stomach _______________________ _______________________

16. sensation; feeling _______________________ _______________________

17. process of using an instrument to examine _______________________ _______________________

Analyze and Define Medical Words ExerciseRead the sentence. Look at the medical word in bold. Divide it into its word parts. Write the suffix and its meaning on the lines. Writethe prefix and its meaning on the lines. (Note: Not every medical word contains a prefix). Write the combining form and its meaning onthe lines. Join the suffix, prefix (if present), and combining form meanings together (adding small connecting words as necessary) tomake the definition of the medical word and write that on the line. The first one has been done for you.

1. Patients with cardiac disease can have an abnormal heart rhythm.

cardiac Suffix -ac Combining Form cardi/o(KAR-dee-ak) Meaning pertaining to Meaning heart

Medical Word Definition pertaining to the heart2. Hepatitis and cancer are hepatic diseases that affect the liver.

hepatic Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(heh-PAT-ik) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________

Medical Word Definition _______________________________________________________________________

3. When you have laryngitis, you often lose your voice.

laryngitis Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(LAIR-in-JY-tis) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


4. A patient with chronically infected tonsils may need to have a tonsillectomy.

tonsillectomy Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(TAWN-sih-LEK-toh-mee) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


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Figure 1-7 ■ Neurology clinic.There are many types of clinics. Clinics are locatedin a hospital or in a separate healthcare facility.

6. Knowledge of psychology helps healthcare professionals understand patients and their behaviors.

psychology Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(sy-KAWL-oh-jee) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


7. Pneumonia, an infection in the lungs, causes hazy, white areas on a chest x-ray.

pneumonia Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(noo-MOH-nee-ah) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


8. In older adults, arthritis in the hip and knee joints can make walking very painful.

arthritis Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(ar-THRY-tis) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


9. A patient with constant stomach pain may need to have a gastroscopy to look for ulcers or bleeding.

gastroscopy Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(gas-TRAWS-koh-pee) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


10. Polyneuropathy is a disease condition that affects many nerves.

polyneuropathy Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(PAWL-ee-nyoo-RAWP-ah-thee) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________

Medical Word Definition _____________________________________________________________________


5. Patients with diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease are treated in a neurology clinic (see Figure 1-7 ■).

neurology Suffix _________ Combining Form _________________________

(nyoo-RAWL-oh-jee) Meaning _________________________ Meaning _________________________


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11. Drugs are used to numb the skin and produce anesthesia prior to a procedure.

anesthesia Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(AN-es-THEE-zee-ah) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


12. Diabetic patients give themselves insulin injections under the skin into the fatty subcutaneous tissue.

subcutaneous Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


13. Tachycardia is a medical condition in which the heart has an abnormally fast rate.

tachycardia Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(TAK-ih-KAR-dee-ah) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


14. Patients who are unable to eat are given fluids through an intravenous line into a vein.

intravenous Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(IN-trah-VEE-nus) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


15. An intranasal gauze pad is placed in the nostril to control bleeding from the nose.

intranasal Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(IN-trah-NAY-zal) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


16. An endotracheal tube is inserted through the mouth and into the trachea to help a patient breathe (see Figure 1-8 ■).

endotracheal Suffix _________ Prefix __________________ Combining Form _______________

(EN-doh-TRAY-kee-al) Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________ Meaning ______________________


Figure 1-8 ■ Endotracheal tube.An endotracheal tube is connected to a ventilator that breathes for apatient, but it can also be used to give a solution of a drug in an emergencysituation.

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Combining Form and Suffix ExercisePractice building medical words by joining these combining forms and suffixes. Write the medical word on the line. Be sure to checkyour spelling. The first one has been done for you.

Suffix that Begins Combining Form with a Vowel Medical Word

1. cardi/o- -ac cardiac2. digest/o- -ive _______________________

3. intestin/o- -al _______________________

4. append/o- -ectomy _______________________

5. neur/o- -oma _______________________

6. pneumon/o- -ia _______________________

7. therap/o- -ist _______________________

8. tonsill/o- -itis _______________________

9. urin/o- -ary _______________________

10. urin/o- -ation _______________________

Suffix that Begins Combining Form with a Consonant Medical Word

11. arthr/o- -pathy _______________________

12. cardi/o- -logy _______________________

13. cardi/o- -megaly _______________________

14. colon/o- -scope _______________________

15. hem/o- -lysis _______________________

Prefix ExerciseRead the definition of the medical word. Look at the medical word or partial word that is given (it already contains a combining formand a suffix). Select the correct prefix from the Prefix List and write it on the blank line. Then build the medical word and write it on theblank line. Be sure to check your spelling. The first one has been done for you.

Word or Build the Definition of the Medical Word Prefix Partial Word Medical Word

1. Disease from a specific cause of more than normal thyroid gland (hormone) hyperthyroidism hyperthyroidism

2. Condition of much urine ________ uria ______________________

3. Pertaining to above the stomach ________ gastric ______________________

4. Condition of (being) without urine ________ uria ______________________

5. Pertaining to within a muscle ________ muscular ______________________

6. Condition of a fast heart (rate) ________ cardia ______________________

7. Pertaining to behind the nose ________ nasal ______________________

8. Condition of painful urine ________ uria ______________________

PREFIX LISTan- (without; not)dys- (painful; difficult; abnormal)epi- (upon; above)

hyper- (above; more than normal)intra- (within)poly- (many; much)

post- (after; behind)tachy- (fast)


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Matching ExerciseMatch each word or word part to its description.

1. arthr/o-

2. brady-

3. laryngitis

4. endotracheal

5. lapar/o-

6. cutane/o-

7. -ectomy

8. hem/o-

9. -itis

10. intravenous

11. cardiomegaly

12. cardiac

______ Medical word definition is pertaining to within the trachea

______ Combining form meaning blood

______ Medical word definition is pertaining to the heart

______ Combining form meaning skin

______ Combining form meaning abdomen

______ Suffix meaning inflammation of; infection of

______ Prefix meaning slow

______ Medical word definition is pertaining to within a vein

______ Combining form meaning joint

______ Medical word definition is enlargement of the heart

______ Medical word definition is inflammation or infection of the voice box

______ Suffix meaning surgical excision

Word Analysis ExerciseThese are the two longest words you will study in this textbook. See if you can break apart each word into its word parts, define theword parts, and then define the entire medical word. Some of the word parts will be familiar to you. For those that are not, useAppendix A at the back of this book to look up the meanings.

1. esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Suffix __________________________________ Suffix Meaning __________________________________

Combining Form __________________________________ Combining Form Meaning __________________________________



Medical Word Definition _________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. otorhinolaryngology

Suffix __________________________________ Suffix Meaning __________________________________




Medical Word Definition _________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Medical RecordTrue or False ExerciseIndicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F on the line.

1. ______ The medical record is where healthcare professionals document care provided to a patient.

2. ______ The medical record of today is mainly used to document diseases, treatments, and surgeries.

3. ______ The medical record is a medicolegal document.

4. ______ By law, the format of a medical record must be the same in all healthcare facilities.

5. ______ A consent to treat form signed by the patient allows the healthcare facility to contact HIPAA for payment for any medicalcare provided.

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Critical Thinking Questions1. Describe three advantages of the newer computerized patient record.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

2. Name five things that might be included on a preventive care checklist in a patient's medical record.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

d. _____________________________________

e. _____________________________________

3. Give the three names used for a future, all-encompassing medical record that will provide immediate access to all parts of a pa-tient's record.

a. _____________________________________

b. _____________________________________

c. _____________________________________

AbbreviationsAbbreviation ExerciseWrite the definition for each abbreviation on the line provided.

1. CPR ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. DS __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. CC _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. H&P ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Dx __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. ROS ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Applied SkillsCircle ExerciseCircle the correct word from the choices given.

1. Daniel Frist broke his left middle (phalanges, phalanx) while playing baseball.

2. Baby Phong Nyugen’s mother took him to the doctor when she noticed that his left (testes, testis) was not present in the scrotum.

3. On the x-ray, Leona Calvin’s spine showed several (vertebra, vertebrae) that were misaligned.

4. Dr. James Gibbons treated Al Smith’s (gastric, gastroscopy) ulcer by prescribing medication.

5. The physical examination at the walk-in clinic revealed that Jose Rodriguez had (tonsillectomy, tonsillitis).

6. The laboratory identified several (bacteria, bacterium) that were present in the patient’s wound.

7. Alan Witherspoon underwent a (cardiac, cardiomegaly) stress test to evaluate his heart.

8. Alicyn Smart experienced severe abdominal pain, and the emergency department physician scheduled her to have this surgery:(appendectomy, appendicitis).

9. Dr. Matthew Cohen decided to specialize in treating the (tonsillectomy, urinary) system.

10. When Briana Wright began feeling depressed, she made an appointment with a (psychotherapy, psychiatrist).


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Pronunciation ExerciseRead the medical word that is given. Then review the syllables in its pronunciation. Circle the primary (main) accented syllable. The firstone has been done for you.

1. cardiac (kar-dee-ak)

2. urinary (yoo-rih-nair-ee)

3. endotracheal (en-doh-tray-kee-al)

4. muscular (mus-kyoo-lar)

5. psychology (sy-kawl-oh-jee)

6. hepatic (heh-pat-ik)

7. cardiomegaly (kar-dee-oh-meg-ah-lee)

8. mammography (mah-mawg-rah-fee)

9. psychosis (sy-koh-sis)

10. laparotomy (lap-ah-raw-toh-mee)

1. cardeac cardiac2. appendektomee _______________________

3. subcutayneous _______________________

4. larinjitis _______________________

5. mamografee _______________________

6. sychiatry _______________________

7. takicardia _______________________

8. tonsilitis _______________________

9. urinashun _______________________

10. venus _______________________

Misspelled Medical Word Correct Spelling

Hearing Medical Words ExerciseYou hear someone speaking the medical words given below. Read each pronunciation and then write the medical word it represents.Be sure to check your spelling. The first one has been done for you.

1. KAR-dee-ac cardiac2. AP-pen-DEK-toh-mee ______________________

3. YOO-rih-NAY-shun ______________________

4. SY-koh-THAIR-ah-tree ______________________

5. IN-trah-VEE-nus ______________________

6. nyoo-RAWL-oh-jee ______________________

7. TAWN-sih-LY-tis ______________________

8. YOO-ter-in ______________________

9. SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us ______________________

10. noo-MOH-nee-ah ______________________

Spelling ExerciseLook at each medical word and detect the spelling error. Then write the correct spelling of the medical word on the line provided. Thefirst one has been done for you.

Misspelled Medical Word Correct Spelling

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Multimedia Preview

■ Beat the Clock Challenge the clock by testingyour medical terminology smarts against time.Click here for a game of knowledge, spelling, andspeed. Can you correctly answer 20 questionsbefore the final tick?

■ Medicine in Action These videos breathe lifeinto the concepts presented in the pages of thisbook. The videos give you a better understandingof the material by allowing you to see it in action.

PEARSON

Immerse yourself in a variety of activities inside Medical Terminology Interactive. Getting there is simple:

1. Click on www.myhealthprofessionskit.com.

2. Select “Medical Terminology” from the choice of disciplines.

3. First-time users must create an account using the scratch-off code on the inside front cover of thisbook.

4. Find this book and log in using your username and password.

5. Click on Medical Terminology Interactive.

6. Take the elevator to the 1st Floor to begin your virtual exploration of this chapter!

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