Medical terms

Medical terms are the phrases, and words used in the medical literature most of which may have Greek, or Latin origins. Medical terminology is a language used to precisely describe the human body including its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. Medical terms are used in the field of medicine, and clinical settings. This overview provides a fundamental understanding of medical vocabulary.

Structure of Medical Terms[edit | edit source]

Medical terms have different parts that are often derived from Greek or Latin roots. These parts include:

Prefix - A beginning section of a word that modifies the meaning.
Root - The central part of the word that contains its core meaning.
Suffix - An ending part of a word that adds to or alters the meaning of the root.

Understanding the common prefixes, roots, and suffixes can often help deduce the meaning of complex terms.

Common Prefixes and Suffixes[edit | edit source]

Here are a few examples of common prefixes and suffixes in medical terms:

Cardio- - Referring to the heart.
-itis - Indicating inflammation, as in Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix).
Neuro- - Relating to nerves or the nervous system.
-ectomy - Referring to the removal of a body part, as in Appendectomy (removal of the appendix).

Categories of Medical Terms[edit | edit source]

Medical terms can be categorized into several groups such as:

Anatomy terms - Describing body parts and structures. Example: Arteries, Muscles.
Pathological Terms - Relating to diseases and disorders. Example: Diabetes, Hypertension.
Procedural terms - Pertaining to medical procedures. Example: Biopsy, Catheterization.
Pharmacological terms - Associated with medications and drugs. Example: Antibiotic, Chemotherapy.

Deciphering Medical Terms[edit | edit source]

To understand a medical term, one can often break it down into its component parts. For instance, the term Osteoarthritis is made up of Osteo- (relating to bone), Arthro- (relating to joints), and -itis (inflammation).

Glossary of medical terms[edit | edit source]

ac means pertaining to.
andr-, or andro- means male.
auto- means self.
bio- means life.
chem-, or chemo- means chemistry.
cyt-, or cyto- means cell.
blast-, or blasto, or blastic means bud, germ.
cyte, or cytic means cell.
fibr-, or fibro- means fiber.
gluco-, or glycol- means glucose, sugar.
gyn-, or gyno-, or gynec- means female.
hetero- means other, different.
hydr-, or hydro- means water.
idio- means self, one's own.
ity means pertaining to.
karyo- means nucleus.
neo- means new.
ous means pertaining to.
oxy- means sharp, acute, oxygen.
pan-, or pant-, or panto- means all or everywhere.
pharmaco- means drug, medicine.
re- means again, backward.
somat-, or somatico-, or somato- means body, bodily.
acous-, or acouso- means hearing.
aden-, or adeno- means gland.
adip-, or adipo- means fat.
adren-, or adreno- means gland.
angi-, or angio- means blood vessel.
ateri-, or aterio- means artery.
arthr-, or arthro- means joint.
blephar- means eyelid.
bronch-, or bronchi- means bronchus (large airway that leads from the trachea (windpipe) to a lung).
bucc-, or bucco- means cheek.
burs-, or burso- means bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts)
carcin-, or carcino- means cancer.
cardi-, or cardio- means heart.
cephal-, or cephalo- means head.
chol- means bile.
chondr- means cartilage.
Coron- means heart.
cost- means rib.
crani-, or cranio- means brain.
cutane means skin.
cyst-, or cysti-, or cysto- means bladder or sac.
dactyl-, or dactylo- means digit (finger or toe).
derm-, or dermato- means skin.
duodeno- means duodenum (the first part of your small intestine, right after your stomach).
esthesio means sensation.
gloss-, or gloss- means tongue.
gastr- means stomach.
gnath-, or gnatho- means jaw.
grav- means heavy.
hem, hema-, or hemat-, or hemato-, hemo- means blood.
hepat-, or hepatico-, or hepato- means liver.
hidr-, or hidro- means sweat.
hist-, or histio-, or histo- means tissue.
hyster-, or hystero- means uterus.
ileo- means ileum (the lower part of the small intestine).
irid-, or irido- means iris.
ischi-, or ischio- means ischium (the lower and back part of the hip bone).
ium means structure or tissue.
kerat-, or kerato- means cornea (eye or skin).
lacrim-, or lacrimo- means tear (from your eyes).
lact-, or lacti-, or lacto- means milk.
laryng-, or laryngo- means larynx (voice box).
lingu-, or linguo- means tongue.
lip-, or lipo- means fat.
lith-, or litho- means stone.
lymph-, or lympho- means lymph.
mamm, mast-, or masto- means breast.
mening-, or meningo- means meninges (the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).
muscul-, or musclo- means muscle.
my-, or myo- means muscle.
myel-, or myelo- means spinal cord OR bone marrow.
myring-, or myringo- means eardrum.
nephr-, or nephro- means kidney.
neur-, or neuri-, or neuron means nerve.
oculo- means eye.
odont-, or odonto- means tooth.
onych-, or onycho- means fingernail, toenail.
oo- means egg, ovary.
oophor-, or oophoro- means ovary.
op-, or opt- means vision.
ophthalm-, or ophthalmo- means eye.
orchid-, or orchido-, or orchio- means testis.
ossi- means bone.
osseo- means bony.
ost-, or oste-, or osteo- means bone.
ot-, or oto- means ear.
ovari-, or ovario-, ovi-, or ovo- means ovary.
phalang- means phalanx (any bone in the fingers or toes).
pharyng-, or pharyngo- means pharynx, throat.
phleb-, or phlebo- means vein.
phob-, or phobia means fear.
phren-, or phreni-, phrenico-, or phreno- means diaphragm.
pleur-, or pleura-, or pleuro- means rib, pleura (membrane that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity).
pneum-, or pneuma-, pneumat-, or pneumato- means air, lung.
pod-, or podo means foot.
prostat- means prostate.
psych-, or psyche-, or psycho- means mind.
proct-, or procto- means anus, rectum.
pyel-, or pyelo- means pelvis.
rachi- means spine.
rect-, or recto- means rectum.
ren-, or reno- means kidney.
retin- means retina (of the eye).
rhin-, or rhino- means nose.
salping-, or salpingo- means tube.
sial-, or sialo- means saliva, salivary gland.
sigmoid-, or sigmoido- means sigmoid colon.
splanchn-, or splanchni-, or splanchno- means viscera (internal organ).
sperma-, or spermato-, or spermo- means sperm.
spirat- means breathe.
splen-, or spleno- means spleen.
spondyl-, or spondylo- means vertebra.
stern- means sternum (breastbone).
stom-, or stoma-, stomat-, or stomato- means mouth.
thel-, or thelo- means nipples.
thorac-, or thoracico-, or thoraco- means chest.
thromb-, or thrombo- means blood clot.
thyr-, or thyro- means thyroid gland.
trache-, or tracheo- means trachea (windpipe).
tympan-, or tympano- means eardrum.
ur-, or uro- means urine.
uri-, or uric-, or urico- means uric acid.
uria means in the urine.
vagin- means vagina.
varic-, or varico- means duct, blood vessel.
vasculo- means blood vessel.
ven-, or veno- means vein.
vertebr- means vertebra, spine.
vesic-, or vesico- means vesicle (cyst or pouch).
ab-, or abs- means away from.
ambi- means both sides.
ante- means before, forward.
circum- means around.
cycl- means circle, cycle.
dextr-, or dextro- means right side.
de- means away from, ending.
dia- means across, through.
ect-, or ecto-, or exo- means outer; outside.
en- means inside.
end-, or endo-, ent- enter-, entero-, means within; inner.
epi- means Upon, outside of.
ex-, or extra- means beyond.
infra- means beneath; below.
inter- means between.
intra- means within.
meso- means middle.
meta- means beyond, change.
para- means alongside, abnormal.
per- means through.
peri- means around.
post- means behind, after.
pre- means before, in front.
retro- means backward, behind.
sinistr-, or sinistro- means left, left side.
sub- means under.
super- means above.
supra- means above, upon.
sy-, syl-, or sym-, syn-, or sys- means together.
trans- means across, through.
bi- means two.
brady- means slow.
diplo- means double.
hemi- means half.
homo- means same.
hyper- means above, beyond, excessive.
hypo- means under, deficient.
iso- means equal, like.
macro- means large, long, big.
meg-, or mega-, megal-, or megalo- means great, large.
megaly means enlargement.
mic-, or micro- means small.
mon-, or mono- means one.
multi- means many.
olig-, or oligo- means few, little.
poly- means many, excessive.
quadri- means four.
semi- means half.
tachy- means fast.
tetra- means four.
tri- means three.
uni- means one.
chlor-, or chloro- means green.
chrom-, or chromato- means color.
Cyano- means blue.
erythr-, or erythro- means red.
leuk-, or leuko- means white.
melan-, or melano- means black.
xanth-, or xantho- means yellow.
cele means bulge.
elect- means electrical activity.
kin-, or kine-, kinesi-, kinesio-, or kino- means movement.
kyph-, or kypho- means humped.
morph-, or morpho- means shape.
rhabd-, or rhabdo- means rod-shaped, striated.
scoli-, or scolio- means twisted.
cry-, or cryo- means cold.
phon-, or phono- means sound.
phos- means light.
phot-, or photo- means light.
reticul-, or reticulo- means net.
therm-, or thermo- means heat.
tono- means tone, tension, pressure.
alge-, or algesi means pain.
a-, or an- means without; lacking.
anti- means against.
contra- means against.
dis- means separation, taking apart.
dynia means pain, swelling.
dys- means difficult, abnormal.
eal, or ial means pertaining to.
ectasis means expansion or dilation.
emesis means vomiting.
emia means blood condition.
esis means state or condition.
eu- means good, well.
ia means condition.
iasis means condition, formation of.
ism means condition.
ites, or itis means inflammation.
lysis, or lytic, lyso-, or lys- means break down, destruction, dissolving.
mal- means bad, abnormal.
malacia means softening.
mania means morbid impulse towards an object/thing.
myc-, or myco- means fungus.
myx-, or myxo- means mucus.
necr-, or necro- means death.
normo- means normal.
odyn means pain.
oma means tumor.
oid means resembling.
orth-, or ortho- means straight, normal, correct.
osis means condition, usually abnormal.
pathy, patho-, or path- means disease.
penia means deficiency, lack of.
phagia, phagy means eating, swallowing.
phasia means speech.
plasia, or plastic means growth.
plegia means paralysis.
pnea means breathing.
poiesis means production.
praxia means movement.
pro- means favoring, supporting.
pseudo- means false.
ptosis means falling, drooping.
pyo- means pus.
pyro- means fever.
onco- means tumor, bulk, volume.
rrhage, or rrhagic means bleeding.
rrhea means flow or discharge.
sarco- means muscular, fleshlike.
schisto- means split, cleft, division.
schiz-, or schizo means split, cleft.
sclera-, or sclero- means hardness.
sclerosis means hardening.
sis means condition.
spasm means muscle condition.
spasmo- means spasm.
stasis means level, unchanging.
sten-, or steno- means narrowed, blocked.
taxis means movement.
trophy means growth.
centesis means surgical puncture to remove fluid.
desis means surgical binding.
ectomy means cut out, removal.
gram, or graph, or graphy means recording, written.
meter means device used for measuring.
metry means measurement of.
opsy means visual examination.
ostomy means opening.
otomy means Incision.
pexy means surgical fixation.
plasty means surgical reconstruction.
radio- means radiation, radius.
rrhaphy means suture.
scope, or scopy means examine, for examining.
stomy means surgical opening.
tomy means cutting; incision.
tripsy means crushing

Comprehensive list of medical terms[edit | edit source]

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