Medical Terminology flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Combining vowel

A vowel, usually o, used to connect a root to a suffix or to another root so the term is easier to pronounce.

Combining form

A word element made of a root plus a combining vowel, written with a slash, such as cardi/o for heart.

Root

The core word element that carries the main meaning of a medical term and often names a body part or function.

Suffix

A word element placed at the end of a term that changes meaning and often identifies a condition, procedure, or part of speech.

Prefix

A word element placed at the beginning of a term that modifies meaning, such as location, number, time, or degree.

Drop combining vowel rule

Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that begins with a vowel, as in gastr/o plus -itis becoming gastritis.

Keep combining vowel rule

Keep the combining vowel before a suffix that begins with a consonant, as in gastr/o plus -megaly becoming gastromegaly.

a- and an-

Prefixes meaning without or lack of; a- is used before consonants and an- before vowels in many medical terms.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation of the structure named by the root, as in dermatitis for inflammation of the skin.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal of a structure, as in appendectomy for removal of the appendix.

-otomy

Suffix meaning a surgical incision into a structure, as in laparotomy for an incision into the abdomen.

-ostomy

Suffix meaning a surgical opening or mouth created between a hollow organ and the body surface or another organ.

hyper- and hypo-

Prefixes meaning above or excessive and below or deficient, respectively; they are opposites used with the same root.

brady- and tachy-

Prefixes meaning slow and fast, respectively, often used for heart rate or other body rhythms.

Anatomical position

Standing erect, face forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward, used as the standard reference for directional terms.

Anterior and posterior

Anterior means toward the front or ventral side; posterior means toward the back or dorsal side of the body.

Superior and inferior

Superior means toward the head or upper body; inferior means toward the feet or lower body.

Medial and lateral

Medial means toward the midline of the body; lateral means away from the midline toward the side.

Proximal and distal

Proximal means nearer the trunk or point of origin; distal means farther from the trunk or point of origin.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left portions; the midsagittal plane divides it into equal halves.

Cardi/o

Combining form meaning heart; it appears in terms such as cardiology, the study of the heart and its disorders.

Gastr/o

Combining form meaning stomach; it appears in terms such as gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining.

Nephr/o

Combining form meaning kidney; it appears in terms such as nephrology, the study of kidney function and disease.

Neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve; it appears in terms such as neurology, the study of the nervous system.

Oste/o

Combining form meaning bone; it appears in terms such as osteitis, inflammation of bone tissue.

Dermat/o

Combining form meaning skin; it appears in terms such as dermatology, the study of skin and its diseases.

Pulmon/o

Combining form meaning lung; it appears in terms such as pulmonary, relating to the lungs and their function.

Plural of vertebra

The plural is vertebrae, following the rule that Latin-derived terms ending in -a form the plural with -ae.

Plural of diagnosis

The plural is diagnoses, following the rule that terms ending in -is often form the plural by changing -is to -es.

Plural of bacterium

The plural is bacteria, following the rule that Latin-derived terms ending in -um change to -a in the plural.

NPO

An abbreviation meaning nothing by mouth; it is used when a patient must not eat or drink.

b.i.d.

An abbreviation meaning twice a day; it is used in prescriptions to indicate dosing frequency.