Chapter 1
Introduction to Medical Terminology
1) Identify the prefixes/ word roots/ suffixes and give the meaning
1. Adenoma. 2. Arthritis.
a. Aden/o = gland. a. arthr/o =
b. -oma = tumor. b. -itis =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
3. Arthroscopy. 4. Biopsy.
a. Arthr/o = a. bi/o =
b. –scopy = b. -opsy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
5. Carcinoma. 6. Cephalic.
a. carcin/o = a. cephal/o =
b. –oma = b. –ic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
7. Incision 8. Excision.
a. in- = a. ex- =
b. cis/o = b. cis/o =
c. –ion = c. –ion =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
9. Endocrine 10. Cystoscopy
a. endo- = a. cyst/o =
b. crin/o = b. –scopy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
11. Dermatitis 12. Gastrectomy
a. dermat/o = a. gastr/o =
b. –itis = b. –ectomy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
13. Hematoma. 15. Hepatitis
a. heamt/o = a. hepat/o =
b. –oma = b. – itis =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
14. Hemoglobin 16. Iatrogenic
a. hem/o = a. iatr/o =
b. –globin = b. -genic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =.
17. Nephritis 18. Neurology
a. nephr/o = a. neur/o =
b. –itis = b. –logy
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
19. Hypodermic. 20. Diagnosis
a. hypo- = a. dia- =
b. derm/o = b. gnos/o =
c. -ic = c. –sis =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
, 21. Oncologist. 24. Pathologist.
a. onc/o = a. path/o
b. –ist = b. -list =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
22. Ophthalmoscope. 25. Pediatric.
a. ophthalm/o = eye a. ped/o =
b. –scope = b. –ic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
23. Osteitis. 26. Psychiatrist.
a. oste/o = bone a. psych/o =
b. –it is = b. –ist =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
27. Renal. 29. Sarcoma.
a. ren/o = a. sarc/o =
b. –al = b. –oma=
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
28. Rhinitis. 30. Urology.
a. Rhin/o = a. ur/o =
b. –it is = b. –ology =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
31. Osteoarthritis. 32. Electroencephalogram
a. oste/o = a. electr/o =
b. arthr/o = b. encephal/o =
c. –it is = c. –gram =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
2) Write the prefix for the following
1. Within A. Dys-
2. Before = B. Trans-
3. Around = C. Pre-/ante-
4. New = D. Peri-
5. Painful = E. Neo-
6. Slow = F. Brady-
7. Across = G. Intra-/Endo-
3) Circle and define the prefix in the following terms
1. pseudocyesis
2. hypoglycemia
3. intercostal
4. eupnea
5. postoperative
6. monoplegia
7. subcutaneous
8. Hemiplegia
9. Pericardium
10. epigastric
2
,4) Match the suffix with its meaning
1. excessive flow A. – stenosis
2. Narrow B. - al
3. Pertaining to C. – megaly
4. puncture to withdraw fluid D. - ectomy
5. Study of E. – rrhage
6. Enlargement F. – centesis
7. Pain G. - ology
8. blood condition H. – algia
9. removal, excision, resection I. - emia
5) Match the suffix with its meaning
1. Abnormal condition A. –gram
2. Cell B. -scope
3. Disease condition C. –osis
4. Incision, process of cutting D. –pathy
5. Inflammation E. -tomy
6. instrument to visually examine F. -itis
7. record G. -cyte
6) Underline the suffix and give the meaning
1. Ophthalmoscopy 6. Nephrectomy
2. Oncology 7. Osteotomy
3. Osteitis 8. Carcinogenic
4. Thrombocyte 9. Sarcoma
5. Renal
7) Use a combining form and a suffix to form a medical term
1. pain relating to a nerve B. Laryngectomy
2. nose discharge or flow C. Arthritis
3. abnormal softening of a D. Cardiomegaly
4. enlarged heart E. Adenopathy
5. cutting into the stomach F. Rhinorrhea
6. inflammation of the skin G. Nephromalacia
7. surgical removal of the voice box H. Neuralgia
8. inflammation of the joint I. Gastrotomy
9. gland disease J. Dermatitis
8) Write the medical term using the suffix –ology
1. study of the stomach
2. study of blood
3. study of tumors
4. study of nerves
5. study of x-rays in diagnostic imaging
6. study of the eyes:
7. study of glands that secrete hormones
3
, 9) Give the meanings for the following suffixes.
1. –algia 18. -penia
2. –cele 19. –plasia
3. –centesis 20. –plasty
4. –coccus 21. –osis
5. –cyte 22. –sclerosis
6. –ectomy 23. –phobia
7. –emia 24. -stasis
8. –genesis 25. -ia
9. -gram 26. -um
10. –graph 27. –trophy
11. -graphy 28. -ule
12. -lysis 29. –stasis
13. -malacia 30. –stomy
14. -megaly 31. –oid
15. -oma 32. -tomy
16. –opsy 33. –genic
17. -pathy 34. ptosis
10) Complete the medical term
1. the membrane surrounding the heart is peri ______
2. hardening of arteries is arterio ____
3. enlargement of the liver is hepato ____________
4. new opening of the windpipe to the outside of the body is tracheo______
5. inflammation of the tonsils is ________itis
6. study of the eye is ___________ logy
7. beyond control (spread of a cancerous tumor) is meta ______
11) Circle the correct term to complete the following sentences.
1. a patient was diagnosed with breast cancer. The first phase of her treatment
included a (nephrectomy, mastectomy, pulmonary resection) to remove the breast
and the tumor. After the surgery, the doctor recommended (chemotherapy,
radiotherapy, hydrotherapy) using drugs.
2. The patient’s facial features became coarser and his hands and tongue enlarged.
After a head CT scan, doctors diagnosed the cause of these changes as
(hyperglycemia, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly), a slowly progressive endocrine
condition involving the pituitary gland.
3. Each winter during cold and flu season. Daisy developed (chondromalacia,
bronchitis, cardiomyopathy). Her doctor prescribed antibiotics and respiratory
therapy to help her recover.
4. After (arthroscopy, laparotomy, radiotherapy) on his knee, Alan had swelling and
inflammation near the small incisions.
5. David enjoyed weight lifting, but he recently noticed a bulge in his right groin
region. His doctor, who made the diagnosis of (hiatal hernia, rectocele, inguinal
hernia).
4
Introduction to Medical Terminology
1) Identify the prefixes/ word roots/ suffixes and give the meaning
1. Adenoma. 2. Arthritis.
a. Aden/o = gland. a. arthr/o =
b. -oma = tumor. b. -itis =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
3. Arthroscopy. 4. Biopsy.
a. Arthr/o = a. bi/o =
b. –scopy = b. -opsy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
5. Carcinoma. 6. Cephalic.
a. carcin/o = a. cephal/o =
b. –oma = b. –ic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
7. Incision 8. Excision.
a. in- = a. ex- =
b. cis/o = b. cis/o =
c. –ion = c. –ion =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
9. Endocrine 10. Cystoscopy
a. endo- = a. cyst/o =
b. crin/o = b. –scopy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
11. Dermatitis 12. Gastrectomy
a. dermat/o = a. gastr/o =
b. –itis = b. –ectomy =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
13. Hematoma. 15. Hepatitis
a. heamt/o = a. hepat/o =
b. –oma = b. – itis =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
14. Hemoglobin 16. Iatrogenic
a. hem/o = a. iatr/o =
b. –globin = b. -genic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =.
17. Nephritis 18. Neurology
a. nephr/o = a. neur/o =
b. –itis = b. –logy
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
19. Hypodermic. 20. Diagnosis
a. hypo- = a. dia- =
b. derm/o = b. gnos/o =
c. -ic = c. –sis =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
, 21. Oncologist. 24. Pathologist.
a. onc/o = a. path/o
b. –ist = b. -list =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
22. Ophthalmoscope. 25. Pediatric.
a. ophthalm/o = eye a. ped/o =
b. –scope = b. –ic =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
23. Osteitis. 26. Psychiatrist.
a. oste/o = bone a. psych/o =
b. –it is = b. –ist =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
27. Renal. 29. Sarcoma.
a. ren/o = a. sarc/o =
b. –al = b. –oma=
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
28. Rhinitis. 30. Urology.
a. Rhin/o = a. ur/o =
b. –it is = b. –ology =
c. Meaning = c. Meaning =
31. Osteoarthritis. 32. Electroencephalogram
a. oste/o = a. electr/o =
b. arthr/o = b. encephal/o =
c. –it is = c. –gram =
d. Meaning = d. Meaning =
2) Write the prefix for the following
1. Within A. Dys-
2. Before = B. Trans-
3. Around = C. Pre-/ante-
4. New = D. Peri-
5. Painful = E. Neo-
6. Slow = F. Brady-
7. Across = G. Intra-/Endo-
3) Circle and define the prefix in the following terms
1. pseudocyesis
2. hypoglycemia
3. intercostal
4. eupnea
5. postoperative
6. monoplegia
7. subcutaneous
8. Hemiplegia
9. Pericardium
10. epigastric
2
,4) Match the suffix with its meaning
1. excessive flow A. – stenosis
2. Narrow B. - al
3. Pertaining to C. – megaly
4. puncture to withdraw fluid D. - ectomy
5. Study of E. – rrhage
6. Enlargement F. – centesis
7. Pain G. - ology
8. blood condition H. – algia
9. removal, excision, resection I. - emia
5) Match the suffix with its meaning
1. Abnormal condition A. –gram
2. Cell B. -scope
3. Disease condition C. –osis
4. Incision, process of cutting D. –pathy
5. Inflammation E. -tomy
6. instrument to visually examine F. -itis
7. record G. -cyte
6) Underline the suffix and give the meaning
1. Ophthalmoscopy 6. Nephrectomy
2. Oncology 7. Osteotomy
3. Osteitis 8. Carcinogenic
4. Thrombocyte 9. Sarcoma
5. Renal
7) Use a combining form and a suffix to form a medical term
1. pain relating to a nerve B. Laryngectomy
2. nose discharge or flow C. Arthritis
3. abnormal softening of a D. Cardiomegaly
4. enlarged heart E. Adenopathy
5. cutting into the stomach F. Rhinorrhea
6. inflammation of the skin G. Nephromalacia
7. surgical removal of the voice box H. Neuralgia
8. inflammation of the joint I. Gastrotomy
9. gland disease J. Dermatitis
8) Write the medical term using the suffix –ology
1. study of the stomach
2. study of blood
3. study of tumors
4. study of nerves
5. study of x-rays in diagnostic imaging
6. study of the eyes:
7. study of glands that secrete hormones
3
, 9) Give the meanings for the following suffixes.
1. –algia 18. -penia
2. –cele 19. –plasia
3. –centesis 20. –plasty
4. –coccus 21. –osis
5. –cyte 22. –sclerosis
6. –ectomy 23. –phobia
7. –emia 24. -stasis
8. –genesis 25. -ia
9. -gram 26. -um
10. –graph 27. –trophy
11. -graphy 28. -ule
12. -lysis 29. –stasis
13. -malacia 30. –stomy
14. -megaly 31. –oid
15. -oma 32. -tomy
16. –opsy 33. –genic
17. -pathy 34. ptosis
10) Complete the medical term
1. the membrane surrounding the heart is peri ______
2. hardening of arteries is arterio ____
3. enlargement of the liver is hepato ____________
4. new opening of the windpipe to the outside of the body is tracheo______
5. inflammation of the tonsils is ________itis
6. study of the eye is ___________ logy
7. beyond control (spread of a cancerous tumor) is meta ______
11) Circle the correct term to complete the following sentences.
1. a patient was diagnosed with breast cancer. The first phase of her treatment
included a (nephrectomy, mastectomy, pulmonary resection) to remove the breast
and the tumor. After the surgery, the doctor recommended (chemotherapy,
radiotherapy, hydrotherapy) using drugs.
2. The patient’s facial features became coarser and his hands and tongue enlarged.
After a head CT scan, doctors diagnosed the cause of these changes as
(hyperglycemia, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly), a slowly progressive endocrine
condition involving the pituitary gland.
3. Each winter during cold and flu season. Daisy developed (chondromalacia,
bronchitis, cardiomyopathy). Her doctor prescribed antibiotics and respiratory
therapy to help her recover.
4. After (arthroscopy, laparotomy, radiotherapy) on his knee, Alan had swelling and
inflammation near the small incisions.
5. David enjoyed weight lifting, but he recently noticed a bulge in his right groin
region. His doctor, who made the diagnosis of (hiatal hernia, rectocele, inguinal
hernia).
4
