Medical Terminology Basics
Medical terminology can be overwhelming, but breaking it down into root
words, prefixes, and suffixes can make it more manageable. Let's start with
some examples:
Cardiology - this is the study of the heart. The root word here is "cardio,"
which refers to the heart. The suffix "-ology" refers to the study of
something.
Hematology - this is the study of blood. The root word here is "hema,"
which refers to blood. Again, the suffix "-ology" means the study of
something.
Orthopedics - this is the medical specialty concerned with correction of
deformities or the restoration and maintenance of function of movable body
parts. The root word here is "ortho," which means straight or correct. The
suffix "-pedic" comes from the Greek word "paideia," which means
education, training, or the rearing of children, but in medical terminology, it
means foot or relating to the foot. In orthopedics, it refers to the correction
or straightening of body parts.
Now let's move on to suffixes and prefixes:
Suffixes
Suffixes are added to root words to create new words that describe
specific medical conditions or procedures. Here are some common
suffixes:
● -itis - inflammation of
● -oma - tumor or swelling
● -ectomy - excision or removal of
● -algia - pain
Medical terminology can be overwhelming, but breaking it down into root
words, prefixes, and suffixes can make it more manageable. Let's start with
some examples:
Cardiology - this is the study of the heart. The root word here is "cardio,"
which refers to the heart. The suffix "-ology" refers to the study of
something.
Hematology - this is the study of blood. The root word here is "hema,"
which refers to blood. Again, the suffix "-ology" means the study of
something.
Orthopedics - this is the medical specialty concerned with correction of
deformities or the restoration and maintenance of function of movable body
parts. The root word here is "ortho," which means straight or correct. The
suffix "-pedic" comes from the Greek word "paideia," which means
education, training, or the rearing of children, but in medical terminology, it
means foot or relating to the foot. In orthopedics, it refers to the correction
or straightening of body parts.
Now let's move on to suffixes and prefixes:
Suffixes
Suffixes are added to root words to create new words that describe
specific medical conditions or procedures. Here are some common
suffixes:
● -itis - inflammation of
● -oma - tumor or swelling
● -ectomy - excision or removal of
● -algia - pain
