L1: Medical Terms and Abbreviations

• Word Root – the word part that is the core of the word

  Suffix – a word part attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning

  Prefix – a word part attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning

  Combining Vowel – a word part, usually an “O”
• ○ “dent” means tooth

  ○ “dermat” means skin

  ○ “cardi” means heart

  ○ “gastr” means stomach

  ○ “pancreat” means pancreas
• SUFFIXES DENOTING INCISIONS

  
  

  ○ -centesis = puncture (e.g. arthrocentesis = joint aspiration or using a needle to take fluid out of a joint)

  ○ -ectomy = excision, removal (e.g. appendectomy = surgery to remove the appendix)

  ○ -stomy = forming an opening (mouth) (e.g. colostomy = creates an opening for the colon, large intestine, through the abdomen)

  ○ -tome = instrument to cut (e.g. osteotome = instrument used for cutting or preparing the bone)

  ○ -tomy = incision, cut into (e.g. phlebotomy = uses a needle to take blood from a vein usually in your arm)
• SUFFIXES DENOTING RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERIES

  
  

  ○ -desis = binding, fixation (of a bone, joint) (e.g. arthrodesis = uniting 2 bones at a joint)

  ○ -pexy = suspension, fixation (of an organ) (e.g. mastopexy = breast lift)

  ○ -rrhaphy = suture (e.g. myorrhaphy = suture of a muscle)

  ○ -plasty = surgical repair (e.g. rhinoplasty = reshape the nose)
• SUFFIXES DENOTING REFRACTURURING, LOOSENING, OR CRUSHING

  ○ -clasis = break, fracture (e.g. osteoclasis = destruction of bone tissue)

  ○ -lysis = separation, destruction, loosening (e.g. enterolysis = removal of adhesions to the bowel)

  ○ -tripsy = crushing (e.g. lithotripsy = procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones in the kidney and parts of the ureter)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -algia = pain (e.g. cephalalgia = headache)

  ○ -dynia = pain (e.g. gastrodynia = swelling in the stomach)

  ○ -cele = hernia, swelling (e.g. hepatocele = swelling in the liver)

  ○ -ectasis = dilation, expansion (e.g. bronchiectasis = airways are damaged and widen)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -emesis = vomiting (e.g. hyperemesis = excessive vomiting during preganancy)

  ○ -emia = blood condition (e.g. leukemia = cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues)

  ○ -gen or -genesis = forming, producing, origin (e.g. carcinogen = a substance capable of causing cancer or osteogenesis = production of bone)

  ○ -gram = record, a writing (e.g. cardiogram = of the heart)

  ○ -graph = instrument (e.g. cardiograph = of the heart)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -iasis = abnormal condition (e.g. cholelithiasis = hardened deposits of digestive fluid that forms in the gallblader)

  ○ -itis = inflammation (e.g. gastritis = when the stomach lining is inflamed)

  ○ -lith = stone, calculus (e.g. cholelith = hardened deposits of digestive fluid that forms in the gallblader)

  ○ -logist = specialist in the study of (e.g. dermatologist = doctor of the skin)

  ○ -logy = study of (e.g. psychology = study of the mind)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -malacia = softening (e.g. osteomalacia = softening of bones)

  ○ -megaly = enlargement (e.g. hepatomegaly = enlargement of the liver)

  ○ -meter = instrument for recording (e.g. thermometer = measure temperature)

  ○ -metry = act of measuring (e.g. pelvimetry = measurement of the female pelvis)

  ○ -oid = resembling (e.g. lipoid = oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -oma = tumor (e.g. adenoma = benign tumor which starts in the epithelial tissue)

  ○ -osis = abnormal condition, increase (e.g. dermatosis = skin defect or lesion on the skin)

  ○ -para = to bear (also a prefix) (e.g. multipara = had 2 or more pregnancies resulting in potentially viable offspringhemiparesis)

  ○ -paresis = partial paralysis (e.g. hemaparesis = weakness to move on one side of the body)

  ○ -pathy = disease (e.g. neuropathy = nerve damage)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -penia = decrease, deficiency (e.g. leukopenia = the body doesn't have enough disease-fighting leukocytes in the blood)

  ○ -phagia = eating, swallowing (e.g. dysphagia = swallowing difficulties)

  ○ -phasia = speech (e.g. aphasia = language disorder caused by damage in a specific area in the brain)

  ○ -philia = attraction to (e.g. hemophilia = the blood doesn't clot the way they normally do)

  ○ -phobia = fear (e.g. claustrophobia = fear of closed spaces)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -rrhea = discharge, flow (e.g. diarrhea = loose watery stools 3 or more times a day)

  ○ -rrhexis = rupture (e.g. angiorrhexis = rupture of a vessel)

  ○ -scope = instrument to view (e.g. gastroscope = an endoscope for inspecting the interior of a stomach)

  ○ -scopy = visual examination (e.g. gastroscopy = to view the stomach and intestines)

  ○ -spasm = involuntary contraction (e.g. blepharospasm = blinking or other eyelid movements)
• DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES

  ○ -stasis = standing still (e.g. hemostasis = the stopping of a flow of blood)

  ○ -stenosis = narrowing, structure (e.g. arteriostenosis = constriction of an artery)

  ○ -toxic = poison (e.g. thyrotoxic = high levels of circulating thyroid hormones)

  ○ -trophy = development, nourishment (e.g. atrophy = decrease of a body party, cell, organ)
• Pronunciation

  • Hints:

  – ch sounds like k.

  •Chyme, Cholecystectomy, Chronic

  – ps sounds like s.

  •Psychiatric, Psychology, Psoriasis

  – pn sounds like n.

  •Pneumonia, Pneumatic

  – c sounds like a soft s when it comes before e, i, and y.

  •Cycle, Cytoplasm, Centrifuge
• Pronunciation

  – g sounds like j when it comes before e, i, and y.

  •Giant, Gestation, Generic, Gyration

  – i sounds like “eye” when added to the end of a word to form a plural.

  •Glomeruli, Villi, Alveoli, Bacilli
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ A - Assistance

  ○ AA - Atlantoaxial

  ○ AAO X3 - Alert, Awake, and Oriented to date, person, place

  ○ ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder

  ○ ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

  ○ ADL - Activities of Daily Living

  ○ APGAR - Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration

  ○ AV - Arteriovenous; Atrioventricular; Aortic Valve
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ Bilat - Bilateral

  ○ Bl - Blood; Bleeding

  ○ BMI - Body Mass Index

  ○ BSA - Body Surface Area

  ○ bw - Body weight; Birth weight

  ○ bid - Twice daily
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ Cath - Catheter

  ○ CDC - Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  ○ CHD - Congenital Heart Disease

  ○ CI - Clinical Instructor

  ○ CICU - Coronary Intensive Care Unit; Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

  ○ CLD - Chronic Liver Disease; Chronic Lung Disease

  ○ CN - Cranial Nerve

  ○ CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident

  ○ c/o - Complains of
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ DF - Dorsiflexion

  ○ DIP - Distal Interphalangeal (joint)

  ○ DO - Disorder

  ○ DOA - Dead on Arrival; Date of Admission

  ○ DPT - Diphteria-Pertusis-Tetanus vaccine; Doctor of Physical Therapy

  ○ Dx - Diagnosis

  ○ D/C - Discharge
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ EBP - Evidence Based on Practice

  ○ EIA - Exercise Induced Asthma

  ○ EIP - Early Intervention Program

  ○ EOB - Edge of Bed

  ○ EX - Exercise

  ○ EXT - Extension; Extensive
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ F - Fair

  ○ f/u - Follow-up

  ○ FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

  ○ FBG - Fasting Blood Glucose

  ○ Func - Functional

  ○ G - Good

  ○ GCS - Glasgow Coma Scale

  ○ Hams, hs - Hamstring

  ○ HDL - High Density Lipoprotein

  ○ HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy

  ○ HPI - History of Present Illness

  ○ HP - Hot Pack
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ I - Independent

  ○ I&D - Incision and drainage

  ○ ICA - Internal Carotid Artery

  ○ ICP - Intracranial Pressure

  ○ Ig - Immunoglobulin

  ○ Instr - Instruction

  ○ IR - Internal Rotation

  ○ IVC - Inferior Vena Cava

  ○ jt - Joint
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ L - Left; Lower

  ○ LBW - Low birth weight

  ○ LD - Learning disability

  ○ LDL - Low density lipoprotein

  ○ LLE - Left lower extremity

  ○ LLL - Left lower lobe

  ○ LLQ - Left lower quadrant

  ○ LTD - limited

  ○ LTG - Long Term goal

  ○ LUE - Left upper extremity

  ○ LUL - Left upper lobe

  ○ LUQ - Left upper quadrant
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ M - Male

  ○ MCA - Middle Cerebral Artery

  ○ MCP - Metacarpophalangeal Joint

  ○ mets - Metastasis

  ○ MI - Myocardial infarction

  ○ MICU - Medical Intensive Care Unit

  ○ mmHg - millimeters of mercury

  ○ MMR - Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine

  ○ mob. - Mobilization, Mobility

  ○ MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  ○ MTP - Metatarsophalangeal joint

  ○ MV - Mitral Valve
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ N - Normal; Nausea

  ○ N & V - Nausea and Vomiting

  ○ N/A - Not Applicable

  ○ neb - Nebulizer

  ○ NGT - Nasogastric tube

  ○ NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Neurological Intensive Care Unit

  ○ NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

  ○ Obj - Objective

  ○ OPV - Oral Polio Vaccine

  ○ OTC - Over-the-counter
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ P - poor; plan

  ○ Path - Pathology

  ○ pc - After meals

  ○ per - by/through

  ○ per os, p.o. - by mouth

  ○ PERRLA - pupils equal round, reactive to light and accommodations

  ○ PF - plantarflexion

  ○ PICU - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

  ○ PIP - Proximal interphalangeal joint

  ○ PMS - Premenstrual syndrome
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ post-op - after surgery/operation

  ○ pre-op - before surgery/operation

  ○ POC - plan of care

  ○ pm - whenever necessary

  ○ PSIS - posterior superior iliac spine

  ○ PTA - prior to admission

  ○ q - every

  ○ qh - every hour

  ○ qid - four times a day

  ○ qn - every night

  ○ quad - quadriplegic
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ R - right

  ○ R/O - rule out

  ○ REM - rapid eye movement

  ○ RLE - right lower extremity

  ○ RLL - right lower lobe

  ○ RLQ - right lower quadrant

  ○ RML - right middle lobe

  ○ ROM - range of motion

  ○ RV - right ventricle

  ○ Rx - drug; treatment; therapy; prescription
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ S&S - signs and symptoms

  ○ S/P - status post

  ○ SA - sinoatrial

  ○ SBA - stand-by assistance

  ○ SCM - sternocleidomastoid

  ○ sed - sedimentation

  ○ SGA - small for gestational age

  ○ SICU - Surgical Intensive Care Unit
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  SNF - Skilled Nursing Facility

  ○ SOB - shortness of breath

  ○ STD - sexually transmitted disease

  ○ STG - short term goal

  ○ SVC - superior vena cava

  ○ Sx - symptoms

  ○ Sz - seizure
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ T - trace

  ○ TBA - to be announced

  ○ TBSA - total-body surface area

  ○ Trng - training

  ○ Tx - treatment; traction; therapy; transplant

  ○ U - upper

  ○ US - ultrasound

  ○ UQ - upper quadrant

  ○ vent - ventilator
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ W - walker

  ○ WB - weight bearing

  ○ WBAT - weight bearing as tolerated

  ○ WFL - with functional limit

  ○ W/O - without

  ○ w/c - wheelchair

  ○ y/o - years old

  ○ yd. - yard

  ○ yr. - year

  ○ // - parallel; parallel bars
• SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS

  ○ p - after

  ○ a - before

  ○ s - without

  ○ c - with