L1: Medical Words, Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root

• MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY is the language used to describe components and processes of the human body, medical procedures, diseases, disorders, and pharmacology. Simply put, it is the vocabulary that medical professionals use to describe the body, what it does, and the treatments they prescribe. 
• The Importance of Medical Terminology in the Healthcare Field

  1. Speaking the Standardized “Language of Medicine”

  2. Improved Patient Safety

  3. Improved Patient Experiences

  4. More Efficient Care
• 1. Speaking the Standardized “Language of Medicine”

  Medical terminology allows all medical professionals to understand each other and communicate effectively. When everyone understands what a condition, medicine, or procedure is, they are able to fulfill their roles accordingly, whether that is delivering medicine or billing for a medicine.
• 2. Improved Patient Safety

  Quality communication among all members of a healthcare team improves patient safety by reducing the number of mistakes. For instance, if a physician knows the patient’s full medical history, including procedures or prior conditions, it helps that physician prescribe a safe, effective treatment for that patient. If someone confuses the terminology, putting the wrong condition or procedure into the chart, this can make a huge difference in the care the patient receives. Treatment may be less effective, or in some cases, dangerous.
• 3. Improved Patient Experiences

  When all members of a team know medical terminology, they can also help the patient learn what those terms mean. Patient education helps patients become a more active part of their care team, leading to improved satisfaction. Knowing medical terminology can also help you avoid making coding or billing mistakes that a patient may have to call to correct—a major patient dissatisfier.
• 4. More Efficient Care

  Healthcare professionals may see dozens of patients every day. To provide more efficient care, physicians or nurses may write quickly and scribble common abbreviations. All members of the care team should be able to understand these abbreviations and terms to provide the best care.
• 1. ROOT WORD

  It is the foundation or subject of each medical word. It establishes the basic meaning of the word and is the part to which modifying prefixes and suffixes are added.
• 2. SUFFIX

  It is a short word part or series of parts added at the end of a root that modifies and gives essential meaning to the root.
• 3. PREFIX

  It is a short word part added before a root to modify its meaning. it is not always present.
• 1. endoabdominal

  endo/abdomin/al

  prefix/root word/suffix

  interior/abdomen/pertaining to

  pertaining to or occurring to interior of the abdomen
• 2. neuroblastoma

  neuro/blast/oma

  prefix/root word/suffix

  nerves/immature cell development/cyst or tumor

  a tumor that forms from immature nerve cells
• singular: -a

  plural: -ae
• singular: -is

  plural: -es
• singular: -ma

  plural: -mata
• singular: -on

  plural: -a
• singular: -um

  plural: -a
• singular: -us*

  plural: -i
• singular: -ax

  plural: -aces
• singular: -ex

  plural: -ices
• singular: -y

  plural: -ies
• BRONCH - airways
• CARCIN/O - cancer
• CARDI/O - heart
• CYTO - cell
• DERMA - skin
• GASTRO - stomach/abdomen
• GYNE/O - female
• HISTIO - tissue
• HEPATI - liver
• MALIGN - bad/harmful
• NEPHRO - kidney
• NEURO - nerves
• ONCO - mass/tumor
• OSTEO - bones/bony tissue
• Ab- : away from
• Ad- : toward
• Acro- : top; extremities
• Acu- : sharp/severe
• Ante- : before; forward
• Anti-, Anter- : against; opposing