Black's Veterinary Dictionary by Most medical terms are derived from Latin or Greek and contain two or more components.
Medical terms are better understood when you divide them into their component parts.
To understand a medical term, break it down into its component parts - root(s), prefix, suffix and combining vowels. The basic definition of a word part remains the same when combined with various components.
Here are some tips on understanding medical terminology -
TIP #1 - Most medical terms contain two or more of these parts:
Root(s) - the word's essential meaning; a term may have two roots
Prefix - added to the beginning of a root word to make it more specific
Suffix - added to the end of the root word for specificity
Linking or combining vowels - placed in between word parts to help with pronunciation
For example,
Myocarditis - myo/card/itis
Myo = muscle (root), card = heart (root) and itis = inflammation (suffix) or inflammation of the heart muscle. There are two roots, muscle and heart.
Percutaneous - per/cutan/eous
Per = through (prefix), cutan = skin (root) and -eous = pertaining to (suffix); meaning something through the skin.
Suprascapular - supra/scapular
Supra = above (prefix), scapula = shoulder blade (root), and -r = relative to (suffix); relative to the area above the shoulder blade.
TIP #2 - The definitions of root words, prefixes and suffixes remain the same when they are combined to produce different terms.
Here are three examples:
A. The root word for skin is derm. Its combining forms are derma-, dermat-, dermot-, ;and dermo- . Look at some medical terms utilizing this root.
Dermatitis - Dermat (root) and -itis (suffix) inflammation; condition of inflamed skin.
Dermatology - Dermat (root) and -ology (suffix) branch of knowledge or science; medical specialty of diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases.
Pyoderma - Pyo (root) combining form of the word for pus and derma; skin infection involving pus formation.
B. Card is the root for heart.
Cardiovascular - means pertaining to the heart and vessels.
Cardiocentesis - surgical puncture of the heart.
Cardiology - as in Example A above, the definition here is the study of the heart and its functions.
C. The root for blood is hem.
Hemorrhage - the suffix -rrhage means bursting forth; hemorrhage is the escape of blood from tissue.
Hemostasis - adding the suffix -stasis (arrest in a process) gives us the process by which bleeding is stopped.
TIP # 3 - Similarly, prefixes and suffixes are defined the same when combined with various roots. They are never used alone, but further define root words.
Here are some common prefixes in medical terminology:
Auto- = self; for example, autoimmune or autogenous
Anti- = against; antisepsis or antibodies
De- = reverse, remove; dehydrate, defibrillate
Dys- = abnormal, difficult; dyspnea, dysuria
Contra- = opposed; for example, contraception, contraindication
Hyper- = above, excessive; hypertensive, hyperglycemia
Suffixes attach to the end of roots and describe certain actions, such as these surgical suffixes -
-ectomy = surgical removal; thyroidectomy
-plasty = surgical repair; angioplast
-stomy = creation of a new opening; colonostomy
or these suffixes for procedures or equipment -
-graph = recording instrument; electrocardiograph
-scope = instrument to examine visually; endoscope
-therapy = course of treatment; chemotherapy
Anesthesiology (an-es-thEs'-E-al-a-jE)-medical specialty dealing with relief of pain and administration of medicine to relax muscles and render patient unconscious during medical procedures.
Angiology (an-jE-'äl-a-jE)-study of blood vessels and lymph vessels
Bacteriology (bak-"tir-E-'äl-a-jE)-scientific study of bacteria
Biology (bI-'äl-a-jE) - science of living organisms and vital processes
Cardiology (kärd-E-'äl-a-jE)-medical specialty dealing with the heart, its anatomy, normal functions and disorders
Cytology (sI-'täl-a-jE)-science of the structure, function, multiplication, pathology and life history of cells
Cytopathology (sI-'to-pa-'thäl-a-jE)-study of changes at the cellular level caused by disease; cellular pathology
Dermatology (der-ma-'täl-a-jE)-medical specialty concerning the characteristics - anatomic, physiologic and pathologic - and functions of skin; also, the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders
Embryology (em-brE-'al-a-jE)-study of development during the embryonic stage, fertilization to birth
Endocrinology (en-d0-kri-`näl-a-jE)-study of anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic characteristics of the endocrine system of glands; diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders
Enzymology (en-zI-'mäl-a-jE)-study of enzymes and enzymatic action
Epidemiology (ep-i-dE-mE-a-'läj-E)-science concerned with incidence and risk of disease & injury in populations for the purpose of control or prevention
Ethology (E-'thäl-a-jE)-scientific study of animal behavior, particularly in their native habitat
Etiology (Et-E-'äl-a-jE )-study or theory of the causes and origins of diseases
Gastroenterology (ga-strO-ent-a-'räl-a-jE)-study of diseases affecting the GI tract including stomach, intestines, gall bladder and bile duct
Gerontology (ger-on-`tal-O-jE)-study of all aspects of the aging process and associated problems
Gynecology (gIn-a-'käl-a-jE)-study of diseases of female reproductive tract
Helminthology (hel-min-'thäl-a-jE)-scientific study of parasitic worms
Hematology (hE-ma-'täl-a-jE)-medical science of blood and blood-forming tissues
Herpetology (her-pE-'täl-a-jE)-branch of zoology specializing in reptiles and amphibians
Histology (his-'täl-a-jE)-branch of anatomy dealing with the minute structure, composition and function of tissues
Immunology (im-mU-'näl-a-jE)-branch of medical science studying phenomena of the body's immune system
Microbiology (mI-krO-bI-'äl-a-jE)-science of microscopic forms of life including algae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses
Morphology (mor-'fäl-a-jE)-science of the forms and structures of organisms; physical shape and size of a specimen, plant or animal
Nephrology (ni-'fräl-a-jE)-study of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the kidney
Neurology (nU-'ral-a-jE) branch of medical science dealing with the nervous system, including the brain & its disorders
Odontology (O-dän-'täl-a-jE)-science of the teeth and surrounding structures of the oral cavity
Oncology (än-'käl-a-jE)-medical science pertaining to tumors and malignancies
Ophthalmology (op-thal-'mäl-a-jE)-medical science dealing with anatomy, physiology and pathology of the eye
Osteology (äs-tE-'äl-a-jE)-branch of medicine dealing with development and diseases of bone tissue
Otolaryngology (ah-tO-lar-an-`ga-lä-jE)-study of the medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck, including ears, nose and throat
Otology (ah-`tol-a-jE)-branch of medical science dealing with the treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear
Parasitology (par-a-sa-'täl-a-jE)-scientific study of parasites
Pathology (pa-`thal-a-jE)-study of the characteristics, causes and effects of disease, especially the structural and functional changes produced by it
Pharmacology (fär-ma-'kal-a-jE)-science of drugs and their action on the body
Physiology (fiz-E-'äl-a-jE)-field of science concerning the functions and characteristics of humans and other living organisms
Physiopathology (fiz-E-O-pa-'thäl-a-jE)-study of functions in disease, or as modified by disease
Radiology (rA-dE-`al-a-jE)-medical science dealing with radiant energy and radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
Rheumatology (rü-ma-'täl-a-jE)-study of disorders characterized by inflammation, degeneration or metabolic derangement of connective tissue and related structures of the body.
Theriogenology (thir-E-O-ja-'näl-a-jE)-branch of veterinary medicine dealing with reproduction in animals
Toxicology (toks-a-'käl-a-jE)-scientific study of poisons, their actions, detection and treatment of conditions produced by them
Urology (ur-äl-a-jE)-medical specialty concerning with the anatomy, physiology, disorders and care of the urinary tract in both men and women, and of the male genital organs
Virology (vI-'räl-a-jE)-branch of microbiology concerned with viruses and viral diseases
Zoology (zO-'äl-a-jE)-the biology of animals, other than humans
Note: pronunciations from MEDLINEplus Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean. Site viewed on 4/17/2024.
| Aging, process and associated problems | Gerontology |
| Animals | |
| biology of | Zoology |
| reproduction in | Theriogenology |
| behavior of | Ethology |
| Inflammatory diseases, arthritis & connective tissue disorders | Rheumatology |
| Bacteria | Bacteriology |
| Bile duct, see Gastrointestinal tract | |
| Blood | |
| and blood-forming tissues | Hematology |
| vessels and lymph vessels | Angiology |
| Bones, development & diseases of | Osteology |
| Cells - changes in, caused by disease | Cytopathology |
| structure, function, multiplication, pathology and life history | Cytology |
| Disease | |
| incidence and risk | Epidemiology |
| causes and origins | Etiology |
| essential nature & effects | Pathology |
| Drugs, action on the body | Pharmacology |
| Ears | Otology |
| Embryos, development of from fertilization to birth | Embryology |
| Endocrine system - glands & hormones | Endocrinology |
| Enzymes and their action | Enzymology |
| Eyes | Ophthalmology |
| Gall bladder, see Gastrointestinal tract | |
| Gastrointestinal tract, stomach, intestines, gall bladder, bile duct | Gastroenterology |
| Genital organs, male | Urology |
| Head & neck region including ears, nose and throat | Otolaryngology |
| Heart - anatomy, normal functions & disorders | Cardiology |
| Hormones, see Endocrine system | |
| Immune system | Immunology |
| Intestines, see Gastrointestinal tract | |
| Kidneys, study of | Nephrology |
| Nervous system, including the brain | Neurology |
| Organisms, living | |
| forms & structures | Morphology |
| functions & characteristics | Physiology |
| vital processes | Biology |
| microscopic | Microbiology |
| Pain, relief of during illness or medical procedures | Anesthesiology |
| Parasites | Parasitology |
| parasitic worms | Helminthology |
| Poisons | Toxicology |
| Radiant energy, see Radioactive substances | |
| Radioactive substances in diagnosis & treatment of disease | Radiology |
| Reproductive system, female | Gynecology |
| Skin | |
| characteristics - anatomic, physiologic and pathologic; | |
| diagnosis & treatment of disorders | Dermatology |
| Stomach, see Gastrointestinal tract | |
| Teeth, including surrounding tissues of the oral cavity | Odontology |
| Tissues, structure, composition, function | Histology |
| Tumors, including malignancies | Oncology |
| Urinary tract, male & female | Urology |
| Viruses and viral diseases | Virology |
