Suffix
Word ending
Root
Beginning or middle of word - gives the meaning of the word
Vowel
Always connects the word root to the suffix and root words to root words. Only exception is if the suffix starts with a vowel.
Deciphering the medical terms meaning.
Start by deciphering the meaning of parts of the word, Then read them beginning with the suffix meaning, then read from the beginning of the roots from left to right.
Combining form
Ex: Electrocardiogram
The root word plus its combining vowel.
Ex: Electro/o Cardi/o
Meaning:
Gram- Record of , Electro- the electricity of , cardio- the heart.
-logy
study of
-ic
pertaining to
-ac
pertaining to
-itis
inflammation
prefix
is word put before the root words, can change the meaning of the terms.
sub-
below
trans-
across
retro-
behind
Remember to-
Read:
Drop:
Keep:
Read: Meaning of medical words from the suffix to the beginning of the words and then across.
Drop: the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel
Keep: the combining vowel between word roots, even if the second root begins with a vowel.
-oma
means tumor or mass
aural discharge
Discharge from the ear
otitis
inflammation of the ear
subcutaneous
relating to or located below the epidermis
epidermis
Outer layer of skin (can be divided into four strata)
dermatology
The study of the skin
myringotomy
surgical incision into the eardrum (to relieve pressure or release pus from the middle ear)
tympanoplasty
surgical repair of the eardrum
ocular
of or relating to the eye (or sense of sight)
ophthalmoscope
medical instrument for examining the retina of the eye
aphakia
absence of the natural lens of the eye;usually resulting from the removal of cataracts
pilosebaceous
Pertaining to hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
retinopathy
disease of the retina
trichophagia
compulsive eating of hair
subungual
pertaining to under the nail
onycholysis
Nail disease; nail conditions that show signs of infection or inflammation
alopecia
absence of hair from areas where it normally grows
allergy test
patch test; scratch test
bacterial and fungal tests
samples from skin lesions are examined to detect presence of microorganisms
tinnitus
abnormal noise such as ringing or buzzing in the ears
slit-lamp microscopy
microscopic examination of the anterior eye structures; such as the cornea, under intense light
skin biopsy
skin lesions are removed and sent to a pathology lab for microscopic examination
otoscopy
visual examination of the ear to the eardrum
ophthalmoscopy
visual examination of the interior of the eye
nevus
pigmental lesion on the skin; mole
melanoma
malignant tumor of pigmented cells in the skin
glaucoma
increase in pressure within the chamber at the front of the eye
fluorescein angiography
a dye is injected intravenously and movement of blood through blood vessels is the back of the eye is observed with an ophthalmoscope.
conjunctivitis
inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelid
cataract
clouding of the lens of the eye causing impairment of vision
tuning fork tests
a vibration source is placed in front of the opening of the ear to test air conduction of sound waves
hair
pil/o
nail
ungu/o
eye
ophthalm/o
eardrum
myring/o; aur/o
eye
retin/o; posterior, sensitive cell layer of the eye
eye
phak/o; lens of the eye
skin
derm/o, dermat/o, cutane/o