Medical Terminology Study Tips

Derived from Greek and Latin, medical terminology is predominately used in the health care arena. The vocabulary is science-based and follows a systematic methodology; each term comprises two or more components and can be broken down into parts. Becoming familiar with how the terms are structured and the most commonly used components are the best ways to decipher the terms.

Examining the Basic Components

• The three basic components of medical terms are the root word, prefix and suffix. The root word is generally located in the center of the term and indicates the term's primary meaning. The prefix normally appears before the root word and represents a particular part or aspect of the term’s definition. The suffix is located after the root word and contributes additional information regarding the term as a whole. Within medical terminology, the vowels “i” and “o” are referred to as linking or combining vowels. These vowels are situated after the word root to assist with pronunciation and link a root to another root or a root to a suffix. For example if we add an “o” after the root word "cardi" and attach "vascular" as the suffix, we get the term "cardiovascular." Review a list of medical terms and break them down by identifying each of their components.

Formulating Medical Terms

• Examine the method by which different components join together to create the terms and how the definition of a term changes according to the components being used and their location. Using flash cards write down a component of a medical term on one side and its definition on the other. For example, use the following root words: acou (hear), acr (extremities), aden (gland), angi (vessel), aort (aorta), brachi (arm), bi (life), cardi (heart), cutan (skin), cephal (head), cyt (cell), derm (skin), dextr (right), enter (intestines), esthesi (sensation), gastr (stomach), hepat (liver), hist (tissue), hem (blood), later (side), myo (muscle), nas (nose), nephr (kidney), neuro (nerve), ost (bone), patho (disease), pseudo (false/fake), rhino (nose), therm (heat), thromb (clot), trich (hair) and viscer (internal organs).

  Prefixes include: anti (against), brady (slow), con (together), contra (against), dia (thorough/complete), dys (difficult/labored/painful), en (within), eso (inward), hemi (half), hyper (above/excessive), hypo (below/deficient), inter (between), mal (bad), micro (small), myo (muscle), per (through), poly (many), post (after), pro (before), semi (half) and tachy (fast; rapid).

  Your suffix cards can include: ac (pertaining to), ectomy (excision or surgical removal), emia (blood condition), eous (pertaining to), ism (state of), itis (inflammation), genesis (origin; cause), lepsy (seizure), megaly (enlargement), odynia (pain), ology (study of), opsy (to view), otomy (cut into or incision), pathy (disease), pepsia (digestion), plasty (plastic or surgical repair), plegia (paralysis), sepsis (infection), and stalsis (contraction).

  In addition to helping you remember the terms and their meanings, you can use the cards to construct medical terms. Rotate the root words, prefixes and suffixes to form different terms and see if you’re able to define them. If you come across a term you don’t know the meaning of, break apart the terms; chances are, you’ll recognize one or more of the components and be able to figure out the term from there.

Applying Medical Terms

• Medical terms are used to name: the body’s parts and structures, conditions, diagnoses, instruments, procedures and protocols. Make a list of assorted diseases, conditions, procedures and protocols and see if you can specify the part, organ or structure that’s being identified. Start by reviewing the root word, and go from there.

  Since visual aids are very helpful when studying medical terminology, draw or print a diagram of the human body (make sure it’s not labeled) and tape it to the wall. Transfer your list of diseases, conditions, procedures and protocols onto labels or sticky paper and place the labels onto the part of the body they pertain to. For additional practice, examine medical documents (patient records, consultations, reports) to see the various contexts in which the terminology appears. There’s also a range of online sites devoted to medical terminology that provide free study materials, activities and assessments.