Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology

OT Dude Academy’s Free NBCOT® Exam Prep Course Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology
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1 Medical Terminology Introduction
2 Prefixes and Suffixes
3 Systemic
4 Head
5 Digestive
6 Bones & Muscles

Source1 

Medical Terminology Introduction

  • Break up medical words into its (1) prefix, (2) middle root, and (3) suffix.
  • Example: transesophageal
    • prefix: trans = across
    • root: esophagi = esophagus
    • suffix: eal = pertaining to
  • Not all medical words have a beginning or ending.

Prefixes and Suffixes

  • macro- = large
  • megalo-/-megaly = large
  • micro- = small
  • hyper- = above normal
  • hypo- = below normal
  • tachy- = fast
  • brady- = slow
  • peri- = around
  • trans- = across
  • endo- = within or inside
  • inter- = between
  • echo- = using ultrasonic waves
  • electro- = using electricity
  • -ectomy = removal of
  • -gram = a picture
  • -graph/-graphy = process of making a picture
  • -otomy = making a cut in
  • -scopy = use of instrument for viewing
  • -stomy = create an opening
  • dys- = not working correctly
  • mal- = bad
  • -emia = a blood condition
  • -itis = inflammation
  • -osis = a condition or disease
  • -pathy = disease
  • -ology = study of a part of the body
  • -ologist = a person working with a specific part of the body or disease
  • -iatry = a medical treatment
  • -iatrist = a person providing special treatment

Systemic

  • angi(o) – blood vessels
  • aort – aorta
  • arteri(o) – arteries
  • cardi(o) – heart
  • derm – skin
  • hem(o)/sangu – blood
  • myo – muscle
  • neur – nerves
  • oste – bone
  • vas/vasc – veins and arteries
  • ven(o)/phleb(o) – veins

Head

  • crani – skull
  • enceph – brain
  • lingu – tongue
  • odont/dento – tooth
  • ophthalm/oculo – eye
  • oto  – ear
  • rhino – nose
  • tympan/myringo – eardrum

Digestive

  • cholecyst – gallbladder
  • colo – large intestine
  • esoph/esopha – esophagus
  • gastr/gastro – stomach
  • hepat/hepato – liver
  • ileo – small intestine

Bones & Muscles

  • brachi/brachio – arm
  • carp/carpo – wrist
  • cost/costo – rib
  • dorsa – back
  • myo – muscles
  • oste/osteo – bones
  • pod/podo/ped/pedo – foot
  • scapula – shoulder
  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Understanding Medical Words Tutorial. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/medwords/Tutorial_Understanding_Medical_Words.pdf[↩]
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