APPENDIX
APPENDIX
A Medical Terminology
A commonly used suffix is -itis, which means “inflamm
National EMS Education Standard When this suffix is paired with the prefix arthro-, m
Competencies joint, the resulting word is arthritis, an inflamma
the joints. Sometimes it is necessary to change the
Medical Terminology ter or letters of the root word or prefix when a s
Uses foundational anatomical and medical terms and abbreviations in added to make pronunciation easier. lists c
written and oral communication with colleagues and other health care suffixes.
professionals.
Root Words
Medical Terminology 6
6 The main part or stem of a word is called a root word
It is critical that you have a strong working knowledge of medical word conveys the essential meaning of the word and fre
terminology. The language of medicine is primarily derived from indicates a body part. With a combining form, the ro
Greek and Latin. Medical terminology is used in international and a combining vowel such as i, e, o, or a may be co
language, and it is also necessary for communicating with other with another root word, a prefix, or a suffix to de
medical personnel. The wider your vocabulary base, the more particular structure or condition.
competent you seem to the rest of the medical community and A frequently used term in EMS is CPR, which sta
the better the patient care you will be able to provide. Under- cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When we break it down
standing terminology involves breaking words down into their is a root word meaning “heart,” and pulmonary is a ro
separate components of prefix, suffix, and root word and having meaning “lungs.” By performing CPR we introduce air
a good working knowledge of those parts. lungs and circulate blood by compressing the heart to
tate the patient. Some root words may also be used as pre
suffixes; those already appear in the earlier tables.
Prefixes common root words.
6
A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and generally
describes location and intensity. Prefixes are frequently found in Abbreviations
general language (ie, autopilot, submarine, tricycle), as well as in 6
medical and scientific terminology. When a medical word (ven- Abbreviations take the place of words to shorten notes
tilation) contains a prefix (hyper), the meaning of the word is umentation. When you are using abbreviations in pati
altered (hyperventilation). Not all medical terms have prefixes. reports, remember to use only standard, accepted abbre
By learning to recognize a few of the more commonly used to avoid confusion and errors. lists common
medical prefixes, you can figure out the meanings of terms that abbreviations. This list is intended to help you deciphe
may not be immediately familiar to you. lists common ments written by other health care professionals. Befo
prefixes. any abbreviations in your own reports, you should be
with accepted use of abbreviations in your local jurisdi
service area.
Suffixes
6
Suffixes are placed at the end of words to change the original
meaning. In medical terminology, a suffix usually indi-
cates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.
79306_APPA_Printer.indd 1404
, Appendix A Medical Terminology
Table A-1 Common Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning
a- without, lack of cyst(o)- pertaining to the bladder or inter- between
any fluid-containing sac
ab- away from cyt(o)- pertaining to a cell intra- within
abdomi(n)- abdomen de- down from iso- equal
acr(o)- pertaining to an extremity dermat(o)- pertaining to the skin latero- side
ad- to, toward di- twice, double leuk(o)- pertaining to anythin
to leukocytes (white b
aden(o)- pertaining to a gland dia- through, completely lith(o)- pertaining to a stone
an- without, lack of dys- difficult, painful, abnormal macro- large
ana- up, back, again ect(o)- out from mal- bad or abnormal
angio- vessel electro- pertaining to electricity medi- middle
ante- before, forward end(o)- within mega- large
anti- against, opposed to enter(o)- pertaining to the intestines melan- black
arteri(o)- artery epi- upon, on mening(o)- pertaining to a memb
particularly the meni
arthro- pertaining to a joint erythr(o)- pertaining to anything red micro- small
or to erythrocytes (red
blood cells)
auto- self eu- easy, good, normal mono- one
bi- two ex(o)- outside myel(o)- pertaining to the spin
bone marrow, or mye
bi(o)- pertaining to life extra- outside, in addition my(o)- pertaining to muscle
blast(o)- germ or cell gastr(o)- pertaining to the stomach nas(o)- pertaining to the nos
blephar(o)- pertaining to an eyelid glyc(o)- sugar ne(o)- new
brady- slow gynec(o)- pertaining to females or the nephr(o)- pertaining to the kidn
female reproductive organs
calc- stone; also heel hemat(o)- pertaining to blood neur(o)- pertaining to a nerve
nervous system
cardi(o)- pertaining to the heart hemi- half noct- night
cephal(o)- pertaining to the head hem(o)- pertaining to blood olig(o)- little, deficient
cerebr(o)- pertaining to the cerebrum, hepat(o)- pertaining to the liver oophor(o)- pertaining to the ova
a part of the brain
cervic(o)- pertaining to the neck or heter- other, different ophthalm(o)- pertaining to the eye
the uterine cervix
chole- pertaining to bile hom- same or like orchid(o)- pertaining to the test
chondr(o)- pertaining to cartilage hydr(o)- water orchi(o)- pertaining to the test
circum- around, about hyper- over, excessive oro- pertaining to the mou
contra- against, opposite hypo- under, deficient ortho- straight or normal
cost(o)- pertaining to a rib hyster(o)- pertaining to the uterus oste(o)- pertaining to bone
cyan(o)- blue infra- below ot(o)- pertaining to the ear
79306_APPA_Printer.indd 1405
APPENDIX
A Medical Terminology
A commonly used suffix is -itis, which means “inflamm
National EMS Education Standard When this suffix is paired with the prefix arthro-, m
Competencies joint, the resulting word is arthritis, an inflamma
the joints. Sometimes it is necessary to change the
Medical Terminology ter or letters of the root word or prefix when a s
Uses foundational anatomical and medical terms and abbreviations in added to make pronunciation easier. lists c
written and oral communication with colleagues and other health care suffixes.
professionals.
Root Words
Medical Terminology 6
6 The main part or stem of a word is called a root word
It is critical that you have a strong working knowledge of medical word conveys the essential meaning of the word and fre
terminology. The language of medicine is primarily derived from indicates a body part. With a combining form, the ro
Greek and Latin. Medical terminology is used in international and a combining vowel such as i, e, o, or a may be co
language, and it is also necessary for communicating with other with another root word, a prefix, or a suffix to de
medical personnel. The wider your vocabulary base, the more particular structure or condition.
competent you seem to the rest of the medical community and A frequently used term in EMS is CPR, which sta
the better the patient care you will be able to provide. Under- cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When we break it down
standing terminology involves breaking words down into their is a root word meaning “heart,” and pulmonary is a ro
separate components of prefix, suffix, and root word and having meaning “lungs.” By performing CPR we introduce air
a good working knowledge of those parts. lungs and circulate blood by compressing the heart to
tate the patient. Some root words may also be used as pre
suffixes; those already appear in the earlier tables.
Prefixes common root words.
6
A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and generally
describes location and intensity. Prefixes are frequently found in Abbreviations
general language (ie, autopilot, submarine, tricycle), as well as in 6
medical and scientific terminology. When a medical word (ven- Abbreviations take the place of words to shorten notes
tilation) contains a prefix (hyper), the meaning of the word is umentation. When you are using abbreviations in pati
altered (hyperventilation). Not all medical terms have prefixes. reports, remember to use only standard, accepted abbre
By learning to recognize a few of the more commonly used to avoid confusion and errors. lists common
medical prefixes, you can figure out the meanings of terms that abbreviations. This list is intended to help you deciphe
may not be immediately familiar to you. lists common ments written by other health care professionals. Befo
prefixes. any abbreviations in your own reports, you should be
with accepted use of abbreviations in your local jurisdi
service area.
Suffixes
6
Suffixes are placed at the end of words to change the original
meaning. In medical terminology, a suffix usually indi-
cates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.
79306_APPA_Printer.indd 1404
, Appendix A Medical Terminology
Table A-1 Common Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning
a- without, lack of cyst(o)- pertaining to the bladder or inter- between
any fluid-containing sac
ab- away from cyt(o)- pertaining to a cell intra- within
abdomi(n)- abdomen de- down from iso- equal
acr(o)- pertaining to an extremity dermat(o)- pertaining to the skin latero- side
ad- to, toward di- twice, double leuk(o)- pertaining to anythin
to leukocytes (white b
aden(o)- pertaining to a gland dia- through, completely lith(o)- pertaining to a stone
an- without, lack of dys- difficult, painful, abnormal macro- large
ana- up, back, again ect(o)- out from mal- bad or abnormal
angio- vessel electro- pertaining to electricity medi- middle
ante- before, forward end(o)- within mega- large
anti- against, opposed to enter(o)- pertaining to the intestines melan- black
arteri(o)- artery epi- upon, on mening(o)- pertaining to a memb
particularly the meni
arthro- pertaining to a joint erythr(o)- pertaining to anything red micro- small
or to erythrocytes (red
blood cells)
auto- self eu- easy, good, normal mono- one
bi- two ex(o)- outside myel(o)- pertaining to the spin
bone marrow, or mye
bi(o)- pertaining to life extra- outside, in addition my(o)- pertaining to muscle
blast(o)- germ or cell gastr(o)- pertaining to the stomach nas(o)- pertaining to the nos
blephar(o)- pertaining to an eyelid glyc(o)- sugar ne(o)- new
brady- slow gynec(o)- pertaining to females or the nephr(o)- pertaining to the kidn
female reproductive organs
calc- stone; also heel hemat(o)- pertaining to blood neur(o)- pertaining to a nerve
nervous system
cardi(o)- pertaining to the heart hemi- half noct- night
cephal(o)- pertaining to the head hem(o)- pertaining to blood olig(o)- little, deficient
cerebr(o)- pertaining to the cerebrum, hepat(o)- pertaining to the liver oophor(o)- pertaining to the ova
a part of the brain
cervic(o)- pertaining to the neck or heter- other, different ophthalm(o)- pertaining to the eye
the uterine cervix
chole- pertaining to bile hom- same or like orchid(o)- pertaining to the test
chondr(o)- pertaining to cartilage hydr(o)- water orchi(o)- pertaining to the test
circum- around, about hyper- over, excessive oro- pertaining to the mou
contra- against, opposite hypo- under, deficient ortho- straight or normal
cost(o)- pertaining to a rib hyster(o)- pertaining to the uterus oste(o)- pertaining to bone
cyan(o)- blue infra- below ot(o)- pertaining to the ear
79306_APPA_Printer.indd 1405
