Chapter 1

the "subjects" of most terms

word parts that appear at the end of a term. Used to indicate whether the term is anatomic, pathologic, or procedural terms.

word parts that appear at the beginning of a term. Used to further define the absence, location, number, quantity, or state of the term.

those terms that can be broken into their Greek and Latin word parts and given a working definition based on the meaning of those word parts.

• -combining form (word root) (combining vowel)
• suffix
• prefix

words used in medicine whose definitions must be memorized without the benefit of word parts.

progressive loss of transparency of the lens.

respiratory disorder characterized by recurring episodes of paraxysmal dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

a disease or condition that is determined by an evaluation.

a prediction of the probable outcome of a disease or disorder

a condition that results from an injury or disease. Referred to in coding as "late effect".

abrupt, severe onset of a disease

developing slowly and lasting a long time

OBJECTIVE finding of a disease state (fever, BP, rash)

SUBJECTIVE report of a disease (pain, itching)

a group of signs and symptoms that consistently appear together

the cause of a disease

an outward demonstration or perception. (signs and symptoms are manifestations of a disease)

terms that are named after a person or place associated with the term. (alzheimer's disease, achilles tendon)

terms that have been shortened to letters and/or numbers for the sake of convenience.

graphic representations of a term.

• a combination of letters and sometimes numbers
• IM (intramuscular)
• C2 (second cervical vertebra)

abbreviations that are also pronouncable

• CABG
• TURP
• AIDS

joint

stomach

eye

pain

cutting

instrument to view

ear

nose

liver

study of

surgical forming

inflammation

combining vowel is NOT needed to join the parts

combining vowel is needed to join the two word parts

drop one of the vowels

combining vowel is retained between the two, regardless of whether the second combining form begins with a vowel or a consonant.

• small
• tiny

• structure 
• thing

• small
• tiny

• small 
• tiny

• structure
• thing
• membrane

• condition
• process of

usually mean "pertaining to"

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

pertaining to

describe a disease process or a sign or symptom.

pain

herniation

pain

blood condition

condition

inflammation

softening

enlargement

tumor

abnormal condition

disease process

• prolapse
• drooping

bursting forth

• discharge
• flow

rupture

• abnormal condtion of 
• hardening

• abnormal condition of
• narrowing

surgical puncture

binding

cutting out

recording

measuring

viewing

• suspension
• fixation

surgically forming

suturing

viewing

making a new opening

crushing

instrument to record

insturment to measure

instrument to view

instrument to cut

machine to crush

instrument to crush

• no
• not
• without

• no
• not
• without

• forward
• in front of
• before

against

• abnormal 
• difficult
• bad
• painful

within

• above
• upon

• excessive
• above

• below
• deficient

between

within

new

• near
• beside

• near
• beside
• abnormal

through

• surrounding
• around

• many
• much
• excessive
• frequent

• after
• behind

• before
• in front of

• under
• below

• through
• across