Greek and Latin, Eponyms, Acronyms, and Modern Language
Acronyms
Terms formed from the first letters of the words in a phrase that can be spoken as a whole word and usually contains a vowel
ex: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)
Modern Language
Terms derived from the English language
ex: nuclear medicine scanner
Greek and Latin
Terms built from Greek and Latin word parts
ex: arthritis
Eponyms
Terms devived from the name of a person, often a physician or scientist who was the first to identify a condition or technique.
ex: Alzheimer disease
Which of the following is components of Greek and Latin word parts?
C) hepatits
hepat/itis is the inflammation of the liver
Which of the following isn't an eponym?
B) MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
MRSA is an acronym
What are the two categories of medical terms?
terms built from word parts
terms not built from word parts that must be memorized
Medical terms _____ _____ _____ _____ can be translated literally to find their meaning, whereas medical terms _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ cannot be easily translated literally to find their meaning.
built from word parts,
not built from word parts
What are the 4 word parts?
Word root, prefix, suffix, and combining form
Word Root
the core of the word
each medical term contains 1 or more word roots
ex: in arthr/itis, arthr is the word root
Suffix
a word part attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning
most medical terms have a suffix
ex: in hepat/itis, itis is the suffix
Prefix
a word part attached at the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning
many medical terms do not have a prefix
ex: in intra/ven/ous, intra is the prefix
Combining vowel
a word part used to ease pronunciation
usually an o
Placed to connect two word roots or a word root and a suffix. Not placed to connect a prefix and a word root.
ex: oste/o/arthr/itis
When connecting a word root and a suffix, a combining vowel is _____ if the suffix does not begin with a vowel.
used
When connecting a word root and a suffix, a combining vowel is usually not used if the suffix begins with a _____.
vowel
When connecting two _____ _____, a combining vowel is usually used, even if vowels are present at the junction.
word roots
When connecting a prefix and a word root, a comining vowel is _____ used.
not
Combining form
a word root with the combining vowel attached, separated by a slash
ex: oste/o
What are the three steps to analyzing medical terms?
1) Divide the term into word parts with vertical slashes.
2) Label each word part by using abbreviations.
3) Label each combining form.
How do you define medical terms built from word parts?
Apply the meaning of each word part contained in the term.
Define arthritis
inflammation of the joint
Define hepatitis
inflammation of the liver
Define subhepatic
pertaining to under the liver
Define intravenous
pertaining to within the vein
Define arthropathy
disease of the joint
Define osteitis
inflammation of the bone
Define hepatomegaly
enlargement of the liver
What does it mean to build medical terms?
to place word parts together to form words
What word part is usually at the beginning of the definition?
the suffix
Give an example of a word made of Greek and Latin word parts that cannot be easily translated to find their meaning.
orth/o/ped/ic
orth/o means straight, and ped/o means child or foot
Literally meaning pertaining to a straight child or foot
As used today meaning a branch of medicine dealing with the study and treatment of diseases and abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system.
