Medical terminology seems confusing at first, whether you're a student of the field or simply a patient trying to keep up with what your doctor is saying. But once you understand where medical language comes from, how it works and use it, you'll find it's really not as complicated as it seems.
Source Languages
Most medical terms come from Greek or Latin, according to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. But as medicine (and civilization) advanced, more modern terms have come from German, French and English. Generally, medical terms for determining illness or describing surgery have Greek origins. Terms for parts of the body generally have Latin roots.
Building A Term
Medical terms are built from four main parts: The root, or the basis of the word; the prefix, a modifier placed before the word; the suffix, a modifier placed after the root; and a combining vowel, which prevents confusion and makes the word easier to say.
Roots
The root is the first clue as to what the term is trying to say. "Cardi" is a frequently used root meaning "heart." "Gastr" is another; it means "stomach." Terms containing the root "cardi" pertain to the heart, and "gastr" is a surefire sign someone is talking about a stomach.
Prefixes
Prefixes help you zero in on what the term is trying to say. "Hyper" is a popular prefix meaning "too much," while "hypo" means "too little." If you see a medical term beginning with "hypo" or "hyper," it is describing a condition where there is too much or too little of something.
Suffixes
Suffixes are placed at the end of the word and complete the picture of what the word is trying to say. "otomy" is a frequently used suffix meaning "surgical removal." For example, consider the medical term "gastronomy." "Gastr" means "stomach," and "otomy" means "surgical removal," so "gastrotomy" means "surgical removal of the stomach."
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