The key to successful coding is having a through knowledge of human anatomy as well as the abillity to understand the medical terminology used to describe and document procedures and services.This page review information about Root words,prefix,suffix and Medical terms.
COMPONENTS PARTS OF SURGICAL TERMS
ROOT WORDS :-
The basic component of a word that gives it meaning. The root word can stand alone as a word. They are also used in combining words.
Examples of Root Words.
Cardio (heart) Hemo (blood)
Thorax (chest) Pneumo (air)
Neuro (nerve)
PREFIX:- prefixes are typically attached to the beginning of a word to modify or alter its meaning.Not all medical term will contain a prefix.prefixes often(not always) indicate location,time,or,number.An example for prefix is the"litho"in lithotripsy.
SUFFIX:- suffix comes from the Latin to fix beneath and as such, it is traditinally attached to the end of a word to modify or alter its meaning. Use of a suffix can also be used to change the word's use in sentence structure.An example is the "tripsy"in lithotripsy. Not all medical terms have suffix.In medical term,suffixes frequently indicate the procedures,condition,disorder,or disease.
COMMON PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY.
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Prefix Meaning Examples
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a- Not,Without,less,absence Anemia- level of blodd cells less than normal
Anoxia-absence of oxygen from inspired gases
ab- From,away from,off Abduct-movement away from the midline
Abductor-muscle that draws away from the
median plane
ad- Towards,in the direction of Adduction-movement away from the midline
Adrenal-ner or towards the kidney
colpo- Fold,cleft,hollow Colpocele-hernia projecting into the vagina
Colpotomy-incision of the vagina
hyper- High,beyond,excessive, Hypercalcemia-high calcium
above normal
Hypersensitive-highly sensitive
litho- Combining form relating to a Lithotripsy-crushing of a stone in stone or calculus the bladder or urethra
Lithotomy-cutting operation for
the removal of a stone
neo- New,young,Fresh,recent Neonate-newborn
Neoplasm-new growth tumor
osteo- Combining form meaning bone Osteochondritis-inflammation of the bone
and its cartilage
Osteoporosis-reduction in the quantity of bone
patho- Combining form meaning Pathogen-agent causing disease
suffering,disease
Pathology-medical specially concerned with
disease,especially the cause of disease
pneumo- Combining form meaning lungs, Pneumonia-inflammation of the lung
air,gas or respiration parenchyma
Pneumocele-protrusion of the part of lung into
chest wall
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Suffix Meaning Examples
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-itis infalammation Rhinitis-inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane
Laryngitis-inflammation of the mucous membrane
of the larynx
-oma Tumor Sarcoma-connective tissue tumor
Carcinoma-malignant tumor derived from
epithelial tissue
-cele swelling Hydrocele-fluid collected in a sacculated cavity
Gastrocele-hernia of a portion of a stomach
-osis process,condition or state,and usually Arrhigosis-lack of preception of cold
in reference to a disease, condition
Stenosis-a narrowing
-penia Lack,deficiency Glycopenia-sugar deficiency in tissues
Osteopenia-decreased bone density
-ectomy Excision or surgical removal Mastectomy-excision or surgical removal
of the breast
Tonsillectomy- excision or surgical removal
of the tonsils
-tomy Incision Omphalotomy-cutting of the umbilical cord at birth
Trachectomy-surgical opening into the trachia
-rrhapy Suture,stitch Arteriorrhaphy-suture of an artery
Salpingorrhapy-suture of the fallopian tube
-pnea Breath or respiration Apnea-absence of breathing
Dyspnea- shortness of breath
-tripsy To crush Cholelithotripsy-crushing of gll stones
Lithotripsy-crushing of a stone in the bladder
or urethra
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Pronunciation and Plurals of Medical Terms
Medical terms are hard to pronounce, especially if you have never heard them spoken. Here are some shortcuts you will find helpful.
- ch is sometimes pronounced like a k Examples- chromatin, chronic
- ps is pronounced like an s Examples- psychiatry, psychology
- pn is pronounced with only the n sound Examples- pneumonia, pneusis
- c and g are given the soft sound of s and j respectively, before e, i, and y words Examples- generic, giant, cycle, cytoplasm
- c and g have a hard sound before other letters Examples- cast, cardiac, gastric, gonad
- i at the end of a word is pronounced eye (to form a plural) Examples- alveoli, glomeruli, fasciculi
- es when forming the final letters of a word, is often pronounced as a separate syllable. Examples- stases (stay’seez), nares (nah’reez)
IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BEGIN WITH EXAMPLE
F F
PH Flatus (FLAY-TUS)
Phlegm (FLEM)
J G
J Gingivitis (jin-jih-VYE-tis)
Jaundice (JAWN-dis)
K C
CH
K
QU Crepitus (KREP-ih-tus)
Cholera (KOL-er-ah)
Kyphosis (kye-FOH-sis)
Quadriplegia (kwad-rih-PLEE-jee-ah)
N PN Pneumonia (nu-mo-ne-ah)
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Certain terms or word elements,which are consistently associated with the major body systems are listed below:
TERMS DEFINITION
Cardi/o-------------------Heart
Arteri/o-------------------Arteries
Ven/o---------------------Veins
Phleb/o-------------------Veins
Or/o----------------------Mouth
Gloss/o-------------------Tounge
Esophag/o---------------- Esophagus
Gastr/o--------------------Stomach
Enter/o--------------------Small intestine
Col/o----------------------Large intestine
Hepat/o--------------------Liver
Pancreat/o-----------------Pancreas
Adren/o-------------------Adrenals
Gonad/o-------------------Gonads
Hem/o---------------------Blood
Hemat/o-------------------Blood
Hidr/o---------------------Sweat Glands
Seb/o----------------------Sebaceous Glands
Dermato/o-----------------Skin
Lymph/o-------------------Lymphatic Structures/Fluids
Splen/o--------------------Spleen
My/o----------------------Muscles
Fasci/o--------------------Fascia
Ten/o---------------------Tendons
Oste/o---------------------Bones
Arthr/o--------------------Joints
Chondr/o------------------Cartilage
Neur/o---------------------Nerve
Encephal/o-----------------Brain
Myel/o---------------------Spinal cord
Ocul/o----------------------Eyes
Opthalm/o------------------Eyes
Ot/o------------------------Ears
Oophor/o------------------Ovaries
Hyster/o--------------------Uterus
Metr/o----------------------Uterus
Metri/o----------------------Uterus
Uter/o-----------------------Uterus
Nephr/o---------------------Kidneys
Ureter/o---------------------Ureters
Cyst/o-----------------------Bladder
Vesic/o----------------------Bladder
Urethr/o---------------------Urethra
Mamm/o--------------------Mammary glands
Lith/o------------------------Stones
Phallus-----------------------Penis
Colp/o-----------------------Vagina
Algia--------------------------Pain
Centesis----------------------To Puncture
Tympano---------------------Tympanic Membrane
Brady-------------------------Slowness
Tachy-------------------------Fastness
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