Medical Terminology

Medical language can seem mysterious—the private code of physicians and nurses—and yet every day
people outside the healthcare industry use medical terms, such as flu, diarrhea, cancer, appendectomy,
cardiac, and pneumonia. Because health and medicine get a lot of attention in the media, these and
many other medical terms are understood by most people.
Knowing medical terminology is important in your work as a support worker. As you gain
more knowledge and experience, you will understand and use medical terms often and with ease.
Other medical terms will be used throughout the text. Learning medical terms for illnesses, diseases,
and common conditions such as bruises, baldness, or a “runny nose” can be fun and useful. This
chapter introduces medical terminology and the common abbreviations used in health care. It is very
important that you use correct terms and abbreviations for creating clear charts. There could be legal
consequences if incorrect terms are used, as charts are legal documents.
You should also be aware that the use of certain abbreviations or symbols can change since
some may be misinterpreted or involved in medication errors. It is also important to use ONLY the
abbreviations that are approved at your agency. Some agencies may use their own abbreviations (such
as “HOB” for “head of bed”), but since those are not official abbreviations, they are not listed here. If
you are unsure of an abbreviation, it is important that you clarify the abbreviation with your
supervisor. Note that all abbreviations must be policy-approved by your agency!
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WORD ELEMENTS
Like all words, medical terms are made up of parts, or word elements, that are combined in various
ways. A term is translated by separating the word into its elements. Important word elements are
prefixes, roots, and suffixes, which are all based
in the Greek and Latin languages.
Prefixes
A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning
of a word that changes the meaning of the word.
The prefix olig (scant, small amount) is placed
before the word uria (urine) to make oliguria—
meaning a small amount of urine. Prefixes are
always combined with other word elements.
They are never used alone. You need to learn the
following prefixes to begin understanding
medical terminology:
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Roots
The root contains the basic meaning of the word. It is combined with another root, with prefixes, and
with suffixes in various combinations to form a medical term.
A vowel is often added when two roots are combined or when a suffix is added to a root. The
vowel, usually an o, is called a combining vowel. An i is sometimes used when there is no vowel
between the two combined roots or between the root and the suffix. A combining vowel makes
pronunciation easier.
The most common roots and their combining vowels, in parentheses, are listed here. Their
plural form, if other than an s, is indicated:
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Suffixes
A suffix is placed at the end of a root to change the meaning of the word, but it is not used alone. For
example, nephritis means inflammation of the kidney. It is formed by combining nephro (kidney) and
itis (inflammation). You need to learn the suffixes listed below:
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COMBINING WORD ELEMENTS

Medical terms are formed by combining word elements. A root can be combined with prefixes, other
roots, or suffixes. The prefix dys (difficult) can be combined with the root pnea (breathing) to form the
term dyspnea, meaning “difficulty in breathing.” Similarly, the root mast (breast) combined with the
suffix ectomy (excision or removal) forms the term mastectomy, which means “removal of a breast.”
Combining a prefix, root, and suffix is another way to form medical terms. Endocarditis (meaning
“inflammation of the inner part of the heart”) consists of the prefix endo (inner), the root card (heart),
and the suffix itis (inflammation).
More complex combinations of prefixes, roots, and suffixes can be created:
• Two prefixes, a root, and a suffix
• A prefix, two roots, and a suffix
• Two roots and a suffix
The important things to remember are that (1) prefixes always come before roots and (2)
suffixes always come after roots.

ABDOMINAL REGIONS
The abdomen is divided into regions to help describe the location of body structures, pain, or
discomfort. The regions are as follows:
• Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
• Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
• Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
• Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
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Certain terms describe the position of one body part in relation to another. These terms indicate the
direction of the body part when a person is standing and facing forward.
• Anterior (ventral)—located at or toward the front of the body or body part
• Distal—the part farthest from the center or from the point of attachment; for example, the foot is
distal to the knee
• Lateral—the farthest away from the midline of the body
• Medial—the closest to the midline of the body
• Posterior (dorsal)—the back surface of the body—often used to indicate the position of one
structure to another
• Proximal—nearest to the trunk of the body or the point of origin

ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or
phrases that help save time and space in written
communication (see the table that follows). Each
employer has a list of accepted abbreviations,
which you should obtain when you are hired as a
support worker. Use only the abbreviations
accepted by your employer. If you are not sure an
abbreviation is acceptable, write the term out in full
to communicate accurately.
Common Abbreviations
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