Medical Terminology: Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes & More

Posted on Sep 13, 2024 in Biology

Medical Terminology

Word Roots

Prefixes

Suffixes

Singular and Plural Endings

Terms for the Integument or Disease of the Integument

Arrector pili muscles: Tiny muscles that attach to the hair follicle

Keratin: Protein found in the hair and nails that promotes hardness

Melanin: Dark pigment produced in cells of the skin called melanocytes

Acne: Inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles marked by pimples and pustules

Eczema: Inflammatory condition of the skin caused by irritants, food or chemicals

Impetigo: Acute, contagious skin disease caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria

Psoriasis: Chronic skin disease resulting in red patches with white/silver scales

Carcinoma: Malignant tumor of new growth derived from epithelial tissue

Terms for the Skeletal system or Diseases of the Skeletal System

Diaphysis: Shaft of long bones

Epiphysis: Ends of long bones

Epiphyseal plate: The growth area of a long bone

Periosteum: Fibrous membrane surrounding a bone

Endosteum: Membrane lining the central medullary cavity

Medullary: Cavity within a long bone’s shaft filled with bone marrow

Kyphosis: abnormal forward curvature; humpback

Lordosis: abnormal backward curvature

Scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature

Terms for Joints or Diseases of Joints

Articulation: the site where bones come together; joint

Synovial joint: a joint that moves freely and contains synovial fluid in its cavity

Synovial fluid: Lubricating fluid in a freely movable joint

Ligament: band of strong connective tissue that connects bones or cartilage at a joint

Osteoarthritis: Inflammation of the bones and joints due to were and tear of the articular cartilage and bone

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Inflammation of joints Synovial membranes due to autoimmune degeneration of the connective tissue and joint.

Terms for Muscles or Diseases of Muscles

Striation: a minute groove, scratch, or channel especially when one of a parallel series

3 Muscle types: Skeletal (voluntary & striated), Smooth (involuntary & non-striated), Cardiac (involuntary & striated)

Fascicle: Bundle of muscle fibers

Agonist: Skeletal muscle which creates movement by contraction

Antagonist: Skeletal muscle which opposes an agonist muscle and relaxes when agonist contracts

Myasthenia gravis (MG): Neuromuscular disorder causing weakness and fatigue of voluntary muscles.

Muscular Dystrophy (MD): Hereditary condition causing progressive degeneration of the skeletal muscles.

Terms for Nervous system and Disease of the Nervous system

Cerebellum: posterior portion of the brain that coordinates the voluntary muscles and maintains balance and muscle tone

Cerebrum: largest and uppermost portion of the brain; divided into right and left halves

Brainstem: connects the brain to the spinal cord; consists of the pons and medulla oblongata

Diencephalon: area deep within the brain that contains the thalamus and hypothalamus

Ganglion: group of nerve cell bodies located along the pathway of a nerve

Cauda equine: “Horse tail”, collection of spinal nerves which branch off from the end of the spinal cord and exit at various levels.

Conus medullaris: Tapered, lower end of the spinal cord.

Filum terminale: Delicate strand of meninges which extends from the conus medullaris down to the sacrum and coccyx.

Sulcus: Groove or furrow, usually located on the outer cortex of the cerebrum.

Gyrus: Ridge located between two fissures or sulci on the cortex of the cerebrum.

Cerebrospinal fluid: Fluid located in ventricles of the brain and produced by choroid plexus located in each ventricle.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Immunological based disease where the immune system destroys the myelin sheath of nerves.

Paraplegia: Injury of the spinal cord below cervical vertebrae, which results in paralysis of the lower Half of the body.

Quadraplegia: Injury of the spinal cord within the cervical vertebrae, which results in paralysis of the limbs and lower body functions.

Terms for Special senses and Disease of the Eye and Ear

Choroid: Posterior middle vascular layer

Cerumen: Ear wax of external acoustic meatus.

Auditory Ossicles:

• Malleus
• Incus
• Stapes

Cochlea: Inner ear structure responsible for hearing.

Vestibule: Chamber of the inner ear.

Accommodation: ability of the eye to adjust focus on near objects

Myringotomy: lancing of the tympanic membrane

Otitis Media: Inflammation of the middle ear caused by allergies, infections or fluid build-up.

Myopia: Nearsightedness

Hyperopia: Farsightedness

Diplopia: Double vision

Terms for Endocrine system and Diseases of the Endocrine system

Acromegaly: Excessive production of growth hormone in adulthood causes thick bones in extremities.

Diabetes Mellitus: Type I – Autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of insulin producing cells (β-cells) of the pancreas, Type II – Resistance to insulin

Anterior Pituitary Gland

Growth Hormone (GH): Targets bone and tissues to stimulate growth and protein synthesis

Posterior Pituitary Gland

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Targets kidneys to stimulate water reabsorption

Oxytocin (OXT): Stimulates uterine contractions (uterus) and milk ejection (breasts)

Thyroid Gland

Calcitonin: Maintains normal Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3- levels in blood by reducing both

Thyroxine (T4): Regulates metabolism by increasing metabolic rate

Parathyroid Gland

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH): Maintains normal Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3- levels in blood by increasing both

Adrenal Gland

Epinephrine: Responds to stress by increasing heart rate, blood pressure and expanding bronchial airways

Norepinephrine: Responds to stress by increasing blood pressure

Pancreas Gland

Glucagon: Stimulates storage of blood glucose to glycogen

Insulin: Stimulates blood glucose absorption by cells

Terms for Blood/lymphatic system and Diseases of the Blood/lymphatic system

Serum: Blood plasma without clotting elements

Granulocytes: White blood cells with visible granules within the cytoplasm, includes Basophil, Neutrophil & Eosinophil

Agranulocytes: White blood cells without visible granules within the cytoplasm, includes Lymphocyte & Monocyte

Organs of the Lymphatic System: Spleen, Thymus, Tonsils

Important lymph node locations in the body: Axillary (arm pits), Cervical (neck), Mediastinal (center of chest), Inguinal (groin).

Sickle Cell Anemia: Genetic blood disease due to a single amino acid change in the beta-hemoglobin protein, causing pain, fatigue and anemia

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome): Caused by HIV which target CD4+ T-helper cells where the virus replicates, ultimately destroying the cell.

Terms for Cardiovascular system and Diseases of the Cardiovascular system

Arteries: Vessels carrying blood away from the heart

Veins: Vessels carrying blood to the heart

Capillaries: Small blood vessels where gas and nutrient exchange with tissues occur

Atria: Upper receiving chambers of the heart

Ventricles: Lower pumping chambers of the heart

Valves: Structures located throughout the heart, arteries and veins which prevent the backflow of blood

Endocardium: Inner lining of the heart

Myocardium: Middle muscular layer of the heart tissue

Epicardium: Outer lining of the heart

Pericardium: Sac surrounding the heart which facilitates movement of the heart during contractions

Systole: Contraction phase, heart muscle pumps blood from chambers

Diastole: Relaxation phase, heart muscle relaxes & chambers fill w/blood

Sphygmomanometer: Device which measures blood pressure

Heart murmurs: Failure of heart valves to close firmly causing leaking of blood usually caused by stenosis of the heart valves

Heart attack: Death of cardiac muscle tissue usually due to coronary artery blockage

Cardiac arrest: Sudden loss of cardiac activity, usually due to irregular heart rhythms and electrical signals

Hypertension: Persistently high blood pressure

Terms for Respiratory system and Diseases of the Respiratory system

Pneumonia: bacterial infection of the lung causing inflammation and loss of lung function. Mainly due to the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Narrowing of the small bronchi, which hinders or slows expiratory flow. Can be permanent or temporary.

Conditions leading to COPD are:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema

Terms for Digestive system and Diseases of the Digestive system

Deglutition: Swallowing

Mastication: Chewing

Peristalsis: Wave-like movement of muscles that push substances along their length

Sphincters: Valves located along the length of the digestive tract which regulate food movement & prevents food moving backwards.

Jaundice: Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes due to excess bilirubin in the blood.

Crohn’s Disease: Chronic inflammation of the intestines causing ulcers and thickening of the intestinal walls.

Terms for Urinary system and Diseases of the Urinary system

Micturition: Process of expelling or voiding urine

Hydronephrosis: “water inside the kidney” – Obstruction of urine flow out of the kidney usually due to kidney stones.

Hydroureter: “water inside the ureter” – Obstruction of urine flow out of the ureter usually due to kidney stones.

Kidney stones: Small hard mineral deposits with acid salts which form inside kidneys

• Caused by dehydration, gout, excessive vitamin D, animal protein, sugar, & salt

Terms for Reproductive systems and Diseases of the Reproductive system

Genitalia: Male and Female reproductive organs

Hernia: Organ or tissue protrudes through muscle or connective tissue

Inguinal hernia: Intestine or bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall or inguinal canal (common in men)

Femoral hernia: Intestine or bladder protrudes through the canal carrying the femoral artery (common in women)

Ovulation: Release of the ovum from the ovary