Medical Terminology terms

343 glossary entries from the Medical Terminology topic of the CCMA test plan. Try free Medical Terminology practice questions.

• -acPertaining to.
• -algiaPain.
• -blastImmature or forming (germ) cell.
• -celeHernia, swelling, or bulging.
• -centesisSurgical puncture to remove fluid.
• -cideKilling or an agent that kills.
• -cusisHearing.
• -cyteCell.
• -desisSurgical fusion or binding.
• -dyniaPain.
• -eal, -ialPertaining to.
• -ectasisDilation or stretching.
• -ectomySurgical removal.
• -edemaSwelling caused by fluid buildup in tissue.
• -emesisVomiting.
• -emiaBlood condition.
• -esis, -sisState, condition, or process.
• -gen, -genicProducing, causing, or origin.
• -gramA record or picture produced by a test.
• -graph, -graphyProcess of recording or making an image; -graph can also name the recording instrument.
• -iaCondition.
• -iasisCondition or formation of, often abnormal.
• -iatry, -iatristMedical treatment (-iatry) or the specialist who provides it (-iatrist).
• -ismCondition or state.
• -itisInflammation.
• -iumStructure or tissue.
• -logistSpecialist in the study and treatment of a body part or disease.
• -logyStudy of.
• -lysisBreaking down, destruction, or dissolving.
• -malaciaSoftening.
• -maniaAbnormal, intense impulse or excitement.
• -megalyEnlargement.
• -meterInstrument for measuring.
• -metryProcess of measuring.
• -oidResembling or like.
• -ole, -uleSmall.
• -omaTumor or mass.
• -opiaVision condition.
• -opsyViewing or examination.
• -osisAbnormal condition or increase.
• -ostomy, -stomySurgical creation of an opening.
• -otomy, -tomyCutting into; incision.
• -ousPertaining to or having the quality of.
• -paresisPartial paralysis or weakness.
• -pathyDisease.
• -peniaDeficiency or too few.
• -pexySurgical fixation.
• -phagiaEating or swallowing.
• -phasiaSpeech.
• -phobiaFear.
• -plasiaFormation or growth.
• -plasmFormation or growth; formed material.
• -plastySurgical repair or reconstruction.
• -plegiaParalysis.
• -pneaBreathing.
• -poiesisProduction or formation.
• -praxiaAction or purposeful movement.
• -ptosisDrooping or sagging.
• -ptysisSpitting or coughing up.
• -rrhage, -rrhagiaBleeding, usually heavy.
• -rrhaphySurgical suturing.
• -rrheaFlow or discharge.
• -sclerosisHardening.
• -scopeInstrument used to examine.
• -scopyVisual examination with a scope.
• -spasmSudden involuntary muscle contraction.
• -stasisStopping or controlling; standing still.
• -stenosisNarrowing.
• -taxiaOrder or coordination of movement.
• -thoraxChest or chest cavity.
• -tripsyCrushing.
• -trophyGrowth or development.
• -uriaUrine or urination condition.
• a-, an-Without, not, or lacking.
• ab-Away from.
• abdomin/oAbdomen, the trunk region between the diaphragm and the pelvis.
• AD, AS, AURight ear, left ear, each ear. Error-prone: confused with OD, OS, OU (eyes). Write right ear, left ear or each ear.
• ad-Toward or near.
• aden/oGland.
• adip/oFat.
• ambi-Both or both sides.
• anatomical positionThe standard reference posture: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward. All directional…
• angi/oBlood vessel.
• ante-Before or in front of.
• anteriorToward the front of the body; also called ventral.
• anti-Against or opposing.
• aort/oAorta, the largest artery.
• APAPAcetaminophen. ISMP: error-prone because it is not always recognized; write acetaminophen.
• append/o, appendic/oAppendix.
• arteri/oArtery.
• arthr/oJoint.
• ather/oFatty plaque or deposit.
• audi/oHearing or sound.
• auto-Self.
• bi-Two or twice.
• bio-Life or living tissue.
• brachi/oArm.
• brady-Slow.
• bronch/oBronchus, a large airway leading from the trachea into a lung.
• bucc/oCheek.
• carcin/oCancer.
• cardi/oHeart.
• carp/oWrist (carpal bones).
• cata-Down or breaking down.
• ccCubic centimeter. Error-prone: misread as u (units); write mL. In charting, capital CC means chief complaint.
• cephal/oHead.
• cerebr/oCerebrum; brain.
• cervic/oNeck, or the cervix of the uterus.
• chol/eBile or gall.
• cholecyst/oGallbladder.
• chondr/oCartilage.
• chrom/oColor.
• circum-Around.
• col/o, colon/oColon (large intestine).
• con-With or together.
• contra-Against or opposite.
• contralateralOn the opposite side of the body.
• cost/oRib.
• crani/oSkull.
• cry/oCold.
• cutane/oSkin.
• cyan/oBlue.
• cyst/oUrinary bladder, or a sac containing fluid.
• cyt/oCell.
• D/CCan mean discharge or discontinue. Error-prone: medications have been stopped too early. Write discharge or discontinue.
• dactyl/oFinger or toe.
• de-Away from, removal, or loss of.
• deepFarther from the surface of the body.
• dent/i, odont/oTooth.
• derm/o, dermat/oSkin.
• dextro-Right or right side.
• dia-Through, across, or apart.
• diaphoresisHeavy sweating.
• diplo-Double or twofold.
• dis-Apart, separation, or reversal.
• distalFarther from the point where a limb attaches to the trunk.
• duoden/oDuodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
• dys-Difficult, painful, or abnormal.
• dysphoniaHoarseness or difficulty producing the voice.
• dyspneaDifficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath.
• dysuriaPainful or uncomfortable urination.
• ecchymosisA bruise: bleeding under the skin that causes discoloration.
• ecto-, exo-Outside or outer.
• ef-Out of or away from.
• electr/oElectricity or electrical activity.
• emesisVomiting: forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth.
• en-In or inside.
• encephal/oBrain.
• endo-Within or inner.
• enter/oIntestine, usually the small intestine.
• epi-Upon, over, or on top of.
• epistaxisNosebleed; bleeding from the nose.
• erythemaRedness of the skin caused by increased blood flow.
• erythr/oRed.
• esophag/oEsophagus, the tube from the throat to the stomach.
• eu-Good, normal, or well.
• ex-Out of, away from, or beyond.
• extra-Outside of or beyond.
• frontal planeA vertical plane that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) parts; also called the coronal plane.
• gastr/oStomach.
• gingiv/oGums.
• gloss/o, lingu/oTongue.
• gluc/o, glyc/oGlucose or sugar.
• gyn/o, gynec/oWoman or female.
• HCTZHydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. ISMP: do not abbreviate; HCTZ can be misread as hydrocortisone. Write the full name.
• hem/o, hemat/oBlood.
• hematuriaBlood in the urine.
• hemi-Half or one side.
• hemoptysisCoughing up blood.
• hepat/oLiver.
• hetero-Other or different.
• hidr/oSweat.
• hist/oTissue.
• homeo-Similar, same, or unchanging.
• homo-Same or alike.
• hs, HSLowercase hs means at bedtime; HS has meant half-strength, and each is misread as the other. ISMP: write HS or bedtime…
• hydr/oWater or fluid.
• hyper-Above normal, excessive, or beyond.
• hypo-Below normal, under, or deficient.
• hyster/o, uter/oUterus (womb).
• idio-One's own, individual, or unknown in origin.
• ile/oIleum, the last part of the small intestine.
• INIntranasal. Error-prone: misread as IM or IV. Write NAS or intranasal.
• in-, im-Not; in some words, in or into.
• inferiorBelow or lower than another part; also called caudal.
• infra-Below or beneath.
• inter-Between.
• intra-Within or inside.
• ipsilateralOn the same side of the body.
• irid/oIris, the colored part of the eye.
• iso-Equal or the same.
• IUInternational unit. On the Joint Commission Do Not Use list: misread as IV or the number 10. TJC says write…
• jaundiceYellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from excess bilirubin in the blood.
• juxta-Near or next to.
• kerat/oCornea; also horny tissue of the skin.
• kinesi/oMovement.
• kyph/oHump.
• lacrim/oTears or the tear glands.
• lact/oMilk.
• laryng/oLarynx (voice box).
• lateralToward the side of the body, away from the midline.
• leading zeroA zero written before a decimal point, as in 0.5 mg. Always use it; a dose written .5 mg can be misread as 5 mg.
• leuk/oWhite.
• lip/oFat or lipid.
• lith/oStone or calculus.
• lord/oCurve or swayback.
• lymph/oLymph, the fluid of the lymphatic system.
• macro-Large.
• mal-Bad, poor, or abnormal.
• mamm/o, mast/oBreast.
• medialToward the midline of the body.
• mega-, megalo-Large or great.
• melan/oBlack or dark.
• mening/oMeninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• meso-Middle.
• meta-Change, after, or beyond.
• MgSO4Magnesium sulfate. On the Do Not Use list: confused with morphine sulfate. Write magnesium sulfate.
• micro-Small.
• mono-One or single.
• morph/oShape or form.
• MSMultiple sclerosis. As a drug abbreviation for morphine sulfate it is on the Do Not Use list; write the drug name.
• MSO4Morphine sulfate. On the Do Not Use list: confused with magnesium sulfate. Write morphine sulfate.
• multi-Many.
• my/o, muscul/oMuscle.
• myc/oFungus.
• myel/oBone marrow or spinal cord.
• nas/o, rhin/oNose.
• nauseaAn uneasy feeling in the stomach, often with an urge to vomit.
• necr/oDeath (of cells or tissue).
• neo-New.
• nephr/o, ren/oKidney.
• neur/oNerve or nervous system.
• noct/iNight.
• non-Not or without.
• normo-Normal.
• nulli-None.
• ocul/o, ophthalm/oEye.
• OD, OS, OURight eye, left eye, each eye. Error-prone: confused with AD, AS, AU (ears), and OD with once daily. Write the words…
• OJOrange juice. Error-prone: misread as OD or OS. Write orange juice.
• oligo-Few, scanty, or too little.
• onc/oTumor; cancer.
• onych/oNail of a finger or toe.
• oophor/o, ovari/oOvary.
• orchi/o, orchid/oTestis (testicle).
• ortho-Straight, upright, normal, or correct.
• orthopneaDifficulty breathing when lying flat, eased by sitting upright.
• oste/oBone.
• ot/oEar.
• otalgiaEar pain (earache).
• oxy-Oxygen; also sharp or quick.
• pan-All or everywhere.
• para-Beside, near, or abnormal.
• path/oDisease.
• ped/oChild; in some words, foot.
• per osBy mouth. Error-prone: os can be read as left eye. Write PO, by mouth or orally.
• per-Through.
• peri-Around or surrounding.
• petechiaeTiny, round, pinpoint spots on the skin caused by bleeding under the skin.
• pharmac/oDrug or medicine.
• pharyng/oPharynx (throat).
• phleb/o, ven/oVein.
• phon/oSound or voice.
• phot/oLight.
• phren/oDiaphragm.
• pleur/oPleura, the membrane around the lungs and lining the chest cavity.
• pneum/o, pneumon/oLung or air.
• pod/oFoot.
• poly-Many, much, or excessive.
• post-After or behind.
• posteriorToward the back of the body; also called dorsal.
• pre-Before or in front of.
• prefixA word part placed at the beginning of a medical term that changes its meaning, often describing size, number…
• primi-First.
• pro-Before or forward; also favoring.
• proct/oAnus and rectum.
• prostat/oProstate gland.
• proximalCloser to the point where a limb attaches to the trunk.
• pruritusItching.
• pseudo-False.
• psych/oMind.
• pulmon/oLung.
• py/oPus.
• pyel/oRenal pelvis, the funnel-shaped part of the kidney that collects urine.
• pyr/oFever or fire.
• pyrosisHeartburn: a burning feeling behind the breastbone, often from stomach acid.
• q1dDaily. Error-prone: misread as QID (four times daily). Write daily.
• QD, q.d.Daily. On the Do Not Use list: misread as QID or QOD. Write daily.
• QOD, q.o.d.Every other day. On the Do Not Use list: misread as daily or four times daily. Write every other day.
• quadri-Four.
• re-Again or back.
• rect/oRectum.
• retin/oRetina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye.
• retro-Backward or behind.
• sagittal planeA vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts.
• salping/oTube, especially the fallopian (uterine) tube or the eustachian tube.
• sarc/oFlesh or connective tissue.
• SC, SQOld abbreviations for subcutaneous. Error-prone: SC read as SL (sublingual), SQ as 5 every. Write SUBQ or subcutaneous.
• scler/oHard; also the sclera (white of the eye).
• scoli/oCrooked or twisted.
• semi-Half or partly.
• sial/oSaliva or salivary gland.
• sinistro-Left or left side.
• spir/oBreathing.
• splen/oSpleen.
• spondyl/o, vertebr/oVertebra (bone of the spine).
• stern/oSternum (breastbone).
• stomat/oMouth.
• sub-Under or below.
• suffixA word part placed at the end of a medical term, often naming a procedure, condition or disease.
• super-Above, over, or excessive.
• superficialCloser to the surface of the body.
• superiorAbove or higher than another part; also called cranial.
• supra-Above or over.
• syn-, sym-Together or joined.
• syncopeFainting: a brief loss of consciousness caused by a drop in blood flow to the brain.
• tachy-Fast or rapid.
• tend/o, tendin/oTendon.
• tetra-Four.
• therm/oHeat or temperature.
• thorac/oChest.
• thromb/oBlood clot.
• thyr/o, thyroid/oThyroid gland.
• tinnitusRinging, buzzing or hissing sounds in the ears.
• TIWThree times a week. Error-prone: misread as three times a day or twice a week. Write 3 times weekly.
• trache/oTrachea (windpipe).
• trailing zeroA zero after a decimal point in a dose, as in 5.0 mg. On the Do Not Use list: it can be read as 50 mg. Write 5 mg.
• trans-Across or through.
• transverse planeA horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts.
• tri-Three.
• tympan/o, myring/oEardrum (tympanic membrane).
• U, uUnit. On the Joint Commission Do Not Use list: can be misread as 0 or 4, causing a tenfold overdose. Write unit.
• UDAs directed (ut dictum). Error-prone: misread as unit dose. Write as directed.
• uni-One.
• ur/o, urin/oUrine or the urinary tract.
• ureter/oUreter, the tube that carries urine from a kidney to the bladder.
• urethr/oUrethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
• urticariaHives: raised, itchy, red or skin-colored welts.
• vagin/oVagina.
• vas/o, vascul/oVessel, usually a blood vessel.
• vertigoA spinning type of dizziness; the person feels they or the room are moving.
• word rootThe core of a medical term, usually naming a body part.
• xanth/oYellow.
• µgMicrogram symbol. Error-prone: misread as mg. Write mcg.