Medical Latin
WORD STRUCTURE
- Rule 1- PREFIX is placed at the beginning of the word
- Quadri – quadriplegia
- Rule 2 – SUFFIX is placed at the end of the word
- Megaly – cardiomegaly
- Rule- 3 The use of more than one root word in a word needs a combining vowel to connect the 2 roots, O is the most common
- Rule – 4 COMPOUND WORDS – usually composed of COMBINING FORM + suffix
- Leuk/o + cyt + osis = leukocytosis
- Dermat/o + fibr/o + sarc + oma = dermatofibrosarcoma
- Leuko/o + erythr/o + blast + ic = leukoerythroblastic
- Rule 5 – definition begins with defining the suffix and continue to read backwards
- Carditis – itis – inflammation; card – heart
- Cardiomegaly – megaly – enlargement; cardi – heart
- Cyanosis – osis – is a condition; cyan - blueness
- Rule 6 – when a medical word has a prefix, the definition usually begins with suffix, prefix second and the root last
- Intracardiac – ac- pertaining to; intra – within; cardia – heart
- Pericardial – al – around; peri – around; cardi – heart
- Hypoglycemia – emia – blood condition; hypo – low; glyc-sugar
- Hyperhidrosis – osis –a condition; hyper – excessive; hidr - sweating
- Rule 7 – when amedical word identifies body system or parts definition usually begins with a suffix, define the suffix then define the organ.
- Cardiopulmonary
- Ary – pertaining to
- Cardi – heart ; pulmon – lungs
- O – combining vowel
- Cardiorterial
- Al – pertaining to
- Cardi – heart
- Arteri – arteries
- O – combining vowel
- Hysterosalpingectomy
- Ectomy – removal
- Hyster – uterus
- Salping – fallopian tube
- O – combining vowel
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR PRONUNCIATION
F SOUND
- If word begins with F it will have an f sound
- Febrile – fee – brill
- If word begins with PH it will have an f sound
- Physiology – fizz-ee-all-oh-gee
J SOUND
- If the word begins with a J it will have a j sound.
- Jejunum – jee – joo – num
- If the word begins in G but followed by letter E, I or Y, it will have a j sound
- Genesis – jen – ee – sis
- Gingivitis – jin-jih-vye-it is
- Gyrus – jye – russ
K SOUND
- If the word begins with K it will have a k sound
- Kyphosis – ki-foh-sis
- Some words that begins with C will have a K sound
- Cornea – kor-nee-ah
- Some words begin with CH will have k sound
- Chorion – Kor – ree-on
- Words with the letters QU will have the k sound
- Quadruplet – kwah-droop-let
N SOUND
- Word begins with N will have an N sound
- Neonatal – nee-oh-nay-tl
- Some words that begins with PN have an n sound
- Pneumonia – new-moh-nee-ah
- Some words that begin KN have a n sound
- Knee - nee
S SOUND
- If the word begins with S it will have an s sound
- Sarcoma – sar-kom-ah
- Some words that begin with C is pronouns with s
- Cervix – sir-viks
- Word that begins with PS will have an s sound
- Psychology – sigh-kall-oh-jee
SK SOUND
- Word that begins with SK is pronounced as SK
- Skeleton – Skell – eh –ton
- Some words that begin with SC is pronounced as sk
- Sclera – sklair-ah
- Some words that begin with SCH will be pronounced with sk sound
- Schizophrenia – skiz-oh-fren-ee-ah
Z SOUND
- If the words begin with Z it will have a z sound
- Zygomatic – zeye-go-mat-ik
- Some words that begin with X will have a z sound
- Xanthoma – zan – thoh – mah
When a word begins with the letter C and followed by E, I or Y it is pronounced as soft c or s
- Cervix – sir-viks
- Circumduction – sir-kum-duck-shun
- Cyst – sist
When a word begins with C followed by a consonant or A, O,U it is pronounced as a hard C or K
- Cancer – kan-ser
- Collagn – kol-ah-jen
- Cheiloplasty – kye-loh-plas-tee
- When a word element end in G followed BY A or O the g is pronounced as hard with guh sound
- Laryngalgia – lah-rin-gal-jee-ah
- Meningocele- men-in-goh-seel
- If g is followed by E or I, it pronounced as a soft g or J sound
- Laryngectomy – lah-rin-jek-toh-me
- Pharyngitis – fair-rin-jye-tis
- If G is followed by a consonanat g is pronounced as hard G
- Glossal – gloss-al
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
| BI | Two/double | Biscupid - having 2 cusp |
| HEMI | Half | Hemiplegia – paralysis of the half of the body |
| MILLI | One thousandth | Milliliter – one thousandth of a liter |
| MONO | One – single | Monocyte – white cell w/ a single nucleus |
| NULLI | None | Nullipara – borne no children |
| PRIMI | First | Primigravida – first pregnancy |
| QUADRI | Four | Quadriplegia – paralysis of four extremities |
| SEMI | Half | Semiconscious – half conscious |
| TETRA | Four | Tetraplegia - paralysis of both arms and legs |
| TRI | Three | Triceps – a muscle with three heads |
| UNI | One | Uninuclear – cell having single nucleus |
Medical Latin
Prefixes
| Acro | extremity. |
| Adeno | gland. |
| Alba | white. |
| Algia | pain. |
| Angi | vessel. |
| Arthro | joint. |
| Auto | self. |
| Bio | living. |
| Blast | germ, bud.. |
| Blephar | eyelid. |
| Brachi | arm. |
| Broncho | trachea, windpipe. |
| Bucc | cheek. |
| Capit | head. |
| Carcin | cancer |
| Cardia | heart. |
| Cephal | head. |
| Cerebro | brain. |
| Chole | bile, gall. |
| Chondro | cartilage. |
| Chroma | color. |
| Cili | eyelash. |
| Corpus | body. |
| Corona | Crown. Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle run along the heart, encircling it like a crown. |
| Cost | rib. |
| Cut | skin. |
| Cysti | sac, bladder. |
| Cyto | cell. |
| Dactyl | digits. |
| Derma | skin. |
| Dura | tough, hard. |
| Entero | intestine. |
| Erythro | red |
| Galacto | milk.Galactose |
| Gastro | stomach, belly. |
| Glosso | tongue. |
| Glyco | sugar.. |
| Hema | blood. |
| Hepato | liver. |
| Hyster | uterus. |
| Ileo | ileum. Part of the small intestine. |
| Ilio | ilium. Part of the hip bone. |
| Lachry | tears.. |
| Leuko | white. |
| Lingua | tongue. |
| Lipo | fat. |
| Lith | stone. |
| Lumbo | lower back. |
| Macul | spot, blotch. |
| Mamm | breast. |
| Mast | breast. |
| Meningo | membrane. |
| Metro | uterus. |
| Morpho | shape.. |
| Myelo | spinal cord. |
| Myo | muscle. |
| Necro | death. |
| Nephro | kidney. |
| Neuro | nerve. |
| Oculo | eye. |
| Odont | tooth. |
| Onco | tumour. |
| Ophthalm | eye.. |
| Oro | mouth.. |
| Orchido | testicle. |
| Osse, Osteo | bone. |
| Oto | ear. |
| Patho | disease |
| Peps | digestion. |
| Phago | eat. |
| Philo | love, to have an affinity for. |
| Phleb | vein. |
| Phren | diaphragm. Phrenic refers to a diaphragm. |
| Pneumo | lung. |
| Pulmo | lung. |
| Pyo | pus. |
| Ren | kidney. |
| Rhin | nose. |
| Scler | hard. |
| Stasis | stand still. |
| Thromb | clot, lump. |
| Trich | hair. Trichosis is a disease of the hair. |
| Vas | vessel, duct. |
| Viscer | organ. |
| Zoo | animal. |
Suffixes
| ac al an ar ary acusis ad agon agra algesia algia amine apheresis arche arthria ase asthenia ation blast blastoma capnia cele centesis chalasia chezia cide cidal clasis clast clysis coccus constriction crine crit cyesis cusis cyte cytosis derma desis dilation dote drome dynia eal ectasia ectasis ectomy edema elasma ema emesis emia emic er esis eurysm ferent fication fida form fusion gen genesis genic globin globulin grade gram graph graphy gravida hexia ia iac iasis ic ical icle in ine ine ion ior ism ist itis ium kinesis lapse lemma lepsy leptic lexia listhesis lithotomy logy lucent lysis lytic |
pertaining to pertaining to pertaining to pertaining to pertaining to hearing toward to assemble or gather excessive pain sensitivity to pain pain nitrogen compound removal beginning, chief articulate enzyme lack of strength, sickness process, condition embryonic, immature cell tumor cells not fully developed carbon dioxide hernia surgical puncture to remove fluid relaxation defacation, elimination of wastes killing pertaining to killing to break to break irragation, washing berryshaped bacterium narrowing to secrete, separate to separtate pregnancy hearing cell condition of cells, slight increase in numbers skin to bind, tie together widening, stretching, expanding to give to run pain pertaining to dilation, dilatation, widening dilation, dilatation, widening removal, excision, resection swelling flat plate condition vomiting blood condition pertaining to blood condition one who action, condition, state of widening to carry process of making split resembling, in the shape of to pour, to come together substance that produces producing, forming produced by or in protein protein to go record instrument for recording process of recording pregnant woman habit condition pertaining to abnormal condition pertaining to pertaining to small a substance a substance pertaining to process pertaining to process, condition specialist inflammation structure, tissue movement to slide, fall, sag sheath, covering seizure to seize, take hold of word, phrase condition of stones incision to remove a stone study of, or process of to shine breakdown, separation, loosening to reduce, destroy, separate, breakdown |
Root Words
Roots of Bodily Concepts
| Bodily Concept | Greek Root |
| Digestion | -pepsia |
| Disease | -pathy |
| Eating | -phagia |
Roots of body parts and components
| Body Part/Component | Greek Root | Latin Root |
| abdomen | lapar(o)- | abdomin- |
| aorta | aort(o)- | aort(o)- |
| arm | brachi(o)- | - |
| armpit | - | axill- |
| artery | arteri(o)- | - |
| back | - | dors- |
| big toe | - | allic- |
| bladder | cyst(o)- | vesic(o)- |
| blood | haemat-, hemat- (haem-, hem-) | sangui-, sanguine- |
| blood clot | thromb(o)- | - |
| blood vessel | angi(o)- | vascul-, vas- |
| body | somat-, som- | corpor- |
| bone | oste(o)- | ossi- |
| bone marrow, marrow | myel(o)- | medull- |
| brain | encephal(o)- | cerebr(o)- |
| breast | mast(o)- | mamm(o)- |
| chest | steth(o)- | - |
| cheek | - | bucc- |
| ear | ot(o)- | aur- |
| eggs, ova | oo- | ov- |
| eye | ophthalm(o)- | ocul(o)- |
| eyelid | blephar(o)- | cili-; palpebr- |
| face | - | faci(o)- |
| fallopian tubes | salping(o)- | - |
| fat, fatty tissue | lip(o)- | adip- |
| finger | dactyl(o)- | digit- |
| forehead | - | front(o)- |
| gallbladder | cholecyst(o)- | fell- |
| genitals, sexually undifferentiated | gon(o)-, phall(o)- | - |
| gland | aden(o)- | - |
| glans penis or clitoridis | balan(o)- | - |
| gums | - | gingiv- |
| hair | trich(o)- | capill- |
| hand | cheir(o)-, chir(o)- | manu- |
| head | cephal(o)- | capit(o)- |
| heart | cardi(o)- | cordi- |
| hip, hip-joint | - | cox- |
| horn | cerat(o)- | cornu- |
| intestine | enter(o)- | - |
| jaw | gnath(o)- | - |
| kidney | nephr(o)- | ren- |
| knee | gon- | genu- |
| lip | cheil(o)-, chil(o)- | labi(o)- |
| liver | hepat(o)- (hepatic-) | jecor- |
| loins, pubic region | episi(o)- | pudend- |
| lungs | pneumon- | pulmon(i)- (pulmo-) |
| marrow, bone marrow | myel(o)- | medull- |
| mind | psych- | ment- |
| mouth | stomat(o)- | or- |
| muscle | my(o)- | - |
| nail | onych(o)- | ungui- |
| navel | omphal(o)- | umbilic- |
| neck | trachel(o)- | cervic- |
| nerve; the nervous system | neur(o)- | nerv- |
| nipple, teat | thele- | papill-, mammill- |
| nose | rhin(o)- | nas- |
| ovary | oophor(o)- | ovari(o)- |
| pelvis | pyel(o)- | pelv(i)- |
| penis | pe(o)- | - |
| pupil (of the eye) | cor-, core-, coro- | - |
| rib | pleur(o)- | cost(o)- |
| rib cage | thorac(i)-, thorac(o)- | - |
| shoulder | om(o)- | humer(o)- |
| sinus | - | sinus- |
| skin | dermat(o)- (derm-) | cut-, cuticul- |
| skull | crani(o)- | - |
| stomach | gastr(o)- | ventr(o)- |
| testis | orchi(o)-, orchid(o)- | - |
| throat (upper throat cavity) | pharyng(o)- | - |
| throat (lower throat cavity/voice box]) | laryng(o)- | - |
| thumb | - | pollic- |
| tooth | odont(o)- | dent(i)- |
| tongue | gloss-, glott- | lingu(a)- |
| toe | dactyl(o)- | digit- |
| tumour | cel-, onc(o)- | tum- |
| ureter | ureter(o)- | ureter(o)- |
| urethra | urethr(o)-, urethr(a)- | urethr(o)-, urethr(a)- |
| urine, urinary System | ur(o)- | urin(o)- |
| uterine tubes | sarping(o)- | sarping(o)- |
| uterus | hyster(o)-, metr(o)- | uter(o)- |
| vagina | colp(o)- | vagin- |
| vein | phleb(o)- | ven- |
| vulva | episi(o)- | vulv- |
| womb | hyster(o)-, metr(o)- | uter(o)- |
| wrist | carp(o)- | carp(o)- |
Roots of Color
| Color | Greek Root in English | Latin Root in English |
| black | melano- | nigr- |
| blue | cyano- | - |
| gray, grey | polio- | - |
| green | chlor(o)- | vir- |
| purple | porphyr(o)- | purpur-, purpureo- |
| red | erythr(o)-, rhod(o)- | rub-, rubr- |
| red-yellow | cirrh(o)- | - |
| white | leuc-, leuk- | alb- |
| yellow | xanth(o)- | flav- |
Roots of description
| Description | Greek Root in English | Latin Root in English |
| bad, incorrect | cac(o)-, dys- | mal(e)- |
| bent, crooked | ankyl(o)- | prav(i)- |
| big | mega-, megal(o)- | magn(i)- |
| biggest | megist- | maxim- |
| broad, wide | eury- | lat(i)- |
| cold | cry(o)- | frig(i)- |
| dead | necr(o)- | mort- |
| equal | is(o)- | equ(i)- |
| false | pseud(o)- | fals(i)- |
| female, feminine | thely- | - |
| flat | platy- | plan(i)- |
| good, well | eu- | ben(e)-, bon(i)- |
| great | mega-, megal(o)- | magn(i)- |
| hard | scler(o)- | dur(i)- |
| heavy | bar(o)- | grav(i)- |
| hollow | coel(o)- | cav(i)- |
| huge | megal(o)- | magn(i)- |
| incorrect, bad | cac(o)-, dys- | mal(e)- |
| irregular | poikil(o) | - |
| large; extremely large | mega- | magn(i)- |
| largest | megist- | maxim- |
| long | macr(o)- | long(i)- |
| male, masculine | arseno- | vir- |
| narrow | sten(o)- | angust(i)- |
| new | neo- | nov(i)- |
| normal, correct | orth(o)- | rect(i)- |
| old | paleo- | veter- |
| sharp | oxy- | ac- |
| short | brachy- | brev(i)- |
| small | micr(o)- | parv(i)- (rare) |
| smallest | - | minim- |
| slow | brady- | tard(i)- |
| fast | tachy- | celer- |
| soft | malac(o)- | moll(i)- |
| straight | orth(o)- | rect(i)- |
| thick | pachy- | crass(i)- |
| varied, various | poikilo- | vari- |
| well, good | eu- | ben(e)- |
| wide, broad | eury- | lat(i)- |
Roots of position
| Description | Greek Root in English | Latin Root in English |
| around | peri- | circum- |
| left | levo- | laev(o)-, sinistr- |
| middle | mes(o)- | medi- |
| right | dexi(o)- | dextr(o)- |
| surrounding | peri- | circum- |
Roots of quantity
| Description | Greek Root in English | Latin Root in English |
| double | diplo- | dupli- |
| equal | iso- | equi- |
| few | oligo- | pauci- |
| half | hemi- | semi- |
| many, much | poly- | multi- |
| twice | dis- | bis- |
Medical Abbreviations
@—at
abd—abdominal
ABG—arterial blood gas
a.c.—before meals
ACLS—advanced cardiac life support
ADL*—activities of daily living
ad lib—as desired
AKA—above the knee
alt dieb—alternate days (every other day)
am—morning
AMA—against medical advice
amb*—ambulate, walk
AMI—acute myocardial infarction
amt—amount
ANS—automatic nervous system
ant*—anterior
approx (~)—approximately
aq—aqueous
ARDS—acute respiratory distress syndrome
ASA—aspirin
asap (ASAP)*—as soon as possible
as tol—as tolerated
Ax—axillary
bid—twice a day
bil, bilateral—both sides
BK—below knee
BKA—below the knee amputation
BLS—basic life support
B/P—blood pressure
bpm*—beats per minute
BR—bed rest
BS—breath sounds
BUN—blood, urea, nitrogen levels
c—with
cCA—cancer
CAD—coronary artery disease
cal—calorie
CBC—complete blood count
cc—cubic centimeters
CC*—chief complaint
CCU—coronary care unit, critical care unit
CHD—*coronary heart disease
CHF—congestive heart failure
chol—cholesterol
CNS—central nervous sysyem
c/o—complains of
COPD*—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPK—creatine phosphokinase
CPR—cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPT—chest physical therapy
CSF—cerebrospinal fluid
CT—computer tomography
CVA*—cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CVU—cardiovascular unit
CXR—chest X ray
d/c—discontinue
DC—discontinue or discharge
DNA—deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR—*do not resuscitate
DOA—dead on arrival
DOB—date of birth
Dx—diagnosis
ECG—electrocardiogram
EEG—electroencephalogram
EENT—eyes, ears, nose, throat
EKG—electrocardiogram
EMG—electromyogram
ESR—*erythrocyte sedimentation rate
est—estimated
ER—emergency room
ETA—estimated time of arrival
ETOH—ethyl alcohol, intoxicated
exam—examination
FBS*—fasting blood sugar
FBW—fasting blood work
FH—family history
FSH—follicle-stimulating hormone
ft—foot
Fx*—fracture
GI—gastrointestinal
hct—hematocrit
HDL—high-density lipoprotein
hgb—hemoglobin
hr (h)—hour
HR—heart rate
ht—height
HTN—hypertension
Hx*—history
IBS—*irritable bowel syndrome
ICP—intracranial pressure
ICU—intensive care unit
IM—intramuscular
IS—intercostal space
isol—isolation
IUD—intrauterine device
IV—intravenous
IVF—in vitro fertilization
K+—potassium
KUB—kidney, ureter, bladder
L—lumbar
lab*—laboratory
lat*—lateral
LDL—low-density lipoprotein
LOC*—level of consciousness
meds—medications
MI—*myocardial infarction
MICU—mobile intensive care unit
MRI—magnetic resonance imagery
MS—*multiple sclerosis
MVA*—motor vehicle accident
Na+—sodium
NaCl—sodium chloride
neg—negative
neuro—neurology
NGT—nasogastric tube
noc (t)—night
NPO—nothing by mouth
nsg—nursing
O*—oxygen
OB—obstetrics
OD—overdose
OOB—out of bed
OPD—outpatient department
OR—operating room
ORTH—orthopedics
ortho— bones
OT—occupational therapy
oz—ounce
p—after
P—pulse
palp—palpation
pc—after meals
PE—physical exam
PEDS—*pediatrics
per—by or through
PET—positron emission tomography
PMH—*past medical history
pH—hydrogen ion concentration
pm—between noon and midnight
PNS—peripheral nervous system
po—by mouth
post-- Posterior
postop, PostOp—–postoperative
pO2—partial pressure of oxygen
preop, PreOp—before surgery
pt—*patient
PT—*physical therapy
PVC*—premature ventricular contraction
Px—physical exam, prognosis
q—every
qd—every day
qh—every hour
q2h, q3h, —*every two hours, every three hours,
qhs—every night at bedtime
qid—four times a day
qod—every other day
RBC—red blood cell/count
reg—regular
R/O—rule out
ROM*—range of motion
R.R.—recovery room
R- right
RV—residual volume
Rx—take* (prescription)
s—without
SIDS—sudden infant death syndrome
Sig:—label/write/significance
SOB—*shortness of breath
S/P- status post
SQ, sub q—subcutaneous
stat—immediately
STD—sexually transmitted disease
SVT*—supraventricular tachycardia
Sx—symptoms
S/Sx—*Signs and Symtpoms
tab—tablet
tachy—–tachycardic
TB—tuberculosis
temp (T)—temperature
TH—thyroid hormone
TIA—*transient ischemic attack
tid—three times a day
TMJ—*temporomandibular joint
tol—tolerated
trach—tracheotomy, tracheostomy
TSH—thyroid-stimulating hormone
TV—tidal volume
ur—urine
URI—upper respiratory infection
US—ultrasonic/ ultrasound
UTI*—urinary tract infection
V fib—ventricular fibrillation
V tach—ventricular tachycardia
VC—vital capacity
vo—verbal order
V/S—vital signs
WBC—*white blood cell/count
w/c—wheelchair
WNL—*within normal limits
wt*—weight
y/o—year(s) old
More terms available here:
