Medical Terminology 101
Words that are commonly used among different health care practitioners
Medical Terms
The Abbreviation for Blood Pressure
BP
The medical root word for the heart
cardiac, cardio
This muscular organ pumps blood throughout your body. Your heart is the only circulatory system organ. Your lungs are part of your respiratory system.
Heart
Broken bone or cartilage.
Fracture
Letters added to the beginning of a medical word to modify the meaning
Medical prefixes
The abbreviation for Twice a Day
BID
gastro, gastric
Strong, flexible tissue that acts like a shock absorber in joints throughout your body.
Cartilage
High Blood Pressure
Letters added to the end of a medical word to change the meaning
Medical suffixes
The abbreviation for diagnosis
Dx
pneumo, pulmonary, pulmonic
Any place two bones meet
Joints
A cut or scrape that typically isn’t serious.
Abrasion
These base part of a medical word that conveys meaning.
The abbreviation for by mouth
PO
The medical root word for the kidneys
renal, nephro
This is where digestion begins
Mouth
A bruise.
Contusion
Short hand versions of common health care terms.
Medical Abbreviations and acronyms
Rx
The medical root word for the liver
hepatic, hepato
These blood vessels connect very small arteries (arterioles) and veins (venules)
Capillaries
Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.
Edema