contrasting prefixes
ab v ad
ab = abnormal
ad = addiction
sign
symptom
syndrome
sign—objective evidence, such as a fever
Symptom—subjective evidence of disease (pain, headache), and can ONLY be evaluated by the patient.
syndrome—a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process
If the singular term ends in the suffix "a," then the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to___.
ae as in bursa (fluidlike sac or saclike cavity) versus bursae
e.g. bursitis—inflammation of a bursa, typically ib the knee, elbow, or shoulder
dys v. eu
dys = bad, difficult, or painful
e.g. dysfunctional
eu =good, normal well, or easy
e.g. Eupenea means easy or normal breathing
diagnosis
differential diagnosis
prognosis
diagnosis—identification of a disease
differential diagnosis—(D/DX) also known as a rule out (R/O); is an attempt to determine which one of several possible diseases is causing the signs and symptoms that are present
prognosis—the prediction and probable course and outcome of a disease
If the singular term ending in the suffix "ex" or "ix," the plural is usually formed by changing these endings to _______?
ices
e.g. appendix becomes appendices
index becomes indices
hyper v. hypo
hyper = excessive or increased
hypo = deficient or decreased
e.g hypertension = high blood pressure
hypotension = low blood pressure
acute
chronic
remission
acute—a condition that has a rapid onset, a svere course, and a relatively short duration
chronic—a condition of long duration. Controlled but rarely cured.
remission—the temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure
If the singular term ends in "is," the plural is usually formed by changing these endings to _______.
es
e.g. diagnosis to diagnoses
metastasis to metastases
inter v. intra
inter = between or among
e.g. interstitial—between but not within the parts of a tissue
intra = within or inside
e.g. Supracoststal—above the ribs
disease
eponym
acronym
disease—disease in which one or more body parts are not functioning normally. somediseases are named for their signs and symptoms sucha as chronic fatigue syndrome
eponym—a disease, structure, or operation named for the person who described it first like Alzeheimer's
acronym—a word formed from the initial letters such as LASER—Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
If the singular term ends in the suffix "itis," the plural is usually formed by changing the "is" to ________
ides
e.g arthritis to arthrides
meningitis to meninggitides
dextro v. sinistro
dextro—right side
sinistro—left side
dextroscoliosis—spinal curve bending to the right
sinistropedal—preferential use of the left foot
fissure
fistula
fissure— (1) a groove or crack-like sore of the skin
(2) normal folds in the contours of the brain
fistula—an abnormal passage between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surgace of the body. May be due to surgery, injury, or draining an abscess
If the singular term ends in the suffix "nx," the plural is usally formed by changing the "x" ending to _____.
ges
e.g. phalanx to phalanges
phalanx = a bone of the finger or toe
ex v. in
ex = out of, outside, away from
in = in, into, not, without
e.g. expiration
e.g intramuscular
ILEUM
ILIUM
ILEUM—the last and longest portion of the small intestine
ILIUM—part of the hip bone (tip i for the i in hip)
If the singular term ends in the suffix ends in "on," the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to an _______.
a
e.g. criteria becomes criterion
ganglia become ganglion
ganglia = (1) a structure containing several nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses, and often forming a swelling on a nerve fiber (2) a network of cells forming a nerve center in the nervous system of an invertebrate (3) a well-defined mass of gray matter within the central nervous system
macro v. micro
macro—large, abnormal size, long
micro—small
e.g. macrocytosis— red blood cells are larger than normal, a lab finding that can point to something low vitamin B12 or folate, alcohol use, liver problems, certain medicines, or bone marrow issues.
e.g. microcyte—unusually small red blood cell
infection
inflammation
infection—invasion by a pathogenic organism. Although the suffix ITIS = inflammation, it is also commonly used to indicate infection. e.g meningitis mening refers to the meninges (three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and the cause of the inflammation is the infection
inflammation—response to injury or destruction of tissues. SIGNS: erytheme (redness) hyperthermia (heat) edema (swelling)
If the singular ends in the suffix "um," the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to _____.
a
example ovum to ova
ovum = egg
mega/megalo v. oligo
mega—large or great
oligo—scanty or few
e.g., megaloblast—large, abnormally large blood cell
e.g. oliguria—the production of small amounts of urine
laceration v. lesion
laceration—a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut
lesion—a pathologic change of the tissues fue to disease or injury (lesions on the brain = cancer)
If the singular ends in the suffix "us," the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to _____.
"i"
e.g., alveolus to alveoli (any of the many tiny air sacs of the lungs which allow for rapid gaseous exchange)
e.g., malleolus to malleoli (a bony projection with a shape likened to a hammer head, especially each of those on either side of the ankle.)
pre v. post
pre—before
post—after
prenatal—before birth
post—postoperative
Mucous v. Mucus
Mucous—specialized membranes that line the body cavities
Mucus—the fluid secreted by mucous membranes
ectomy
surgical removal
e.g appendectomy—the surgical removal of the appendix (append = appendix; ectomy = surgical removal
palpation v. palpitation
palpation—an examination technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.
palpitation—a pounding or racing heart
ologist v ology
ologist—specialist such as a dermatologist (skin doctor)
ology—the study of such as NEONATOLOGY—the study of disorders of the newborn (neo=new; nat = birth; ology = study of
ostomy
a surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface
e.g., colostomy—the surgical creation of an artificial excratory opening between the colon and the body surface (col = colon; ostomy = the surgical opening of an artificial opening.)
malaise
exudate
malaise—a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first sign of infection or disease
exudate—any fluid such as pus that leaks out of an infected wound
myelopathy v. myopathy
myelopathy—any injury, degeneration, or disease in the spinal cord (myel/o = spinal cord or bone marrow and pathy = disease)
myopathy—describes any pathologic change or disease of the muscle tissue (my/o=muscle and pathy =disease)
otomy
cutting or surgical incision
e.g., pyelotomy = a surgical incision into the renal (kidneys) pelvis to remove obstructions such as kidney stones (pyel means renal pelvis, and otomy means surgical incision