Medical Terminology

Prefixes

100

hypo

This prefix means below normal or deficient, as in hypoglycemia.

200

hyper

This prefix means above normal or excessive, as in hypertension.

300

tachy

This prefix means fast, as in tachycardia.

400

brady

This prefix means slow, as in bradypnea.

500

peri

This prefix means around or surrounding, as in pericardium.

Suffixes

100

-itis

This suffix means inflammation, as in bronchitis.

200

-ectomy

This suffix means surgical removal, as in appendectomy.

300

-ology

This suffix means the study of, as in cardiology.

400

-algia

This suffix means pain, as in neuralgia.

500

-emia

This suffix means the condition of blood, as in anemia.

Root Words

100

cardi-

This root refers to the heart, as in cardiac.

200

hepat-

This root refers to the liver, as in hepatic.

300

nephr-

This root refers to the kidney, as in nephrology.

400

gastr-

This root refers to the stomach, as in gastritis.

500

pneumon-

This root refers to the lung, as in pulmonary terminology using the root pneumon-.

Directional Terms

100

anterior

This term means toward the front of the body.

200

posterior

This term means toward the back of the body.

300

proximal

This term describes a body part closer to the trunk or point of attachment.

400

distal

This term describes a body part farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

500

medial

This term means toward the midline of the body; the opposite is lateral.

Anatomical Positions

100

anatomical position

In this standard position, a patient stands upright, faces forward, and has palms facing forward.

200

supine

This position describes a patient lying on the back, face upward.

300

prone

This position describes a patient lying face downward.

400

sagittal plane

This plane divides the body into left and right portions

500

transverse plane

This plane divides the body into upper and lower portions.