Lecture Exam 1: Terms 1

Medical Terminology in Anatomy & Physiology

Understanding medical terminology is fundamental for students of Anatomy & Physiology. Many terms are constructed from prefixes, suffixes, and root words that describe anatomical structures, physiological processes, and pathological conditions. Mastery of these components aids in comprehension and communication within the health sciences.

Prefixes

Prefixes are word parts added to the beginning of a term to modify its meaning. They often indicate location, number, or time.

• A-, an-: without, devoid of, not Example: Apnea — absence of breathing; Anemia — insufficient healthy red blood cells.

• Ac-: pertaining to Example: Cardiac — relating to the heart.

• Acr-/Acro: the extremities Example: Acromion — bony prominence at the top of the shoulder blade.

• Aer-/Aero: gas Example: Aerosol — droplets suspended in air or another gas.

• Alb-: white Example: Albinism — condition characterized by absence of pigment (appearing white).

• Algesi-/Alge-/Algio: pain Example: Neuralgia — nerve pain.

• Andro-: masculine Example: Androgen — hormone that promotes male characteristics.

• Angio-: pertaining to; connected to Example: Vascular — relating to blood vessels.

• -ary: of, relating to Example: Pulmonary — relating to the lungs.

• -ate: something that Example: Hemolysate — something that results from hemolysis.

• Auto-: self Example: Autoimmune — when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

Root Words

Root words form the core meaning of medical terms and often refer to body parts or functions.

• Axill-/Axillo: the armpits Example: Axillary artery — artery located in the armpit.

• Bi-: both, dual, twice Example: Bicuspid valve — heart valve with two flaps.

• Brachii/Brachio: the armpits Example: Brachial artery — artery of the upper arm.

• Brady-: slow Example: Bradycardia — abnormally slow heart rate.

• Capit/Capito: the head; shaped like a head Example: Capitate bone — the “head-shaped” carpal bone in the wrist.

• Carcin/Carcino: cancer Example: Carcinoma — malignant tumor of epithelial tissue.

• Cardi/Cardio: heart Example: Cardiology — the study of the heart and its functions.

Common Medical Terminology Table

The following table summarizes key prefixes, root words, and their definitions and examples as used in Anatomy & Physiology.

Category	Term	Definition	Example
Prefix	A-, an-	without, devoid of, not	Apnea — absence of breathing; Anemia — insufficient healthy red blood cells
Prefix	Ac-	pertaining to	Cardiac — relating to the heart
Root Words	Acr-/Acro	the extremities	Acromion — bony prominence at the top of the shoulder blade
Root Words	Aer-/Aero	gas	Aerosol — droplets suspended in air or another gas
Root Words	Alb-	white	Albinism — condition characterized by absence of pigment (appearing white)
Root Words	Algesi-/Alge-/Algio	pain	Neuralgia — nerve pain
Prefix	Andro-	masculine	Androgen — hormone that promotes male characteristics
Prefix	Angio-	pertaining to; connected to	Vascular — relating to blood vessels
Suffix	-ary	of, relating to	Pulmonary — relating to the lungs
Suffix	-ate	something that	Hemolysate — something that results from hemolysis
Prefix	Auto-	self	Autoimmune — when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues
Root Words	Axill-/Axillo	the armpits	Axillary artery — artery located in the armpit
Root Words	Bi-	both, dual, twice	Bicuspid valve — heart valve with two flaps
Root Words	Brachii/Brachio	the armpits	Brachial artery — artery of the upper arm
Prefix	Brady-	slow	Bradycardia — abnormally slow heart rate
Root Words	Capit/Capito	the head; shaped like a head	Capitate bone — the “head-shaped” carpal bone in the wrist
Root Words	Carcin/Carcino	cancer	Carcinoma — malignant tumor of epithelial tissue
Root Words	Cardi/Cardio	heart	Cardiology — the study of the heart and its functions

Applications in Anatomy & Physiology

Recognizing and understanding these terms is essential for interpreting anatomical descriptions, physiological processes, and clinical conditions. For example, knowing that brady- means "slow" helps in understanding bradycardia as a condition of slow heart rate, which can be clinically significant.

Summary Table: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

• Prefixes often describe location, number, or time (e.g., brady- for slow).

• Root words usually refer to body parts or functions (e.g., cardi- for heart).

• Suffixes indicate procedures, conditions, or specialties (e.g., -ology for study of).

Additional info: Some terms may have multiple meanings depending on context. For example, brachial can refer to the arm or the brachial artery, a major blood vessel of the upper limb.