Medical Terminology Terms List, Abbreviations and Root Words to Know
By Arushi Trivedi on 21 Aug 2022
8 mins read
Table Of Content
Medical terminology is very essential for people even remotely related to the field, while it is mandatory for professionals working directly in the field. Medical terminology is still a good to know factor for people who want to know the commonly used medical terms.
What is Medical Terminology
A medical Terminology is a group of words very commonly used in the field of healthcare to describe procedures, processes, diseases and disorders relating to the human body and living organisms in general.
Medical terminology is a vast subject which entails all types of words used in the field of healthcare and medicine, thus it is next to impossible to know about each one of them. To make it easy for everyone to try and understand most of the words the terminology can be broken down into various categories such as:
A typical medical term includes a root word and a prefix and/or a suffix attached to it. Example –
Hypothermia consists of a prefix – Hypo which means “deficient/low” and root word – therm which means “heat”. The combined meaning of the word is – a medical emergency which occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce, causing a low body temperature.In this manner most of the medical terms can be formed by combining root word with a prefix and or suffix. Most of these root words, prefixes and suffixes are from Ancient Greek or Latin, thus their meanings come from the language of origin. Thus Medical terminology in itself is a language.
Medical terms list contain root words which mostly have a prefix or suffix with them. Medical terminology prefixes are words that are used at the start of the term and Suffixes are words used at the end of the term. Most of the terms used in the medical field can be deciphered using these prefixes and suffixes – Given is the medical terminology list that consists of prefix and suffix medical terminology.
Medical Prefixes List:
Anti - Against, opposite of
Bi - Two, double
Brady - Slow
De - Away from, down
Dys - Abnormal, difficult, painful
Endo - Within, inner
Epi - Upon, over, above
Hyper - Excessive, above normal
Hypo - Below normal, deficient
Inter - Between, among
Intra - Within, inside
Macro - Large, great
Micro - Small, minute
Neo - New
Poly - Many, much
Post - After, behind
Pre - Before, in front of
Pro - Before, in front of
Re - Again, back
Sub - Under, below
Super - Above, beyond
Tachy - Fast, rapid
Trans - Across, through
Medical Suffixes List
-algia - Pain
-centesis - Surgical puncture to remove fluid
-ectomy - Surgical removal of a body part
-emia - Blood condition
-itis - Inflammation
-logy - Study of
-oma - Tumor, mass
-osis - Abnormal condition
-otomy - Cutting into, incision
-pathy - Disease, suffering
-rrhea - Flow, discharge
-scopy - Visual examination
-oma - Swelling, tumor
-emia - Blood condition
-blast - Immature cell
-cyte - Cell
-penia - Deficiency
-emia - Blood condition
-plasty - Surgical repair
-rrhage - Bursting forth
Medical Root Words
These are the main or root words that form the whole term. In normal language, root words are clubbed with a prefix and/ or a suffix to make a whole term. These root words originate from the commonly used words such as body part (heart, liver, kidney), or part their of such as urine, blood, cells etc.
Root Word
Meaning
Blast
Germ, immature cell
Carcino
Cancer
Cardio
Heart
Cyto
Cell
Derma
Skin
Histio
Tissue
Nephro
Kidney
Neuro
Nerves
Onco
Mass/Tumor
Osteo
Bones
Paed
Child
Tox
Poison
Uria
Urine
Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms
Medical abbreviations can often be confusing, thus knowing a few common one’s is a good to know practice as they are very casually used in healthcare settings such as hospitals, laboratories, clinics, etc. Checkout these commonly used medical abbreviations that are a part of basic medical terminology list:
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ADH
Antidiuretic hormone
BMD
Bone Mass Density
BMI
Body Mass Index
BP
Blood Pressure
BPD
Borderline personality disorder
CBC
Complete blood count
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CT Scan
Computed Tomography
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DVT
Deep venous thrombosis
Dx
Diagnosis
ECT
Electroconvulsive therapy
EKG
Electrocardiogram
ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ENT
Ear, nose, and throat
ET
Embryo transfer
ETT
Endotracheal tube
FB
Foreign Body
FHR
Fetal heart rate
FISH
Fluorescence in situ hybridization
FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Fx
Fracture
GA
Gestational Age
GBC
Gallbladder carcinoma
GFR
Glomerular filtration rate
GH
Growth Hormone
GHRH
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
GI
Gastrointestinal
GIFT
Gamete intrafallopian transfer
GOD
Glucose oxidase
GU
Gastric Ulcer
HAART
Highly active antiretroviral therapy
HAI
Healthcare-associated infection
Hb
Haemoglobin
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HLA
Human leukocyte antigen
HPV
Human papillomavirus
ICU
Intensive Care Unit
ID
Intensive Care Unit
IHC
Immunohistochemistry
IM
Intramuscular
Ig
Immunoglobulin
IV
Intravenous
IVF
In vitro fertilization
LFT
Liver Function Test
LHRH
Luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone
MICA
Mental illness and chemical abuse
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NICU
Neonatal intensive care unit
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
OT
Occupational therapy
PACU
Post-anesthesia care unit
PBX
Probiotics
PK
Protein kinase
RAPD
Relative afferent pupillary defect
RFLP
Restriction fragment length polymorphism
RFT
Renal function test
Rh
Rhesus Factor
RIA
Radioimmunoassay
SARS
Severe acute respiratory syndrome
TGF
Tumor growth factor
TSH
Thyroid stimulating hormone
UTI
Urinary tract infection
VFV-fib
Ventricular fibrillation
WAT
White adipose tissue
ZDV
Zidovudine
Basic Medical Terminology List
Abdomen: The part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs
Acute: Refers to a condition that has a rapid onset and short duration
Anemia: A condition in which the body lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body's tissues
Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
Benign: Refers to a tumor or growth that is not cancerous and does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body
Chronic: Refers to a condition that lasts a long time or is persistent
Diagnosis: The identification of a disease or condition based on its symptoms and medical tests
Inflammation: The body's response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain
Prognosis: The likely outcome of a disease or condition based on medical treatment and other factors
Symptom: A physical or mental indication of a disease or condition, such as pain or fatigue
Virus: A microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside a host cell and causes various diseases
X-ray: A medical test that uses electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal body structures
Nursing Medical Terminology List
Acute: a sudden and severe onset of symptoms or illness. Anesthesia: loss of sensation or feeling, usually achieved through medication.
Anticoagulant: a medication that prevents blood clots.
Arrhythmia: an irregular heartbeat.
Artery: a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
Catheter: a flexible tube inserted into the body to remove or deliver fluids.
Chronic: a condition or disease that is long-lasting or recurrent.
Diastolic: the lower number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.
Embolism: a blockage in a blood vessel, usually caused by a blood clot or other debris.
Hemoglobin: a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Hypertension: high blood pressure. Inflammation: a localized response to injury or infection that is characterized by redness, swelling, and warmth.
Intravenous (IV): a method of delivering fluids or medications directly into a vein.
Ischemia: a lack of blood flow to an area of the body, usually caused by a blockage in a blood vessel.
Myocardial infarction (MI): commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle.
Palliative care: specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses that focuses on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life.
Prophylaxis: a preventative treatment used to protect against a particular disease or infection.
Systolic: the higher number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting.
Thrombosis: the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.
Tracheostomy: a surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the neck and a tube is inserted into the windpipe to help with breathing.
Urinary incontinence: a loss of bladder control, resulting in the accidental release of urine.
Ventilation: the process of breathing, or the mechanical assistance of breathing, in patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
Wound debridement: the removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound to promote healing.
Medical Terminology List of Desease
Here is a list of some common medical terms used to describe diseases:
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): a severe lung condition that can occur in response to injury or infection.
Asthma: a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
Cancer: a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): a class of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA or stroke): a disruption in blood flow to the brain that can cause damage to brain tissue.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Diabetes: a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): a virus that attacks the immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Hypertension: high blood pressure. Influenza (Flu): a highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory system.
Malaria: a parasitic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
Osteoporosis: a condition characterized by weak, brittle bones.
Parkinson's Disease: a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and coordination.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to the joints.
Tuberculosis (TB): a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs.
Ulcerative Colitis: a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
Zika Virus: a mosquito-borne virus that can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and other symptoms.
This article covers most of the commonly used medical terms. Hope you found what you are looking for. If you still are confused while learning new medical terminology you can add the word in the comments section below and we will get back to you with the full meaning of it which includes – prefix, suffix and root word along with the commonly used medical abbreviations and acronyms.
What is medical terminology?
Medical terminology is the language used by healthcare professionals to describe the human body, medical conditions, procedures, and treatments. It is made up of specialized words, prefixes, and suffixes that are used to create medical terms.
Why is medical terminology important?
Medical terminology is important because it allows healthcare professionals to communicate accurately and effectively with one another. It also helps patients better understand their medical conditions and treatments.
Is medical terminology difficult to learn?
Learning medical terminology can be challenging, as there are many specialized words and concepts to learn. However, with practice and study, it is possible to become proficient in medical terminology.
How can I learn medical terminology?
There are several ways to learn medical terminology, including taking courses at a college or university, enrolling in online courses, using medical terminology textbooks, and practicing with flashcards or online quizzes.
What are some common medical prefixes and suffixes?
Some common medical prefixes include anti-, bi-, dys-, hyper-, hypo-, and poly-. Common medical suffixes include -algia, -centesis, -ectomy, -emia, -itis, -logy, -oma, -osis, and -pathy.
Can medical terminology be used internationally?
Yes, medical terminology is used internationally and is often based on Latin and Greek roots. This allows healthcare professionals from different countries and cultures to communicate effectively with one another.
Is it important to understand medical terminology if I am not a healthcare professional?
While it is not necessary to understand all medical terminology, it can be helpful for patients to have a basic understanding of medical terms related to their own health and medical conditions. This can help them communicate more effectively with their healthcare providers and understand their treatment options.
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