MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Click here for common used terminology

Health care professionals and students are not the only one's who greatly benefit from knowing medical terminology. When any individual visits doctor's office or have the need to go to the hospital, he/she always hears some form of medical terminology. Whether they are referring to a test, diagnosis, part of your body or the need to see a specialist. 

         For the health care professional, it's imperative to know the medical terminology. Medical terminology can contain a prefix, root word, a combining vowel and a suffix to create medical terms. These terms can contain multiple root words, combining vowels etc. It is must to be very precise when dictating a term; if someone misuses a letter or word, he/she will be changing the term, which could lead to unnecessary tests, appointments and treatment or an incorrect diagnosis of a patient.

Prefix: A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. Pre means "before." Prefixes may also indicate a location, number, or time. 

Root: central part of a word.      

Suffix:  The ending part of a word that modifies the meaning of the word.

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Singular versus plural rules:

Rule one:

Terms that end in "a", for plural add an "e". Example: vertebra (singular), vertebrae (plural).

Rule Two:

Terms that end in "is", for plural change it to "es". Example: diagnosis (singular), diagnoses (plural)

Rule Three:

Terms that end in "ex" or "ix" for plural replace with "ices". Example: cervix (singular), cervices (plural)

Rule Four:

Terms that end in "on" for plural replace it with "a". Example: criterion (singular), criteria (plural)

Rule Five:

Terms that end in "um" for plural replace it with "a". Example: bacterium (singular), bacteria (plural)

Rule Six:

Terms that end in "us" for plural replace it with "i". Example: bronchus (singular), bronchi (plural)

Rule Seven:

Terms that end in "itis" for plural replace it with "itides". Example: arthritis (singular), arthritides (plural)

Rule Eight:

Terms that end in "nx" for plural replace it with "nges". Example: phalanx (singular), phalanges (plural)

Rule Nine:

Terms that end in "y" for plural replace it with "ies". Example: therapy (singular), therapies (plural)

Rule Ten:

Terms that end in "x" for plural replace it with "ces". Example: thorax (singular), thoraces (plural)

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