One word medical terms

Medicine clearly has its own language, and understanding medical terminology lays a great foundation for practicing in any allied healthcare field. 

Mastering this language is a complex task, but with the appropriate learning resources, valuable tricks, and dedication, there’s no reason why you can’t learn medical terminology quickly and effectively.

Use a Medical Dictionary to Look Up Medical Terms

Using an online medical dictionary is a fantastic way to enrich your understanding of meanings and use of medical terms. If a word is tripping you up, see where it’s derived from and how it’s pronounced. Is it used outside of the medical world? Can it be used as a verb or a noun? 

Make or Use Flashcards to Learn Medical Terms

Science has discovered that people remember more when they write things down, which makes creating flashcards a great technique. If you’re trying to remember a term with a visual clue, why not use that on one side? If you simply want to test your current knowledge, use learning sites like Quizlet. Either way, repetition is your best course of action for building a robust mental list of medical terms.   

Play Medical Terminology Games

There are a variety of online medical terminology games that can help you memorize your vocabulary words. Multiple choice, memory, and matching games shake things up a bit when things start to feel a bit overwhelming.

Nowadays, there are plenty of Android and iPhone medical apps that are designed exclusively for future healthcare workers. 

Get Ahead in Your Future Allied Healthcare Career

Are you an allied healthcare student or considering a medical career? We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the medical terminology guides, classes, and books that will take your education to the next level.

Would you like to explore even more ways to make learning more enjoyable? Check out these medical YouTube channels and stay tuned to the latest news in the medical field.

Everyone comes into contact with medical terminology at some point in their lives, whether during their own visits to the doctor or reading a medical document or report. It’s safe to say that this language can be difficult to understand, almost sounding like a foreign language.

The truth is, like all specialised terminology, medical terminology has a system. That is, once you grasp the basic framework, it becomes much easier to understand exactly what a term is referring to – no matter how complicated it looks.

The purpose of this article is to break down medical terminology so that you can begin to understand it. Whether or not you are a medical student, this article will give you a solid introduction to the topic.

DEFINITION OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

What is medical terminology? Medical terminology is the vocabulary of the medical profession. It’s the specialised language of Western medicine, used to describe everything from the human body – its parts, processes, functions, dysfunctions and diseases – to all the medical procedures, interventions and pharmaceutical treatments. It’s basically the common language medical professionals use to quickly understand each other.

In language, morphology refers to how words are formed and relate to other words. The morphology of medical language works quite simply. Words are formed by combining different base elements, usually from Latin, to accurately describe any possible conditions of the human body. These elements are prefixes, root words, combining vowels and suffixes, of which each term will be a combination.

The prefix is placed at the start of a word to modify its meaning.

The root is the main part of the word.

The suffix is placed at the end of the root, also to modify the meaning.

For example, the word Gastroenteritis can be broken down into a prefix ‘gastro’, a root word ‘enter’, and a suffix ‘itis’:

Gastro – stomach

Enter – intestines

Itis – Inflammation

Through this breakdown, we can understand that Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.

Doctors and medical health professionals also make use of abbreviations to quickly communicate information. Have you ever noticed your doctor scribble something down after your consultation, only to find you can’t make sense of their notes? Well – abbreviations and acronyms are commonly used as shorthand, either for instructions on prescribed medication, to describe test results, or to quickly refer to medical conditions or parts of the body.

Medical Terms
Medical Terms

LIST OF COMMON TERMS

 Medical terminology is quite vast, but we’ve listed some of the most common medical terminology prefixes, suffixes root words and abbreviations for you below. These alone will help you interpret hundreds of medical terms.

Prefixes

a(n)      absence of

ante     before

anti      against

aut(o)   self

bi, bis   double, twice, two

brachy short

brady   slow

circum around, about

contra  against, counter

dorsi    back

dys      bad, faulty, abnormal

end(o)  inside

epi       outer, superficial, upon

eu        normal

extra    outside

hemi    half

hyper   excessive, high

hypo    deficient, low

infra    beneath

inter     among, between

intra     inside

mal      bad, abnormal

megal(o)          large

peri      around

poly     much, many

post     after

pseud(o)          false

supra   above

tachy   fast, quick

Root Words

acou, acu         hear

aden(o) gland

aer(o)   air

alges(o)            pain

andr(o) male

angi(o) vessel

ankyl(o)          crooked, curved

anter(i) front, forward

arteri(o)           artery

arthr(o) joint

articul  joint

ather(o) fatty

audi(o) hearing

aur(i)   ear

bucc(o) cheek

carcin(o)          cancer

cardi(o) heart

cephal(o)         head

cerebr(o)         brain

cervic  neck

chol(e) bile, or referring to gall-bladder

chondr(o)        cartilage

corpor  body

cost(o) rib

crani(o) skull

cry(o)  cold

cut       skin

cyan(o) blue

cyst(o) bladder

cyt(o)   cell

dactyl(o)          finger or toe

dent     tooth

derm(ato)        skin

dipl(o) double

dors     back

encephal(o)      brain

enter(o) intestine

erythr(o)          red

gastr(o) stomach

gloss(o)           tongue

glyc(o) sweet, or referring to glucose

gyn      woman

hem(ato)          blood

hepat(o)           liver

hist(o)  tissue

hydr(o) water

hyster(o)          uterus

iatr(o)  doctor

lact(o)  milk

lapar(o) flank, abdomen

latero   side

leuk(o) white

lingu(o)           tongue

lip(o)   fat

mamm(o)        breast

mast(o) breast

melan(o)          black

mening(o)        membranes

my(o)  muscle

myc(o) fungus

myel(o) marrow

nas(o)  nose

necr(o) death

nephr(o)          kidney

neur(o) nerve

nutri     nourish

ocul(o) eye

odyn(o) pain

onc(o)  tumor

oophor(o)        ovaries

ophthalm(o)     eye

orchi(o)           testes

osse(o) bone

ot(o)    ear

path(o) disease

ped(o)  child

phag(o) eat, destroy

pharmaco        drug

pharyng(o)       throat

phleb(o)          vein

pneum(ato)      breath, air

pneumon(o)     lung

pod(o) foot

poster(i)           back, behind

presby elder

proct(o)           anus

psych(o)          mind

pulmon(o)       lung

pyel(o) pelvis of kidney

pyr(o)  fever, fire

rachi(o) spine

ren(o)  kidneys

rhin(o) nose

somat(o)          body

spondyl(o)       vertebra

steat(o) fat

steth(o) chest

stom    mouth, opening

therm(o)          heat

thorac(o)         chest

thromb(o)        clot, lump

tox(i)   poison

vas(o)  vessel

ven(o)  vein

vesic(o)           bladder

xer(o)  dry

Suffixes

algesia                sensitivity to pain

algia      pain

derma              skin

ectomy excision (removal by cutting)

emia    blood

gen      become, originate

gram, graph     write, record

itis       inflammation

lys(is)  dissolve

malacia            soft

oma     tumor

opia     vision

opsy    examination

osis      condition

ostosis condition of bone

pathy   disease, emotion

penia   deficient, deficiency

peps, pept        digest

phob(ia)          fear

plasty   repair

pleg(ia) paralysis

pnea    breathing

poie     make, produce

rhag     break, burst

rhe       flow

sclerosis          hardening

scope   instrument

scopy   examination

sten(o) narrow, compressed

therapy treatment

tomy    incision (operation by cutting)

uria      urine

Abbreviations

These are just a few of the commonly used medical abbreviations you might come across.

a.c.: Before meals.

a/g ratio: Albumin to globulin ratio.

ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament. Ad lib: At liberty.

AFR: Acute renal failure

ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

b.i.d.: Twice daily.

bld: Blood.

Bandemia: Slang for elevated level of band forms of white blood cells.

Bibasilar: At the bases of both lungs.

BKA: Below the knee amputation.

BP: Blood pressure.

C&S: Culture and sensitivity, performed to detect infection.

C/O: Complaint of. The patient’s expressed concern.

cap: Capsule.

Ca: Cancer; carcinoma.

CABG. Coronary artery bypass graft.

CBC: Complete blood count.

H&H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit.

H&P: History and physical examination.

h.s.: At bedtime. As in taking a medicine at bedtime.

I&D: Incision and drainage.

IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease.

ICD: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

LCIS: Lobular Carcinoma In Situ.

LBP: Low back pain.

LLQ: Left lower quadrant.

N/V: Nausea or vomiting.

Na: Sodium.

O.D.: Right eye.

O.S.: Left eye.

O.U.: Both eyes.

P: Pulse.

p¯: After meals. As in take two tablets after meals.

p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.

q.d.: Each day. As in taking a medicine daily.

q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.

T: Temperature.

T&A: Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

t.i.d.: Three times daily. As in taking a medicine three times daily.

tab: Tablet

TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy

THR: Total hip replacement

SINGULAR TO PLURAL

If you’re confused by a word, it might be because it’s written in plural form. It’s worth getting to grips with the ten rules of singular and plural in medical terminology.

Rule Ending To make plural Example
Rule 1 Terms that end in “a” Add “e” vertebra (singular), vertebrae (plural)
Rule 2 Terms that end in “is” Change it to “es”. diagnosis (singular), diagnoses (plural)
Rule 3 Terms that end in “ex” or “ix” Replace with “ices” cervix (singular), cervices (plural)
Rule 4 Terms that end in “on” Replace it with “a” criterion (singular), criteria (plural)
Rule 5 Terms that end in “um” Replace it with “a” bacterium (singular), bacteria (plural)
Rule 6 Terms that end in “us” Replace it with “i” bronchus (singular), bronchi (plural)
Rule 7 Terms that end in “itis” Replace it with “itides”. arthritis (singular), arthrides (plural)
Rule 8 Terms that end in “nx” Replace it with “nges”. phalanx (singular), phalanges (plural)
Rule 9 Terms that end in “y” Replace it with “ies”. therapy (singular), therapies (plural)
Rule 10 Terms that end in “x” Replace it with “ces” thorax (singular), thoraces (plural)

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY BOOKS AND DICTIONARIES

There is definitely no shortage of books on the subject of medical terminology. Here is a handful of the most popular books available to buy:

For Everyday Use

Medical Terminology: A Short Course by Davi-Ellen Chabner

Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary by Elizabeth Martin

For Students and Professionals

The Language of Medicine, 11th Edition by Davi-Ellen Chabner

Medical Terminology: The Best and Most Effective Way to Memorize, Pronounce and Understand Medical Terms by David Andersson

Medical Terminology for Health Professions by Ann Ehrlich

MeDRA or the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities is an internationally recognised resource, used specifically in the pharmaceutical industry. It’s available in an array of languages including English, Japanese, French, Russian, and Chinese.

HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

It’s probably obvious to you by the way it sounds, that medical terminology finds its origins in ancient Latin and Greek. According to the National Institutes of Health, the oldest recorded medical writings are those of the ancient Greek Hippocrates, also called the ‘father of medicine’, dating back to the 5th century BC. Another significant figure whose writing are still used was the Greek doctor Galen. When Rome conquered Greece, both cultures and languages merged and from this came new terminology for medical concepts and treatment. All of this was written by hand and passed down through history.

During the Renaissance, many Latin words were used to describe the human body. Apart from Greek and Latin, numerous other languages have made their contributions to medical terminology over time, including Arabic, Chinese, Gaelic, Dutch, Italian, German, French and Spanish.

CONCLUSION

Medical terminology is initially confusing, but with a bit of patience you’ll quickly become familiar with the way it works and what even the most complex words are referring you. This knowledge is useful for understanding some of the most common ailments that you may well experience in your lifetime, or if you’re working with medical texts.

The medical language we inherited from ancient civilisations is still in use today. Prefixes, root words and suffixes, that form the basis of all medical words, usually find their origin in ancient Greek and Latin.

There are many online and offline resources for understanding medical terminology – from general guides to use at home covering basic medical terminology, to industry-recognised books and dictionaries for practitioners and medical professionals. Among the options we’ve listed here, you should find something that fits your needs.

If you need help with Medical translations, we offer professional services within the fields of Medicine and Medical Technology. Contact us to book a free consultation.

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This article covers the most important medical terminology list for medical students. We hope this helps you to improve your knowledge relating to important medical terminologies.

Medical terminology is a vocabulary of medical, medical professionals used to describe or report body conditions.

  • Studying this article in Medical Terminology helps you to learn and refresh your vocabulary and abbreviation.
  • In this article, you’ll learn about how medical terms are formed and what the purpose of this universal medical language is.
  • You’ll also be familiar, how medical terms describe body parts, procedures, and disorders.

Medical terminology is a broad or vast language used to describe the constituent and process of the human body, procedure, disorder, condition, and diseases in a science-based manner. Every health care provider or student of medicine needs to study very deeply and memorize all terminologies.

Medical terminologies work as a helpful tool for health care providers or the medical industry. This language helps to understand, what is going on with patients? What is happening? What has to be done with patients and what do they need? This language not only for doctors, nurses, or medical students, it is also necessary for the whole medical industry it may include medical coders, pharmacists, medical billers, medical assistants, lab technicians or more. You must learn this terminology and also pronounce it correctly.

Working in the medical profession has a lot of advantages but with a lot of responsibilities. Your minor mistake or error (either they are random error, systemic or personal error) in documentation, reports, or medical records of patients creates trouble and becomes life-threatening for patients and it may suffer from severe health issues.

What is the main purpose of medical terminology?

The main purpose of medical terminology is to systematize language for medical professionals. This language helps doctors or health care providers to communicate more easily, efficiently, or precisely. One more purpose of this language is, it helps to reduce error (mistakes), this makes sure the staff or health care provider take history or review very quickly from patients because health care providers have not enough time to explain the complex or difficult medical condition, pathology, treatment in English they only focus on the treatment of the patient.

Why is Medical Terminology important? 

It is important for all medical professionals to learn, say, spell and read terminologies very easily because it is a universal standardized medical language.

Firstly, this language helps health care providers or practitioners to speak or communicate

Medical terminology also has potential or capability; they don’t hurt a patient’s feelings because a common man does not understand medical language.

This broad language accurately or easily reports the patient’s condition concisely.

This universal language has a standardized way to communicate between two health care providers and also helps to answer the question of why do patients come to the hospital? What care needs to be done for patients? Medical providers deal with many patients on a day-to-day basis, these medical terms can be easily written or reported and it might consume less time.

How do you learn Medical terminology? 

  • If you are a medical student or health care provider, You cannot skip this part of education That you must learn medical terminology. If you want to be a true or faithful medical professional, you must use the universal language of medicine. But if you feel medical terminology is dull or boring to learn you must try some tips to learn medical terminologies easily. 
  • Choose phrases that sum-up definition.
  • Break the word phonetically (study to speech sounds) into syllables.
  • Just forget the spelling, concentrate and listen to the sounds of the syllables.
  • Consider how it sounds, Say it loudly.
  • Try to clear envisage (imagine) the picture with these terms in your mind. 

Types of Medical Terminology:

There are three basic parts of medical terms.

  1. A word root 
  2. A prefix
  3. A suffix

1. WORD ROOT Medical Terminologies:

A word root of a medical term is derived from a Greek or Latin noun or verb. A word root defines the basic meaning of a term. Word root does not have a prefix (front of the word) or suffix (end of a word). The root word is called the basic word because it generally indicates body parts. Most medical terms have one or more word roots.

EXAMPLE OF WORD ROOT:

Greek word Word Root

  • Gaster (stomach)                                Gastr
  • Hepar (liver)                    Hepat    
  • Kardia (heart)                                      Cardi
  • Nephros (kidney)                 Nephi
  • Osteo (bone)                                        Oste
  • COMBINING FORMS::

 Combining form indicates a body part. This form is used with particular meaning when joined with other words. Combining form is a word root or a vowel, usually as “O” and “i”.

EXAMPLE OF COMBINING FORMS:

  • Gastr/+ o = gastro (stomach)
  • Hepat/ += hepato (liver)
  • Cardi/ +o = cardio (heart)
  • Nehr/ +o = nephro  (kidney)
  • Oste/ +o= osteo    (bone)

2. PREFIX Medical Terminologies:

 The prefix is those words or letters which are placed before a word or in the beginning.

Prefix changes the meaning of a word and usually indicates a number, position, direction, time, color, or sense of negation. 

EXAMPLE OF PREFIX:

  • A-(without), mast (breast). –ia (condition) = Amastia 
  • Hyper- (excessive), therm (heat), -ia (condition) = hyperthermia
  • Intra- (in), muscle (muscle), -ar (relating to) = intramuscular

3. SUFFIX Medical Terminologies:

Suffix is those words or letters which are added at the end of a word root to make new words.

Suffix usually indicates a condition, diseases, procedures, or part of speech.

Suffix can also be combining forms.

EXAMPLE OF SUFFIX:

  • Arthr/o -centesis = Arthrocentesis

Joint puncture Puncture of joint

  • Thorac/ o -tomy = thoracotomy

Chest incision/incision of the chest

  • Gastr/ o -megaly = gastromegaly

Stomach enlargement/enlargement of the stomach

Basic Rules for Suffix:

  1.  A word root (WR) is always used before a suffix that begins with a vowel.
  • Scler + osis = sclerosis
  1. A combining vowel is used to link a word root to a suffix that begins with a consonant, and link a WR to another WR to form a compound word.
  • Colon / o + scope = colonoscopy
  • Osteo / o + chondral / itis = osteochondritis

Here is a list of common medical terms which mostly used.

Word Root With Combining Form:

  • Abdomin/ o = abdomino 
  • Acetabul/ o = acetabulo
  • Acou/ o = hearing
  • Acr/ o = height
  • Aden/ o = gland
  • Aer/ o =air
  • Algesi/ o = pain
  • Alveoli/ o = alveolus
  • Amyl/ o = starch
  • Andt/ o = male
  • Angi/ o = vessels
  • Antr/ o = antrum
  • Arche/ o = beginning
  • Arthr/ o = joint
  • Az/ o = nitrogen
  • Bar/ o = pressure
  • Bi/ o = life
  • Bil/ I = bile
  • Blephar/ o = eyelid
  • Bronch/ I,o = bronchus
  • Bucc/ o = cheek
  • Balan/ o = glans pennies
  • Burs/ o = bursa
  • Bactri/ o = bacteria
  • Bronchiol/ o = bronchiole
  • Cyst/ o = bladder
  • Cyt/ o = cell
  • Calc/ i = calcium
  • Cancer/ o = cancer
  • Cephal/ o = head
  • Chol/ e = gall
  • Chrom/ o = color
  • Chron/ o = time
  • Col/ o = colon
  • Core/ o = pupil
  • Corne/ o = cornea
  • Cyan/o = blue
  • Dactyl/ o = finger
  • Dent/ I = tooth
  • Dermat/ o = skin
  • Dextr/ o = right
  • Diaphor/ o = sweat
  • Dipl/ o = two
  • Dips/ o = thirst
  • Dors/ i,o = back
  • Dynam/ o = motion
  • Ech/ o = sound
  • Endocrin/ o = endocrine
  • Enter/ o = intestine
  • Epiglott/ o = epiglottis
  • Episi/ o = vulva
  • Erythr/ o = red
  • Esophag/ o = esophagus
  • Esthesi/ o = sensation
  • Eti/ o = cause
  • Faci/ o = face
  • Femur/ o = femur 
  • Ferri/ o = iron
  • fet/ o = fetus
  • fibr/ o = fibrous tissue
  • Galact/ o = milk
  • Gangli/ o = ganglion
  • Gastr/ o = stomach
  • Ger/ o = old age
  • Gingiv/ o = gum
  • Gloss/ o = tongue
  • Hem/ o = blood
  • Hepat/ o = liver
  • Hetr/ o = differ hidr/ o = sweat
  • hom/ o = same
  • hypn/ o = sleep
  • hyster/ o = ulcer
  • Is/ o = same
  • Ischi/ o = iscium
  • Ile/ o = ileum
  • Immune/ o = immune
  • Irid/ o = iris
  • lip/ o = fat
  • Lumb/ o = lumbar region
  • Lymph/ o = lymph
  • Labi/ o = lips
  • Lacrim/ o = tears
  • Lact/ o = milk
  • Lapar/ o = abdomen
  • Laryng/ o = larynx
  • Macr/ o = abnormal largeness
  • Melan/ o = black
  • Meningi / o – meninges
  • Ment/ o = hin
  • Morph/ o = shape
  • My/ o = muscle
  • Myc/ o = fungus
  • Myel/ o = bone marrow
  • Myelin/ o = spinal cord
  • Myring/ o = ear drum
  • Myx/ o = mucus
  • Micr/ o = small
  • Mast/ o = breast
  • Nan/ o = small
  • Narc/ o = stupor
  • Nas/ o = nose
  • Nat/ o = birth
  • Ocul/ o = eye
  • Olig/ o = few
  • Onc/ o = tumor
  • O/ o = egg
  • Or/ o = mouth
  • Pachy/ o = thick
  • Pancreat/ o = pancreas
  • Par/ o = to give birth
  • Pectr/ o = chest
  • Pelv / i= pelvis
  • Petr/ o = stone
  • Pac/ o = lense of eye
  • Phren/ o = mind
  • Pod/ o = foot
  • Pseudo/ o = false
  • Pyel/ o = renal pelvis
  • Pyr / o = fever 
  • Phag/ o = swallow. Gallop, eat
  • Phalang/ o = phalanges
  • Part/ o = bear
  • Parthen/ o = virgin
  • Py/ o = pus
  • Prim/ i= first
  • Prostat/ o = prostate gland
  • Pneumat/ o = lungs
  • Phleb/ o = vein
  • Rhin/ o = nose
  • Rect/ o = rectum
  • Ren/ o = kidney
  • Sinister/ o = left
  • Steht/ o = chest
  • Scoli/ o = crooked or bent shape
  • Somn/ i, o = sleep
  • Steat/ o = lipid or fat
  • System / o = system
  • Sial/ o = saliva
  • Toc/ o = labour
  • Tympan/ o = eardrum
  • Terat/ o = mal formed of fetus
  • Tom/ o = cut
  • Toxic/ o = poison
  • Uvul/ o = uvula
  • Ungu/ o = nail
  • Urethr/ o = urethra
  • Verd/ o = green
  • Vertebr/ o = vertebra or vertebral column
  • Vesic/ o = bladder
  • Ventricul/ o = ventricle
  • Radic/ o = nerve root
  • Reticul/ o = network
  • Rhytid/ o = wrinkles
  • Sclera/ o =hard
  • Seb/ o = sebum
  • Sder/ o = iron
  • Son/ o = sound
  • Sphygm/ o = pulse
  • stomat/ o = mouth
  • Tars/ o = tarsal
  • Tend/ o = tendon
  • Therm/ o = heat
  • Tibi/ o = tibia
  • Trich/ o = hear
  • Uln/ o = ulna 
  • Ureter/ o = ureter
  • Ur/ o = urine
  • Vagin/ o = vigina
  • Valvul/ o = valve
  • Ven / o = vein
  • Vir/ o = virus

Prefix;

  • A- (without)
  • Ab- (away from)
  • An- (absent or without)
  • Ante- ( before)
  • Anti- ( against)
  • Ad- (towards)
  • Apo- (upon)
  • Bin- (two)
  • Bi- (two)
  • Brady- (slow)
  • Cata- (down)
  • Circum- ( around)
  • Contra- (against)
  • Con- (with, together)
  • Diplo- (double)
  • Dia- (through)
  • Dys- (pain, difficult)
  • Di- ( two)
  • Ecto- (out, outside)
  • EPI- (On, upon)
  • Hemi- (half)
  • Hypo- (below, deficient)
  • E- (Out)
  • Ex- (outside)
  • Eso- (inward)
  • Endo- (within)
  • Extra- (outside)
  • Infra- ( under)
  • Intra- (within)
  • Inter- (between, centre)
  • In- (into, not)
  • Micro- (small_
  • Multi- (many)
  • Meso- (middle, between)
  • Megalo- (large)
  • Pro- (before)
  • Pre- (infront)
  • Peri- (surrounding)
  • Juxta- (beside)
  • Mal- (bad)
  • Meta- (after, beyond)
  • Mega- (large)
  • Neo- (new)
  • Pachy- (thick)
  • Per- (through)
  • Poly- (many)
  • Retro- (back)
  • Semi- (half)
  • Super- (abover)
  • Tachy- (fast) 
  • Trans- (across, beyond)
  • Tri- (three)
  • Tetra- (four)
  • Ultra- (large, extra)
  • Uni- (one)
  • Un- (not)
  • Xero- (dry)

Sufix:

  • -Al, -ar (pertaining to)
  • -asthenia (weakness)
  • -agra (extreme pain)
  • -ase (enzyme)
  • -algia (pain)
  • -capno (pertaining to carbon)
  • -centesis (puncture)
  • -cidal (killing)
  • -cyte (cell)
  • -clasia (break)
  • -cule (little)
  • -clysis (irritation, itching)
  • desis (surgical fixation)
  • -dynia (pain)
  • -ectomy (surgical removal)
  • -emia ( blood in vomiting)
  • -er (one who)
  • -esis (condition)   
  • -ectopia (displacement)
  • -form (resemblance)
  • -genesis (cause or origin)
  • -gram (record)
  • -graphy (process of recording)
  • -graph (instrument to record)
  • -ia (abnormal sate)
  • -ial (pertaining to)
  • -ician 9 one who)
  • – it is (inflammation)
  • -ism (state of) 
  • -lepsy (seizure)
  • -lysis (separation)
  • -let (little)
  • -malacia (softening)
  • -mania (madness)
  • -megaly (enlargement)
  • -morphic (shape)
  • -orrhagia (rapid flow of blood)
  • -orrhea (flow, discharge)
  • – oma (tumor)
  • -opia (vision)
  • -osis (conbdition)
  • -opsy (to view)
  • -ologist (one who practice)
  • -oxia (pertaining to oxygen)
  • -orrhexis (rupture)
  • -pathy (diseases)
  • -penia (abnormal reduce of number)
  • -pepsia (digestion)
  • -phagia (swallowing)
  • -phasia (speech)
  • -philia (love)
  • -phobia (fear, frightness)
  • -ptosis (dropping)
  • -ptysis (spitting)
  • -pnea (breathing
  • -rhage (bursting)
  • -rhea (flow)
  • -sarcoma (tumor, cancer)
  • -scope (instrument for visual examination)
  • -spasm (contraction)
  • -stenosis (narrowing)
  • -stomy (surgical opening)
  • -stalsis (contraction)
  • -schisis (split)
  • -salpinx (fallopian tube)
  • -thorax (chest)
  • -tripsy (surgical crushing)
  • -tropic (acting on)
  • -Tocia (birth labor)
  • -Tomy (incision cutting)
  • -Tome (instrument used to cut)
  • -y (condition of)
  • -ule (little)
  • -uria (urine)

BASIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY:

  • ANATOMY: Anatomy is study of part of body and body structure
  • GYNECOLOGY: Gynecology is the study and treatment of the female reproductive system and urinary tract.
  • HEMATOLOGY: treatment of blood disorder and malignancies of the blood
  • MICROBIOLOGY: Study of bacterial and viral infection.
  • NEUROLOGY: the study of the brain, spinal cord disorder.
  • PATHOLOGY: Names of any diseases or disorder.
  • ONCOLOGY: Known as chemotherapy (treatment of cancer)
  • PEDIATRIC: Assistance for infants or children.
  • PSYCHIATRIC: Study and treatment of mental health problems.
  • RHEUMATOLOGY: Study-related to musculoskeletal disorder.
  • UROLOGY: Study-related to bladder and kidney disorder.

BODY STRUCTURE: 

Our body is complex and it consists of many systems that lead our body. These subsystems provide a variety of purposes that require the body to function properly. The human body is the structure of human beings. Our body is composed of different types of cells, tissues, and organs. When these groups of organs work together to perform body function it is called a system. These systems are:

  1. Musculoskeletal system.
  2. Endocrine system
  3. Integumentary system
  4. .Reproductive system.
  5. Nervous system
  6. Digestive System.
  7. Respiratory system

The study of this human organ system involves anatomy, physiology, histology, and embryology but here we focus on medical terms including conditions, diseases, disorder, and treatment. The objective of defining these systems is 

  • To learn combining forms using words that relate to specific systems.
  • Learn the terms of common pathological conditions, disorder, procedure or treatment.

MUSCULOSKELETAL:

Your muscles are doing serious work every single minute, hours of every day. The musculoskeletal system consists of muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and bones. The adult skeleton has 206 bones. The main function of the musculoskeletal system is to provide support, protection, stability and allow us to move easily in our daily life. To assess or evaluate musculoskeletal systems, carefully inspect patients and examine the joints, bones and check any swelling, redness and flexibility. 

There is a list of musculoskeletal systems including (conditions, procedure, diseases and orthopedic specialty).This section contains word roots with combining form, prefix and suffix that are used for medical terminologies.

WORD ROOT AND COMBINING VOWEL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL 

SYSTEM:

  • Arthro (o) = joint 
  • Burs (o) = bursa 
  • Cost (o) = rib
  • Clavicul(o) = clavicle
  • Carp (o) = wrist
  • Chondr (o) = cartilage
  • Crani (o) = skull
  • Fibul (o) = fibula 
  • Femar (o) = femur
  • Humer (o)  = humerus
  • Ischi (o) = ischium
  • Ili (o) = ilium 
  • Metacarp (o) metacarpus 
  • Muscul (o) = muscle 
  • Medibul (o) = mandible
  • Maxilla (o) = maxilla 
  • Metatars (o)  = metatarsus
  • My (o)  = muscle
  • Myel (o)  = bone marrow
  • Oste (o) bone 
  • Phalang (o) = phalanges
  • Patell (o) = patella
  • Paelv (o) = pelvis 
  • Pub (o) = pubis 
  • Radi (o) = radius 
  • Scapul (o) = scapula 
  • Stern (o) = sternum
  • Sacr (o) = sacrum
  • Spondyl (o) = vertebra 
  • Tibi (o) = tibia
  • Ten (o) = tendons
  • Uln (o) = ulna
  • Vertebr (o) = vertebra

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SUFFIX AND PREFIX

  • Articul-   (joint)
  • Axi- (axi)
  • Epi- (on)
  • -fibrous (composed of fibrous tissue)
  • -gene ( from which generate)
  • Myo-  (muscle)
  • Ortho- (feet)
  • Oste- (bone)
  • -osterm  (bone)
  • -physis  (growth)

Musculoskeletal specialist:

  • Orthopedics: relates to the problem of joints and spine.
  • Orthopedist: specialization in an orthopedic (to Correct congenital and functional and abnormalities).
  • Orthopedic surgery: perform operation or surgery with a disorder of spine and joint
  • Orthopedic surgeonA doctor who diagnoses the injury of muscular-skeletal

Structure and function of muscular-skeletal:

  • Articular cartilage: cartilage covering the articular surface of Bones
  • Arial skeletal: part of skeletal consist of a head and vertebral boxes
  • Bone: It helps to form the body structure.
  • Cartilage: It is firm flexible connective tissue it cures and protects long bones or rib cages.
  • Cartilaginous joint: where two bones meet to form slightly movement.
  • Compact bone: outer covering of a skeletal structure.
  • Diaplysis: straight growing of long bones.
  • Epiphysis: Epiphysis is end part of long bones it is round and of long bones
  • Fibrous joint: It is found in the skull and slightly moveable joint.
  • Joint capsule: It is composed of two or more layers of regular collagenous connective tissue.
  • Ligament: It is a tissue that connects two bones and forms a joint.
  • Ossification (oss-bone): Formation of bone matrix 
  • Osteoblast: cell makes bone maintain the balance between activities
  • Osteoclasts: it is specialized that absorbs and remove allowing the development of new bone 
  • Osteocytes: star-shaped type of bone cell found on mature bone tissue
  • Osteogenesis: Formation of bone 
  • Periosteum: Dense layer of vascular tissue enveloping the bones 
  • Synovial fluid: viscous fluid present in the cavity of the synovial joint.
  • Tendon: Fiber connective tissue which attaches muscle to bone
  • Vertebra: Animal that has backbone or skeletal

Movement of muscle:

  • Abduction: movement away from the body.
  • Adduction: movement towards the body. 
  • Circumduction: circular movement.
  • Eversion: movement of sole and foot toward or away from the middle of the body.
  • Flexsion: banding the joint to create an angle.
  • Inversion: a movement to sole and feet towards inwards the middle of the body.
  • Pronation: rotation of joints by facing upward and away movement.
  • Rotation: Turning body parts on its axis 
  • Supination: rotation of joints by facing inward or towards the movement.
  • Joint X-ray: to diagnose fracture In bone or joints
  • Prosthesis: replacement of body part

Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system:

  • Atrophy: Atrophy is a disorder in which muscle decreases in size as a result of a lack of physical activity.
  • Contracture: make a permanent fixation of joints.
  • Dislocation: displacement of a bone from its origin.
  • Fibromyalgia: it is a disorder associated with muscle fatigue and muscle pain.
  • Fracture: Refers to the breakage of a bone.
  • Kyphosis: an abnormal condition of the vertebral column.
  • Myalgia: muscle pain.
  • Myopathy: disorder or abnormal condition of skeletal muscle.
  • Scoliosis: an abnormal condition of a vertebral column.

Procedures of the Musculoskeletal system:

  • Arthrography: Method to visualize inside the joint.
  • Arthroplasty: Refers to the surgical repair of degenerative or abnormal joints.
  • Arthrocentesis: Refers to surgical puncture of joints by use of a needle.
  • Arthroscopy: Refers to the visual examination of joints.
  • Bone graft: repair of skeletal defects by using a piece of bone from another part of the body.
  • Bone X-ray: radiograph image to find problems in the bone.

Endocrine System:

Endocrine is a system that is made up of small major glands and these glands regulate hormones in our body. These hormones level in blood may change according to body functions. Endocrine glands are usually responsible for sexual maturation and this system also helps to store energy in our body.

Hormones that regulate our endocrine glands: 

  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): This hormone regulates the thyroid gland function.
  • Adinocarticotrophine Hormone (ACTH): It regulates adrenal cortex function.
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): This hormone responsible for the development of ovary and sperms.
  • Luteinizing Hormone (LH): It stimulates the secretion of sex hormone.
  • Growth Hormone (GH): This hormone is also known as somatotropin hormone.
  • It stimulates cells to divide.
  • Prolactin (PRL): It stimulates milk production.
  • Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH): This hormone is responsible for producing melanin in the body.
  • Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): This hormone regulates the absorption of water by kidney tubules.
  • Oxytocin: It stimulates uterine contact during delivery.

Diseases Or pathologies of the endocrine system:

  • Acromegaly: Condition refers to the enlargement of extremities.
  • Dwarfism: short structure, head body proportion.
  • Gigantism: A condition refers to an abnormal overgrowth of the body.
  • Hypophysitis: inflammation of hypophysis.
  • Euthyroid: condition with normal thyroid.
  • Goiter: an immune disorder due to the overproduction of thyroid.
  • Hyperparathyroidism: excessive production of parathyroid hormone.
  • Hyperthyroidism: overgrowth of the thyroid gland.
  • Hyperparathyroidism: Deficiency of parathyroid hormone.
  • Myxedema: Type of hypothyroidism in adulthood.
  • Thyroiditis: IRefers to inflammation of the thyroid.
  • Hyperglycemia: abnormal high level of sugar in the blood.
  • Hypoglycemia: abnormal low level of sugar in the blood.
  • Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas.
  • Gynecomastia: increase breast size on male.
  • Hypergonadism: excessive secretion of Hormone due to the sexual gland.
  • Hypergonadism: Deficiency of hormone due to the sexual gland.

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM:

Your body is a complicated system and it’s consisting of many subsystems that help to keep function appropriately. The skin (Integumentary system) is the defense mechanism of the immune system. The term integumentary refers to skin. These structures include hairs, nails, and glands (sweat and oil). The main function of the Integumentary system is to act as a barrier and protect the body from the external environment. It also protects the body from dehydration and acts as a receptor (for touch, pain, heat and cold).

Here we learn Integumentary system terminologies (Specialties, conditions, diseases or treatment). If you need to remember word root with combining vowels, suffix or prefix, then you may go starting off this article to learn suffix and prefix briefly. 

Integumentary specialist:

  • Dermatology: Dermatology is the study of skin including nails and hair.
  • Dermatologist: A doctor or physician who treats skin problems or disorders.
  • Plastic surgery: Plastic surgery is a surgery of skin to treat disorders of the skin.
  • Plastic surgeon: A specialist of skin who repairs and treats the integumentary system.

Conditions of Intehumentary system:

  • Acne: Acne is a disease of the skin in which pimples or abscess occur.
  • Alopecia: Alopecia is lacking in hair disorder.
  • Birthmarks: Birthmark is not a disease or disorder it is the discoloration of the skin by birth.
  • Carcinoma: Carcinoma is a malignant tumor.
  • Cellulitis: Cellulitis is inflammation of cells.
  • Clubbing: Clubbing is an abnormal growth of the distal end of the finger.
  • Cyanosis: Condition refers to discoloration of the blue color of the skin due to the insufficiency of oxygen.
  • Dermatitis: Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin.
  • Eczema: Eczema is a type of dermatitis, the cause of eczema is unknown.
  • Fissure: Fissure is splitting (crack) of skin.
  • Furuncle: Furuncle is an infection of the hair follicle.
  • Hematoma: Hematoma is a collection of blood in the skin that causes cancer or tumor of the skin.
  • Hemangioma: It is a condition in which blood vessels gather and cause benign tumors.
  • Jaundice: Jaundice is the yellow color of the skin due to an increased level of serum albumin.
  • Keloid: (Kel means tumor): Keloid is an abnormal growth of scar tissues. 
  • Melanoma: (melan pertaining to Melanocyte/ oma means tumor): Melanoma is a malignant tumor of the skin which is composed of melanocytes.  
  • Onchylosis: (oncho means nails/lysis means separation or breakdown): Onchylosis is the separation of nails from its origin.
  • Papule: papule is a lesion of the skin caused by epidermis disorder.
  • Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a disorder of the skin which is covered by dry scales.
  • Ulcer: Ulcer is open sores that develop in the lining of the esophagus.
  • Wheal: wheal is a condition in which the area of skin appears red or pale in color due to any allergy or infection.

 Procedures of Integumentary system:

  • Cryosurgery: (Cryo means cold): 
    • By using cold (freezing) temperature treat the disorder of the skin. Mostly cryosurgery treats cancer-related to skin.
  • Electro dissection: (Electro means electricity/ desiccare means dry):
    • It is the procedure in which damaged tissue is destroyed by the process of burning with an electric spark.
  • Liposuction: (Lipo means fat/ suction means to aspire a liquid)
    • By using suctioning devices remove adipose or fat tissues.
  • Phototherapy: (photo means light/ therapy means treatment)
    • By using light treat skin diseases or disorders.
  • Skin graft: 
    • Take a piece of skin implant to cover another area of skin infections.

Reproductive system:

The human reproductive system is a system by which humans reproduce and give birth to offspring. The reproductive system is a group of internal or external organs (both male and female) that work together. The important function of the reproductive system is,

  • Fertilization of ovum by sperm cells.
  • Release of the ovum at a specific time in the reproductive cycle (at age of puberty).
  • Formation of placenta and birth of a child.

But when this reproductive cycle is disturbed by any cause or at times of birth it may cause multiple disorders, diseases.

 Reproduction is a sensitive or touchy subject, Complete with large scale vocabulary of medical terminology. Make sure you take the time to memorize or learn these terminologies. 

Male pathological conditions:

 Medical terms are complicated and subject to several types of conditions. Make sure you are familiar with the vocabulary of male reproductive (conditions, diseases or disorder).

  • Andropathy: Diseases related to man.
  • Aspermia: It is a disorder of the absence of sperm.
  • Anorchism: Absence of testicles (either one or both)
  • Balanitis: Inflammation of glans pennies.
  • Balanocele: Rupture of glans pannis.
  • Epispadias: Opening of the male urethra (by congenital)
  • Epididymitis: Inflammation of epididymis.
  • Hydrocele: Fluid fill in testis it may cause a hernia.
  • Oligospermia: It is a condition of scanty (few) sperm.
  • Orchitis: Inflammation of testis.
  • Prostatitis: Refers to Inflammation of prostate glands.
  • Prostatorrhea: Abnormal discharge from the prostate.
  • Testicular carcinoma: A malignant (tumor) of the testis.
  • Varicocele: swollen of veins near testis.

Male reproductive diseases:

  • Chlamydia: Chlamydia is a disease of the eye and genital tract that may result in the discharge of the penis and cause itching (irritation) of the genital tract.
  • Genital Herpes: Genital herpes is an infection of skin results in redness of skin with blister formation,
  • Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection called gonococcus. It is a contagious disease.
  • Human immune deficiency (HIV): This may lead to AIDS. HIV infects the T-Cells and compromises the immune system.
  • Syphilis: Syphilis is a chronic or severe disease. It affects any organ of the body.

Female pathological conditions: 

These conditions refer to the female reproductive system.

  • Amenorrhea: the absence of menstruation.
  • Cervicitis: Cervicitis is inflammation of the cervix.
  • Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation (periods)
  • Endometritis: Inflammation of endometrium wall.
  • Hydrosalpinx: Fallopian tube filled with water.
  • Mastitis: Inflammation of the breast.
  • Menometrorrhagia: Abnormal flow of blood during menstruation (periods)
  • Menorrhagia: A condition refers to heavy menstruation.
  • Oophoritis: Inflammation of ovary.
  • Vaginitis: Inflammation of vigina.
  • Missed abortion: Miscarriage by expulsion has not taken place.
  • Puberty: The female reproductive cycle starts (begins).

Female reproductive diseases:

Woman’s mental disturbance or sexual problems are complicated interlink disorders. Most common terminologies of the female reproductive disorder are:

  • Adenomyosis: Growth of endometrium in the myometrium.
  • Breast carcinoma: Cancer (tumor) of the breast.
  • Endometriosis: Abnormal condition of endometrial tissue.
  • Fibrocystic diseases: It is a disease of breast cancer that results in breast cancer.
  • Ovarian cyst: Fluid-filled in the ovary.
  • Prolapsed uterus: Displacement of the uterus.
  • Toxic shock syndrome: It is a severe disease usually in the menstruation period by using tampons.

Surgical and therapeutic intervention:

  • Coloplasty: Surgical repair of vigina.
  • Colporrhaphy: Suturing of vigina.
  • Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus.
  • Oophoropexy: surgical fixation of the ovary.
  • Oophorosalpingectomy: Removal of uterine tube and ovary.
  • Circumcision: Surgical removal of the foreskin.
  • Orchidectomy: Surgical removal of testes.
  • Castration: Enlarging the veins.
  • Bilateral Orchiectomy: Surgical removal of both testicles.
  • Vasectomy: Surgical removal of sperm 
  • Vasovasostomy: It is a procedure to protect fertility after vasectomy.
  • Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of all parts of glands.
  • Radical prostatectomy: Surgical removal of seminal vesicles and their surrounding tissues. 

Nervous System:

The nervous system is a major regulatory and controlling system. The nervous system is the center of all mental activity. It transmits signals from all parts of the body. The nervous system consists of two main parts,

  1.  The central nervous system (CNS): CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
  2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): It consists of two parts,
  3. Somatic nervous system: It controls and regulates internal parts of the body.
  4. Autonomic nervous system: It is responsible for sympathetic (responsible for fight and flight) or Parasympathetic activity (responsible for stimulation of res and digest).

WORD ROOT AND COMBINING VOWEL OF NERVOUS SYSTEM:

  • Algesi/ o = (sensitive of pain)
  • Crani/ o = (cranium)
  • Cerebell/ o = (cerebellum)
  • Cephal/ o = (head)
  • Dur/ o = (dura)
  • Encephal/ o = (brain)
  • Esthesi/ 0 + ( feeling of sensation)
  • Kinesi/ o = (motion or movement)
  • Mening/ o = (meninges)
  • Ment/ o = (mind)
  • My/ o = (muscle)
  • Neur/ o = (nerve)
  • Psych/ o = ( mind)
  • Pont/ o = (pons)
  • Redicul/ o = (nerve root)
  • Thalm/ o = (thalamus)

NERVOUS SYSTEM SUFFIX AND PREFIX:

Prefix:  

  • Hemi- (half)
  • Paro- (beyond)
  • Polio- (gray)
  • Pachy- (thick)
  • Quid- (four)
  • Sub- (before)

Suffix:

  • -algia (pain)
  • -it is(inflammation)
  • -malacia (softening)
  • -plegia (paralysis)
  • -paresis (partial paralysis)
  • -schisis (splitting)
  • -themia (weakness)

Nervous system specialist:

  • Psychiatrist: who treats mental disorders.
  • Psychiatry: psychiatry is a branch of science who deals with mental illness or mental disorders.
  • Psychogenic refers to psychological factors.
  • Psychosomatic: pertaining to mental health.
  • Neurology: diagnosis and treatment of the nervous system.
  • Neurosurgery: treating nervous system disorder by surgery.

Nervous system conditions:

  • Convulsion: alternating between involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation.
  • Conscious: unable to respond to stimuli.
  • Coma: state of profound unconsciousness.
  • Delirium: confusion or agitation.
  • Dementia: impaired mental function.
  • Focal seizure: seizure in one limb or body part.
  • Hemiparesis: weakness on one side.
  • Hemiplegic: paralysis on one side.
  • Monoplegia: paralysis of one limb
  • Paralysis: temporary or permanent loss of movement.
  • Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower portion.
  • Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs.
  • Palsy: loss of ability to control movements.
  • Paresthesia: abnormal sensation.
  • Tremor: involuntary movement of muscles.

Nervous system pathology:

  • Astrocytoma: It is a malignant (tumor) in astrocytes (neurological cells).
  • Alzheimer’s diseases: epileptic seizures, it is a disorder by disorientation, apathy, and results in loss of memory.
  • Brain tumor: It might be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) it occupies space intracranially. 
  • Bell’s palsy: One-sided paralysis due to any inflammation or infections.
  • Cerebral contusion: it is a disorder of bruising in the brain includes (unconsciousness, vomiting or vertigo).
  • Cerebral palsy: It is a neurological problem that occurs in childhood and affects body movement or causes muscle contraction.
  • Cerebral aneurysm: It is a disorder of weakened arteries in the brain and may cause abnormal widening of arteries.
  • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA): Due to loss of blood supply to the brain, it infarcts the area of the brain. And cause sudden death of the brain. CVA is also known as a stroke.
  • Epidural hematoma: It is the mass of blood outside the dura.
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome: temporary loss of myelin sheath is caused by a virus.
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Loss of myelin sheath due to weakness.
  • Transient Ischemic Attack: It happens when the supply of blood to the brain is blocked. It is a stroke that lasts for a few minutes.
  • Epilepsy: loss of consciousness caused by the uncontrolled electrical activity of the brain.
  • Hydrocephalus: Accumulation of Cerebos spinal fluid.
  • Migraine: It is a type of headache with severe pain.
  • Meningocele: protrusion of meninges sac from the spinal cord.
  • Reye syndrome: Acute encephalopathy with organ damage.
  • Poliomyelitis: It is a viral infection that affects the spinal cord.
  • Parkinson’s disease: It is a chronic disorder of brain tremor.
  • Spinal cord injury: Damage of spinal cord due to any injury or trauma.
  • Spina bifida: It is a congenital defect where the lamina of the vertebra does not meet from the spinal cord.
  • Subdural hematoma: a mass of blood inside the subdural.

Procedure and treatment of Nervous system:

  • Brain scan: images of the brain after injected isotopes in the bloodstream.
  • Cerebral angiography: X-ray of cerebral blood vessels.
  • Carotid endarterectomy: It is a procedure to remove the blockage of an artery 
  • Encephalography: It is an ultrasound image of the brain.
  • Electroencephalography: record electrical activity of the brain.
  • Lumbar puncture: puncture to remove fluid (cerebrospinal fluid)
  • Laminectomy: it is a procedure to remove part of the vertebra
  • Tractotomy: Refers to Surgical incision of the nerve tract.
  • Digestive system:

The digestive system plays an important role in our body. Mechanical digestion is the process of breakdown of food into smaller pieces. The main function of the digestive system is to digest the food efficiently. 

To remind word roots with combining form or suffix and prefix, read the above list which is given at the starting of the article.

Digestive system specialist:

  • Proctologist: A physician specializing disorder or pathologies of tectum and anus.
  • Gastroenterology: a study that deals with the digestive system.
  • Gastroenterologist: A physician whose specialization is in the digestive system.

Condition and disorder of the digestive system:

  • Aphthous stomatitis: appear sores in the mouth. 
  • Asphyxia: Inability to swallow.
  • Ascites: Accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavities. 
  • Cleft palate: congenital Split in the roof of the mouth or upper lip. 
  • Cholelithiasis: It is a condition in which stone is present in gall. 
  • Constipation: Involves a dry bowel movement.
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing.
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty in breathing.
  • Dyspepsia: facing problems or difficulty indigestion.
  • Diarrhea: Abnormal discharge of liquid stool.
  • Diverticulitis: Condition refers to inflammation of pouches on the wall of the colon and large intestine.
  • Edentulous: without teeth. 
  • Emesis: refers to vomiting stomach expelled food from outside of the mouth. 
  • Esophagitis: inflammation of the esophagus.
  • Gastrodynia:refers to pain in stomach.
  • Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach. 
  • Gingivitis: inflame of gum. 
  • Melana refers to a black stool with blood.
  • Nasogastric: pertaining to nose or stomach.
  • Nausea: Uncomfortableness of lungs results in vomiting. 
  • Regurgitation: returns of solid food particles or fluid from the stomach (vomiting like condition). 
  • Herpes simplex: it is caused by herpes virus result in blisters on lips or nose. 
  • Hyperemesis: excessive (a large amount of) vomiting. 
  • Hematemesis: Refers to blood in vomiting. 
  • Hepatomegaly: refers to the enlargement of the liver. 
  • Hemorrhoids: twisting of veins (outside or inside of Anus).
  • Steatorrhea: refers to excessive fat in the stool. 
  • Volvulus: twisting of intestine.

Digestive system procedure and therapeutic interventions:

  • Abdominal ultrasound: Imaging technique of high-frequency sound to view internal organs
  • Abdominal X-ray: Radiograph imaging test to view internal organs
  • Appendectomy: Surgical procedure to remove the appendix.
  • Barium: A technique in which liquid use to coat organs than they show x-ray.
  • Barium enema: A procedure to evaluate large intestine abnormalities.
  • Colonoscopy: Examine the large intestine.
  • Colostomy: A surgical procedure, the opening is made in the abdomen or colon to pass stool.
  • Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Test to looks bile and pancreatic duct abnormality.
  • Endoscopy: Refers to examine the digestive tract.
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): By using endoscope examine inside of the esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine.
  • Gastrostomy: Surgical procedure to create an artificial opening in the stomach.
  • Herniography: Operation to treat a hernia.
  • Laparoscopy: A procedure in which a camera passes at the end to examine organs abnormalities.
  • Ostomy: Surgical procedure to create an artificial opening in the wall of the abdomen and bring a portion of the intestine through the opening for passing the stool easily.
  • Pyroplasty: Enlarge the opening between the stomach and the small intestine.
  • Sigmoidoscopy: A test to view the rectum and large intestine abnormalities.

      Respiratory System:

The respiratory system is a system consisting of a specific structure. The human respiratory system is responsible for gaseous exchange (intake oxygen and expelled Co2). The lungs provide the tissue with a continuous flow of oxygen-rich supply.

Respiratory system specialty:

  • Pulmonology: The study deals with anatomy, physiology, and pathology of lungs.
  • Pulmonologist: A one who treats lung condition or disorder.

Condition Of respiratory system;

  • Anthracosis: It is a black lung disease.
  • Asbestosis: It is a disease in which particles of dust or coal settle down in the lungs. 
  • Silicosis: It is a disorder in which the lungs are fibrosed, which is caused by the inhalation of dust containing silica.
  • Pulmonary abscess: condition refers to the formation of pus in the lungs. 
  • Pulmonary edema: The fluid-filled in air sacs due to a decrease in blood supply. It may cause swelling. 
  • Pulmonary embolism: The clot is formed and floats in blood vessels cause blockage of blood vessels.
  • Adenoiditis: refers to inflammation of adenoids. 
  • Atelectasis: Incomplete expansion of Lungs 
  • Bronchiectasis: Refers to the dilation of blood vessels.
  • Bronchitis: refers to inflammation of bronchi or bronchial.
  • Laryngitis: refers to inflammation of the larynx. 
  • Pneumothorax: It is a disorder in which air comes into the lung. 
  • Pulmonary neoplasm: Pathology refers to abnormal growth of lung cancer and tumor. 
  • Rhinitis: refers to inflammation of the nose. 
  • Tonsillitis: refers to inflammation Of tonsils. 
  • Tracheitis: refers to inflammation of the trachea.
  • Procedure and Therapeutic intervention :
  • Chest X-ray: termed as radiograph of the chest to evaluate the lungs. 
  • Decortication of lungs: refers to surgical removal of the surface layer of the lung. 
  • Endotracheal intubation: It is a procedure in which a tube is placed through the mouth to establish an airway.
  • Lobectomy: Surgical removal of a lobe of the thyroid gland, lung, liver, or brain.
  • Pulmonary Angiography: to visualize pulmonary arteries or pulmonary veins. 
  • Pleurocentesis: surgical puncture to aspirate fluid. 
  • Pneumonectomy: surgical excision of lungs. 
  • Sputum culture: to analyze the sputum.
  • Thoracocentesis: puncture of the chest wall to obtain fluid for releasing the pressure in the lungs. 
  • Thoracotomy: surgical incision in the chest cavity (space). 

Urinary system:

The urinary system is also a known renal system. It consists of a kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra. The main function of the urinary system is to maintain the internal environment.

Remove the waste product from the body.

Balance the water and electrolytes level in the body and maintain PH.

Urinary system conditions: 

  • Anuria: It is a condition of complete lack of urine production and a lack of urine excretion.
  • Azotemia: a condition refers to nitrogenous waste in the bloodstream.
  • Calculus: The stone formed within an organ from mineral salts.
  • Catheter: A flexible tube inserted into the body; commonly through the urethra into the bladder.
  • Diuresis: refers to increased formation and secretion of urine.
  • Enuresis: involuntary discharge of urine and also known bed-wetting at night.
  • Uremia: a condition refers to the accumulation of waste products in the bloodstream.
  • Urgency: feeling the need to urinate immediately.
  • Urinary incontinence: the involuntary release of urine.
  • Urinary retention: inability to fully empty the bladder.
  • Voiding: refers to another term of urination.
  • Nephrolithiasis: the presence of calculi (stone) in the kidney.
  • Nephritic syndrome (NS): A pathological condition which damage to the glomerulus.
  • Nephroptosis: A disorder refers to a floating kidney.
  • Polycystic kidney: Formation of numbers of cyst in the kidney.
  • Bladder cancer: A tumor cancer of the bladder.
  • Cystocele: Protrusion of urinary bladder.

Procedure and therapeutic interventions of the urinary tract:

  • Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): A blood test to evaluate the kidney.
  • Clean Catch Specimen: Take urine sample after cleaning of the urinary meatus.
  • Urinalysis; Microscopic examination of urine.
  • Cystography; Contrast dye placed in the bladder to obtain the x-ray.
  • Excretory urography; Dye injects in the bloodstream to seen the radiographic image.
  • Voiding cystourethrography; Dye placed in the bladder and taken x-ray to examine urethra.
  • Cystoscopy; To examine urinary bladder by using a cystoscope.
  • Retrograde pyelogram; Dye injected to visualize bladder, ureter and renal pelvis.

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Last updated:

April 24, 2022

60+ Handy English Medical Vocabulary Terms for Sticky Situations

Doctors use some strange words.

You don’t need to be a doctor or have an expert medical vocabulary for day-to-day survival, but it’s still important to know basic English medical terms.

This guide will help teach you some of the basics, as well as some advanced concepts, too.

Contents

  • Why Learn English Medical Vocabulary?
  • Learn the Basics: Body Parts
  • Common Medical Words to Help You at the Doctor or Hospital
  • Learn Adjectives That Describe Systems and Areas of the Body
  • Identify Different Types of Doctors


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Why Learn English Medical Vocabulary?

It could save your life. It’s all about your health. These English medical vocabulary will help you know what kind of doctor to see.

But most importantly, you’ll be able to accurately describe your problem or condition, so the doctor will know how to treat you. You might need to know these terms even when you aren’t at the doctor’s office. If you know the right terms, you’ll be able to figure out what medicines or vitamins to take to keep you healthy.

Knowing medical terms can help in your career too! If you have an interest in medicine, but haven’t considered a job in the medical field, now is the time to do it. There are so many different jobs that can use folks with medical knowledge.

You could do medical writing, become a medical technician, a medical translator or (of course) a nurse or doctor. All of these jobs will require professional English and knowledge of certain vocabulary words.

People are always going to get sick, so the medical industry isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s a great field to enter if you want the security of knowing that your job will be around for a long time.

Lastly, if you simply love medical shows (like “Grey’s Anatomy”), learning medical words in English can help you better understand what the show is talking about!

Learn the Basics: Body Parts

Let’s begin with the most basic part of your health: the different body parts and organs. Believe it or not, it’s quite possible these words will come up in everyday conversations in English.

For example, if your friend asks you whether or not you’re feeling well, you can confidently reply, “My stomach hurts.” Or, if a coworker says they’ve been having heart problems, you’ll know exactly what they’re referring to.

  • Skeleton — This refers to the bones your body is made up of, it’s the framework that supports your body.
  • Brain  The most important organ in your body. It’s protected by your skull and controls all of your thoughts and movements.
  • Heart — The other most important organ of the body. This is located in your chest and pumps blood throughout your body.
  • Lungs — You have two lungs underneath your ribs. They help breathe in air and keep it in your body.
  • Liver — Your liver is located on the right side of your body, beneath your lungs. It helps clean out bile (liquid that helps digestion) and other toxins in your body.
  • Stomach — The stomach is located on the right side of your body, next to the liver. It’s where the food you eat gets digested.
  • Small intestine — This organ is located underneath the stomach and absorbs nutrients and minerals from your digested food.
  • Large intestine — From the small intestine, digested food travels to the large intestine, which helps furthers the digestion process and stores water.

Common Medical Words to Help You at the Doctor or Hospital

There’s a special medical term for almost everything, including certain body parts or conditions. Learn these to become more medical-savvy and also improve your fluency overall.

For example, if someone says, “My daughter’s arm was fractured during the game, so we took her to the hospital where they put a cast on it,” you’ll know exactly what they mean.

  • Abdomen — A fancy way of referring to the area of the body that has your stomach and other digestive organs.
  • Ambulance — This is a special kind of truck that brings patients to the hospital when they need help.
  • Bandage — A strip of material used to cover or protect an injured part of the body.
  • Bilateral — Something (like a disease or injury) that affects both sides of the body.
  • Cancer  This is a condition where abnormal cells form and grow on or within the body. In many cases, it can disrupt your organs and other bodily functions.
  • Cast — Have you ever broken your arm? A cast is a hard type of bandage that’s used to support and protect a broken bone.
  • Colon — This is another name for the large intestine.
  • Crutches — Two long sticks used to support someone who cannot properly walk because of a leg or foot injury.
  • Diagnosis — When a doctor or specialist examines your symptoms and identifies an illness or other health problem.
  • Emergency — This is when someone’s injury or illness is so bad or life-threatening that they need immediate medical attention.
  • Extremity — The part of a limb (arm or leg) that is farthest from the torso. In other words, your hands and feet.
  • Fever — This is when your body temperature is too high.
  • Flu — This is short for influenza, which is a very contagious virus characterized by fever, body aches, congestion, coughs and more.
  • Fracture — A fracture is a fancy way of saying a break or crack in someone’s bone.
  • Hernia — A condition where part of an organ protrudes through the muscle that surrounds it.
  • Incision — A cut made in someone’s skin or flesh during surgery.
  • In-patient — A patient who stays at a hospital to get treated.
  • Lesion — An area in an organ or tissue that has received damage from an injury or disease, such as a wound or tumor.
  • Operation — This is another name for a surgery (see below) or a similar procedure.
  • Organs — These are the parts of your body that perform vital functions needed to live, such as your heart, stomach, liver and so on.
  • Out-patient — A patient that receives treatment outside of a hospital, like at a regular doctor’s office.
  • Pain — We’ve all experienced this at some point in our lives. Pain is feeling uncomfortable because of a physical injury or illness.
  • Physical — This word has two medical definitions. It could mean relating to the body (for example, “she felt physically weak”) or could it could mean a yearly medical examination by a doctor.
  • Prosthesis — An artificial body part replacement.
  • Scar — A mark left on the skin or body from an injury.
  • Surgery — The treatment of internal injuries or disorders by cutting open the body and removing or repairing the damaged part.
  • Syringe — This is another name for a needle. These are used to draw blood from someone or inject them with something, such as a vaccine (see below).
  • Thermometer — A device used to take someone’s temperature to see if they have a fever.
  • Tumor — This is related to cancer. It’s a swelling part of the body caused by abnormal cells.
  • Vaccine — Do you get a flu vaccine every year? This is a substance that helps prevent a disease or virus.
  • Vomit — A common phrase for this is “throw up.” It’s when you feel sick and expel the food that was in your stomach through your mouth.
  • Wheelchair — A chair with wheels used by people who can’t walk.
  • X-ray — An X-ray is when the doctor takes a picture of your bones to see if they’re broken, damaged or injured.

Learn Adjectives That Describe Systems and Areas of the Body

There are many different types of doctors, body parts and conditions that fall into different categories. Knowing these words would be helpful so you that can always know the area of the body being discussed. If you want to further practice these words, it can help to see them in use. Videos like the authentic ones on the FluentU language learning program can be a good way to see words in use by native English speakers. You can also make flashcards of each word, in this program or any of your favorite flashcard-making apps.

So if you hear someone say “cardiovascular,” you’ll understand they’re talking about something to do with the heart, blood vessels and blood. That being said, let’s go over this list of common medical adjectives.

  • Cardiovascular — Having to do with your heart, blood vessels and blood.
  • Coronary — Relating to the arteries that surround your heart and supply it with blood.
  • Gastrointestinal — This is a fancy way to refer to body parts that relate to your stomach or intestine, including your esophagus, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.
  • Integument — This refers to your hair, nails and skin.
  • Muscular — This term is pretty straight-forward. It means your muscles and tendons.
  • Nervous System/Neurological — This adjective relates to your brain and other systems that control your body, like your spinal cord, nerves and sensory organs.
  • Respiratory — These parts of your body help you breathe, such as your nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs.
  • Skeletal — Anything to do with your bones, skeleton and joints.
  • Sensory — Do you notice the word “sense” in this word? It has to do with your five senses and their respective body parts, including your eyes, ears, nose, skin and mouth.
  • Urinary — This term refers to body parts that control your urine, like the kidneys or bladder.
  • Vascular — This word pertains to your blood vessels.

Identify Different Types of Doctors

Because there are so many weird medical terms, doctors in special fields have weird names too. Sometimes even fluent English speakers get confused about which doctor to see. For example, a doctor that treats foot or ankle conditions is called a “podiatrist,” which sounds nothing like “feet.”

Below is a list a of common doctors who treat different problems and diseases and have pretty odd names. Make sure to learn them so you’ll know what kind of doctor to see and get the right kind of advice.

  • Allergist (immunologist) — Achoo! This is a doctor who treats allergies.
  • Cardiologist — A doctor who treats hearts and heart disease.
  • Dermatologist — If you have bad breakouts, you would need to see this kind of doctor, who specializes in skin.
  • Gastroenterologist — This is a doctor who treats the stomach and digestive organs.
  • Neonatologist — Many married couples visit these because this doctor cares for infants and babies.
  • Neurologist — A doctor specializing in brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases.
  • Obstetrician — Expecting mothers visit this doctor because they treat pregnant women.
  • Oncologist — A doctor who’s an expert in cancer.
  • Ophthalmologist — When you need new prescription glasses, you visit this doctor because they specialize in the eyes.
  • Otolaryngologist — An ear, nose and throat doctor.
  • Pediatrician — A doctor who cares for young children.
  • Podiatrist — A doctor who treats feet and ankle injuries or conditions.
  • Psychiatrist — This is a doctor who treats mental illnesses and helps people with depression or similar problems.
  • Pulmonologist — A doctor specializing in lungs.
  • Rheumatologist — A doctor specializing in diseases of the joints, such as arthritis.
  • Sports medicine specialist — If you get an injury while playing a sport or doing a physical activity, you would see this kind of doctor.

After reading this post, you should be prepared to choose the right kind of doctor and let them know about any medical conditions you have.

You’ll also be able to understand the information or advice they give you. Use this to your advantage to stay healthy and happy.


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can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Medical terminology is language that is used to describe anatomical structures, processes, conditions, medical procedures, and treatments. At first glance, medical terms may appear intimidating, but once you understand the standard structure of medical words and the definitions of some common word elements, the meaning of thousands of medical terms is easily unlocked.

Most medical terms adhere to a fixed structure of a prefix, a root, and a suffix. These word components are assembled like building blocks to create a vast vocabulary.

The physicians of Greece are considered the founders of rational medicine, and medical terms are primarily derived from Greek and Latin.1 Over the centuries, the language of medicine has evolved into multiple national medical languages. Today, medical English is the primary language for international communication. It is used in most influential medical journals and has become the language of choice at international conferences.2

Basic Term Structure

Medical terms are composed of the following standard word parts:

  • Prefix: When included, the prefix appears at the beginning of a medical term and usually indicates a location, direction, type, quality, or quantity.
  • Root: The root gives a term its essential meaning. Nearly all medical terms contain at least one root. When a prefix is absent, the term begins with a root.
  • Suffix: The suffix appears at the end of a term and may indicate a specialty, test, procedure, function, disorder, or status. Otherwise, the suffix may simply define whether the word is a noun, verb, or adjective.
  • Combining vowel: A combining vowel (usually the letter “o”) may be added between word parts to aid in pronunciation.

Breaking a word down into its component parts should help readers ascertain the meaning of an unfamiliar term. For example, hypothermia has the prefix hypo- (meaning below normal), the root therm (heat or warmth), and the suffix -ia (condition).

Prefix, root, and suffix for hypothermia.

Word Roots

A word root is the foundational element of any medical term. Roots often indicate a body part or system.

Common word roots:

Head
brain encephal
ear oto, aur
eardrum tympan, myring
eye ophthalm, ocul
face faci
nose rhin
skull crani
tongue lingu
tooth odont, dent
Heart and Circulatory System
aorta aort
arteries arteri
blood hem, sangu
blood vessels angi
heart cardi
veins ven, phleb
Bones and Muscles
arm brachi
back dorsa
bone oste
foot pod, ped
muscle myo
rib cost
shoulder scapul
wrist carp
Digestive System
appendix append
colon col
esophagus esophag
intestine (usually small) enter
kidney ren, neph
liver hepat
stomach gastr
Other Common Roots
cancer carci
drug chem
electric electr
heat therm
knowledge gnos
life bi
pressure bar
returned sound echo

Compound Words

A medical word may include multiple roots. This frequently occurs when referencing more than one body part or system. For example, cardio-pulmo-nary means pertaining to the heart and lungs; gastro-entero-logy means the study of the stomach and intestines.

Combining Forms

A combining vowel is used when a root is followed by another word part that begins with a consonant. A combining vowel (usually the letter «o») is added after the root (e.g., neur-o-logy) to aid pronunciation. The root and vowel together (e.g., neur-o) are called the combining form. For simplicity, the word part tables do not include combining vowel options.

Root, combining vowel, and suffix for neurology.

Prefixes

A prefix modifies the meaning of the word root. It may indicate a location, type, quality, body category, or quantity. Prefixes are optional and do not appear in all medical terms.

Common prefixes:

Size
large macro-, mega(lo)-
small micro-
Number
half semi-
half (one side) hemi-
one mono-, uni-
two | three | four bi- | tri- | quad(ri)-
equal equi-
many poly-
Level
above normal hyper-
below normal hypo-
normal/good eu-
Time or Speed
before pro-, pre-, ante-
after post-
back/backward retro-
again re-
fast tachy-
slow brady-
new neo-
time, long time chron-
Location or Relationship
away from ab-
above supra-
around peri-
across trans-
between inter-
out of, outside ex-, ec(t)-
self auto-
through, completely dia-
together con-
toward ad-
within, inside end(o)-
Function or Quality
against anti-, contra-
bad mal-
cause eti-
without a-, de-
abnormal, bad dys-

Suffixes

Medical terms always end with a suffix.3 The suffix usually indicates a specialty, test, procedure, function, condition/disorder, or status. For example, “-itis” means inflammation and “-ectomy” means removal.

Alternatively, the suffix may simply make the word a noun or adjective. For example, the endings -a, -e, -um, and -us are commonly used to create a singular noun (e.g., crani-um).

Although the suffix appears at the end of the term, it often comes first in the definition. For example, appendicitis
means inflammation (-itis) of the appendix.4 Accordingly, it is sometimes helpful to read unfamiliar medical terms from right to left.

Occasionally, medical terms are composed of only a prefix and a suffix. For example, apnea includes the prefix a- (without) and suffix -pnea (breathing).

Common suffixes (letters in parentheses are not always present):

Basic Noun and Adjective Suffixes
(noun form) -a, -e, -um, -is
causing -genic
condition -ia, -ism, -sis, -y
specialty -iatry, -iatrics, -ics
specialist -ian, -ist
structure -um, -us
small, little -ula, -ulum, -ulus
study of -logy
pertaining to -ac, -ar(y), -(e/i)al, -ic(al), -ior, -ory, -ous, -tic
Tests and Procedures
removal of -ectomy
image/record -gram
recording instrument -graph
process of recording -graphy
cut in -otomy
visual examination -scopy
opening -stomy
Pathology or Function
blood (condition of) -emia
breathing -pnea
inflammation -itis
condition or disease -osis
deficiency -penia
disease -pathy
excessive flow -rrhag(e/ia)
mass, tumor -oma

Plural Forms

Adding an “s” or “es” to the end of a word is often the straightforward method to make a word plural in English and many modern Romance languages. In medical terminology, however, things are a little more complicated. The plural form of each word is based on the last two letters of the singular suffix.

There are several exceptions. For example, “virus” is a Latin term without a plural form. “Viruses” is the accepted plural form. Elsewhere, the suffix “s” or “es” occasionally prevails in common usage. For example, the plural form of “hematoma” is “hematomas” rather than “hematomata.”

Common singular endings and corresponding plural endings:

Plural Forms5
Singular Plural
a ae
en ina
ex, ix, yx ices
is es
ma mata
(a/i/y)nx (a/i/y)nges
um a
us i

Additional resources:

  • OpenMD Medical Dictionary and word parts glossary, which provides definitions for 750 medical roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
  • Understanding Medical Words by MedlinePlus provides a concise introduction to medical terminology and several quizzes.
  • TheFreeDictionary’s Medical Dictionary by Farlex is a comprehensive dictionary of medical terms (including word parts) from American Heritage, Collins Encyclopedia, and other major publishers.

Related Guides:

  • The History of Medical Terminology
    Review of the Greek and Latin origins of modern medical terminology.

References

  1. Banay GL. An Introduction to Medical Terminology I. Greek and Latin Derivations. Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 1948;36(1):1–27.
  2. Wulff HR. The Language of Medicine. J R Soc Med. 2004;97(4):187–8.
  3. Ehrlich A, Schroeder CL. Introduction to Medical Terminology. 3rd ed. Delmar, Cengage Learning; 2014:5.
  4. Nath, JL, Lindsley KP. A Short Course in Medical Terminology. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2018:38.
  5. Cohen BJ. Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide. 6th ed. Baltimore: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011. Tables 2–4.

Published: January 9, 2020

Last updated: March 22, 2023

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