NURSING ENGLISH

FREDERIK MBATONO
• RSUP MALALAYANG MANADO : 1999 – 2000
(SURGICAL WARD)
• AL AMIRI HOSPITAL KUWAIT : 2001 – 2015
(ICU AND PALACE – “ROYAL MEDICAL TEAM” AS AN
INCHARGE)
MEDICAL / NURSING
TERMINOLOGY

Building a Medical Vocabulary

WHAT IS MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY?
Medical terminology is language that is used to
accurately describe the human body and associated
components, conditions, processes and procedures in a
science-based manner. It is to be used in the medical and
nursing fields.
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
A Medical Term consist of some
or all the following ELEMENT:
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• WORD ROOTS
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• WORD ROOTS
• PREFIXES
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• WORD ROOTS
• PREFIXES

• SUFFIXES
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• WORD ROOTS
• PREFIXES

• SUFFIXES
• COMBINING FORMS
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• WORD ROOTS: The main
element within a Medical
Term. Often there is more than
one root element within the
medical term. The root element
is always the subject or main
topic of the medical
term. Roots frequently refer
to a body part.
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• PREFIXES: An element at the
beginning of a medical term
which changes in some manner
the meaning of the medical term
or makes it more specific. Can
refer to Location, Time, Number
or Status
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• SUFFIXES: an element at the
end of a medical term (after the
root element) which frequently
describes a condition of a body
part or an action to a body
part. Can also refer to a
Procedure, Condition, Disorder
or Disease
NURSING TERMINOLOGY
• COMBINING FORMS: is
used between two elements
of a medical term to make the
term easier to
pronounce. Occasionally the
other vowels may be used.
WORD ROOTS
PREFIXES
SUFFIXES
COMBINING FORMS
 ROOT WORDS
Body element Greek root Latin root Examples

abdomen lapar(o)- abodomin- Laparoscopy

artery arteri(o)- — Arteriosclerosis

hemat-, haemat-
blood sangui-, sanguine- Hemorrhage
(haem-, hem-)

blood clot thromb(o)- — Thromboembolism

bone osteo- — Osteoarthritis

brain encephal(o)- cerebr(o)- Encephalitis

 ROOT WORDS
Body element Greek root Latin root Examples

breast mast(o)- mamm(o)- Mastectomy

thorac(i)-,
chest steth(o)- Thoracotomy
thorac(o)-

ear ot(o)- aur- Otisis

eye ophthalm(o)- ocul(o)- Ophthalmoscopy

heart cardi(o)- cordi- Cardiograph

intestine enter(o)- — Enterotoxins

 ROOT WORDS
Body element Greek root Latin root Examples

Nephrology,
kidney nephr(o)- ren-
renal

liver hepat- (hepatic-) — Hepatitis

pulmon(i)-
lungs pneumon- Pneumonia
(pulmo-)

mind psych- — Psychology

neck trachel(o)- cervic- Tracheotomy,

nerve; the nervous

system
neur(o)- nerv- Neurology
 PREFIX
Prefix Meaning Examples

Circum- around Circumcise (cut around)

Peri- around Perianal (around the anus)

behind
Retro- Retrosternal
(behind the breastbone)

Subclavian (below collar

Sub- below
bone)

Trans- through Transfusion, transplant

Epi- upon, on top Epidermis

 PREFIX
Prefix Meaning Examples

A- (an-) Not, without, -less Anemia (less blood)

Abnormal (away from

Ab- Away, from
normal)

Adrenal (toward the

Ad- To, towards
kidney)

Ante- Before Ante-position

Anti- Against, opposed to Antibody, antibiotic

Contra- Against, opposed Contraceptive

 PREFIX
Prefix Meaning Examples

Through, throughout,
Dia- Diagnosis, dialysis
completely

Dys- Bad, not, ill, abnormal Dysfunction, dysentery

Outside of, beyond, in

Extra- Extraordinary
addition

Homeo- Similar, same Homeostasis

Hyper Over, above, excessive Hypercalcemia

Hypo- Lack, deficiency Hyposensitivity

 SUFFIX
Origin;
Suffix Suffix Meaning Examples
Etymology

-cyte A hollow, a cell Greek; hollow Leukocyte

Greek; blood
-emia Blood condition Leukemia
illness

-ia Diseased condition Greek; sickness Insomnia

State or condition
-osis Greek; condition Prognosis
of

-itis Inflammation Greek; flaring Bronchitis

Indicating a
Latin (crab);
-oma morbid condition, Carcinoma
cancer
often a tumor
 SUFFIX
Origin;
Suffix Suffix Meaning Examples
Etymology
A surgical
operation or
-ectomy Greek; excision Mastectomy
removal of a
body part
Denotes surgical
-plasty Greek; repair Rhinoplasty
repair
Denotes a
surgical
operation or
-tomy Greek; remove Appendectomy
removal of a
body part;
incision, cutting
Denoting
-lysis loosening or Greek; freeing Dialysi
freeing up
 SUFFIX
Origin;
Suffix Suffix Meaning Examples
Etymology

-algia Pain Greek; hurt Neuralgia

-itis Inflammation Greek; flaring Laryngitis

Denotes a
-penia Greek; without Lymphopenia
deficiency or lack
Denotes something
relating to
-pepsia Greek; to digest Dyspepsia
digestion, or the
digestive tract.