Medical terminology is composed of a prefix, root word, and suffix:
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.
Additional resources: [Intro to med terms] [Med terms rules] [Med term reference] [Word building reference] [Practice Exams]
Medical terminology is used to precisely describe the human body components, processes, illnesses, medical procedures, and pharmacology. Medical terms are used in the field of medicine, and clinical settings. This section deals with all med terms beginning with the letter D, and features medical roots, prefixes and suffixes. Introduction to Medical Terminology.
tear sac; lacriman sac
lack of; down; less; removal of
to bind; tie together
widening; stretching; expanding
to enlarge, expand
apart, to separate
bad: painful: difficult: abnormal
See if you can spot the suffixes, prefixes, and/or root words.
Prefix denoting tear .
Prefix indicating tear gland .
Dacryoadenitis
Acute or chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland, which causes pain, edema, and erythema in the superotemporal orbit.
Prefix denoting the tear sac or the lacrimal sac .
Dacryocyst
The upper dilated part of the nasolacrimal duct, that serves as a reservoir for the overflow of tears.
Dacryocystitis
Inflamed lacrimal sac; can be either acute (caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species) or chronic (resulting from the chronic obstruction due to systemic disease or chronic infections).
Prefix denoting the digits - fingers and toes .
Dactylitis
Puffiness or swelling of an entire digit; can be acute or chronic. Dactylitis is considered an indication of arthritis.
Polydactyly
Polydactyly or hyperdactyly, an anomaly characterized by one or more extra fingers or toes; it is usually genetic.
Prefix denoting without, lack of, down, less, or removal of .
Deficiency
State of being in short of or lacking something. In medicine, a deficiency is a lack or shortage of vitamins or minerals essential for the body.
Prefix denoting people or population .
Prefix denoting tooth .
Dentistry
Dentistry, or oral medicine, profession dealing with the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of diseases of the teeth, gum, and oral cavity.
Dentist
Medical professionals specialized in dentistry.
Denture
A removable replacement for one tooth, several, or all of the teeth; false teeth.
Prefix denotes skin .
Dermatologist
The medical expert who specializes in the treatment of skin diseases.
Dermatology
The branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses, and manages any health conditions that may affect the skin, fat hair, nails, and membranes.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, also known as eczema, the general term for skin inflammation or the group of ailments that inflame the skin. There are several types of dermatitis, the most common being atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.
Root word to denote drying .
Desiccation
The process of removing moisture; to dry out a substance completely. Desiccation is done in a desiccator, which contains a desiccant (a hygroscopic substance that induces dryness) such as calcium chloride.
Disc Desiccation
Age-related degenerative disc disease; refers to the dehydration of the vertebral discs caused by wear and tear on the spine.
Suffix denoting binding, tying together, or surgical fusion .
Arthrodesis
Arthrodesis, also known as artificial ankylosis or syndesis, joint fusion performed to treat arthritis.
Prefix denoting the right-hand side .
Dextrorotation
Clockwise rotation or rotation to the right-hand side.
Root word denoting through, throughout, or complete .
Diachronic
An event happening over time.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying the complete nature of an illness
Dialysis
Thoroughly cleansing the blood of wastes and extra fluid when kidneys fail to do so.
Prefix denoting sweat .
Diaphoresis
Excessive or profuse sweating in relation to the body activity and environment. Diaphoresis is associated with sleep apnea, anxiety, pregnancy, menopause, diabetes, or anaphylaxis.
Prefix denoting dilation .
Dilation
The process of widening, stretching, or expansion. In terms of human physiology, dilation is an autonomic process that regulates or controls the passage of fluids and solids within the body.
Combining form denoting "double" or "in pairs" .
Diplopia
Seeing two images of a single object; double vision or amblyopia; caused by misalignment of the visual axes.
Prefix denoting thirst or thirsty .
Dipsosis
Abnormally intense thirst, occurring when the water content in the body falls below normal. Any activity that causes perspiration, fever, heat exhaustion, diabetes, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuretics cause dipsosis.
Prefix denoting far, distant, or away from .
Distal
Anatomically, distal refers to parts of the body away from the trunk or center of the body. For example, the wrist joint is distal to the elbow.
Prefix denoting long or narrow .
Dolichocolon
Dolichocolon, or colon elongatum, unusually large and redundant colon.
Denoting dolor , which means physical/mental pain, suffering, or distress. Pain is a signal from the nervous system that something may be wrong with the body.
Prefix denoting the back or posterior . From Latin dorsum. The back, buttocks, calves, and knuckles are examples of the dorsal surfaces in the human body.
Suffix denoting syndrome ; from Greek sundromē meaning to run or together.
A syndrome is a group of recognizable traits or symptoms that tend to occur together and represent a specific disease.
Prefix denoting to lead or carry .
In anatomy and physiology, ducts are drainage pipes that carry biological fluids (blood, bile, and lymph, for example) and neurotransmitters.
Denoting duodenum , the first of the three portions of the small intestine. It is a C- or horseshoe-shaped structure curved around the head of the pancreas. Duodenum facilitates the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.
Indicating dura matter . Dura matter, or pachymeninx, the outermost meningeal layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Prefix denoting power, energy, or strength .
Suffix denoting pain .
Gastrodynia - Stomach pain; also called gastralgia and stomachalgia.
Otodynia - Ear pain
Cephalodynia - Headache; caused by stress, eyesight problems, poor sleep, hormonal imbalance, or brain trauma.
Colpodynia - Vaginal pain
Prefix denoting pain, difficulty, disorder, or
abnormality .
Dysuria - pain or burning during or after urination; an indication of urinary tract infection.
Dyspnea - air hunger resulting in breathlessness, sometimes accompanied by chest pain.
Dysplasia - abnormal growth or development of cells, tissues, or organs.
Dystonia - slow repetitive movements or abnormal postures, caused by infections, trauma, or stroke.
Dystrophy - weakness or degeneration of tissue or organ. Muscular dystrophy, for example.
Dysphonia- disordered speech; hoarseness.
Dysentery - a type of gastroenteritis that causes painful, bloody diarrhea.
Dysphagia - the inability to swallow foods, liquids, or even saliva with ease; caused by acid reflux, epiglottis, esophagitis, goiter, mouth cancer, or oesophageal cancer.
Dyspepsia - persistent or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen; also described as indigestion, upset stomach, or gassiness.
Dysmenorrhea - extremely painful menstruation
Dyslexia - difficulty with, or little interest in reading, writing, spelling, and learning,
Dysrhythmia - an abnormal rhythm; especially the electrical activity of the brain or heart.
Dysphoria - a mood disorder characterized by a profound sense of unease, dissatisfaction, or anguish. It’s a symptom associated with anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
Dyskinesia - Rapid, involuntary, and uncontrollable movements that can affect either a part of the body, like the extremities, or the entire body.
Quick Introduction- provides an overview and introduction to medical terminology. Medical Terms- rules governing singular versus plural versions of medical terms are described. Medical Terminology Exams- twenty new exams were created to test your knowledge of medical terminology.
Word Building Reference- This resource strengthens your understanding of medical terminology. See how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
Medical Terminology Intuitive Section This section was developed for 'speed learning' of medical terminology. Start by reviewing the meanings for a block of medical terms, and then go back and choose a previous term randomly and try to recall the meaning of that particular medical term before hovering over the term to determine the answer. These frequent mini-tests will accelerate the learning process and in a relatively short period of time, you will be able to quickly recall the meaning of all of the listed medical terms. This method of learning is superior to flash cards because of the frequent exposure and testing of your recall.
