Medical Terminology - Introduction to word roots, prefixes, suffixes, abbreviations, and acronyms

Sep 28, 2026

Medical Terminology explains how to accurately describe the human body, associated conditions, and related processes using a structured, science-based vocabulary. It introduces a systematic word-building method using word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining vowels, with examples such as cardiology and polyarthralgia. It also clarifies medical abbreviations and acronyms, including risks of variation by country, multiple meanings, rules for capitalization, and pronunciation guidance. Finally, it links terminology to first aid practice by emphasizing body systems and correct use of anatomical references.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Medical terms

Medical abbreviations

Medical Acronyms

Pronouncing medical terms

Systems of the Body

Location, Position and Motion Terms

Medical Terminology This resource has been put together to assist you in completing your First Responder Accreditation workbook. St John Ambulance Australia would like to thank Darryl Clare for his contribution to this topic. Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................4 Medical terms ...........................................................................................................................................................4 Medical abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Medical Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Pronouncing medical terms ............................................................................................................................... 7 Systems of the Body.............................................................................................................................................. 9 Location, Position and Motion Terms............................................................................................................ 9 Medical terminology is a vocabulary for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Medical terminology is used in the medical, nursing and pre hospital fields. In medical terminology there is systematic approach to word building based on the concept of: 􀁸 Word roots 􀁸 Prefixes 􀁸 Suffixes 􀁸 Combining vowel Word roots Word roots; are derived from a source language such as Greek or Latin and usually describes a body part. 􀁸 cardi – root for heart 􀁸 hepat – root for liver 􀁸 neur – root for nerve 􀁸 nephr – root for kidney 􀁸 cyt – root for cell Prefixes Prefixes can be added in front of the term to modify the word root by giving additional information about the location of an organ, the number of parts, or time involved. 􀁸 pre – prefix means before 􀁸 peri – prefix means around 􀁸 hemi – prefix means half 􀁸 micro – prefix means small 􀁸 neo – prefix means new Suffixes Suffixes are attached to the end of a word root to add meaning such as condition, disease process, or procedure. 􀁸 itis-suffix means inflammation 􀁸 ology-suffix means the study of 􀁸 ectomy-suffix means surgical removal 􀁸 plast-suffix means surgical repair Combining vowel Combining vowel is used with the word root to add a “smoothing” to the word root when applying a suffix, the most common vowel used in the formation of the combining form is the letter -o-, added to the word root. Here are a few examples of how to understand medical terms Cardiology Cardi = heart -logy = study of o = combining vowel Polyarthralgia Poly = Much, many -algia = pain arthr = joint Medical abbreviations are used to promote efficiency. There are some risks associated with their use because they may vary from country to country and one acronym can have several meanings. Here are some examples: | Meaning | Australian Abbreviation | American Abbreviation | | --- | --- | --- | | Antibiotics | Ab’s | ABX | | Before a meal | a.c. | a.c or AC | | Ax | Assessment | Axillary | | R/O | Risk Of | Rule Out | Medical acronyms are formed with the initial letters of a multi-word name; they can have more than one meaning. It is important to understand the context in which the acronym is used. Some examples of acronyms with two meaning are as follows: 􀁸 CF Clear Fluids – or – Cardiac Failure 􀁸 DOA Drug Of Addiction – or – Dead On Arrival English medical acronyms are written in uppercase, Latin acronyms are written in lower case. Here are some examples of Latin medical acronyms: 􀁸 b.d

FAQs

How is medical terminology built from word parts?

Medical terminology uses a systematic approach based on word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining vowels to form accurate meanings.

Why can medical abbreviations be risky to use?

They may vary from country to country, and a single acronym can have several meanings, so context matters.

What rules help interpret medical acronyms correctly?

Acronyms are formed from initial letters of multi-word terms and may have more than one meaning; understanding the context and capitalization rules (uppercase for English, lower case for Latin) is essential.

Sep 28, 2026

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