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UNIT I AN INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL AND MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Capability: Recognize grammatical and semantic structure of medical and dental English terminology.

I. WORD CONSTRUCTION

Introduction Medical terms are made up of four basic elements: 1. A prefix 2. The word root 3. The combining vowel 4. A suffix

Look at the example:

Alveoloplasty Alveolous = tooth socket “o” = combining vowel Plasty = surgical repair

Alveoloplasty: Surgical repair of the tooth socket

1. The Prefix

It is the first building block of a word division that begins a term.(1)

It can alter the word’s meaning by indicating number, color, size, location or condition. (1)

Table 1.1 Prefixes denoting quantity or number.(1)

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Table 1.2 Prefixes denoting color.(1)

Note: For more examples see https://www.cengagebrain.com.mx/content/9781285275345.pdf

2. The word root

It is the main section or division of a term that provides the foundation or basic meaning. (1)

It may have one or more root sections. (temporomandibular; maxillofacial; etc.) (1)

Table 2.1 Word roots examples.(1)

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3. The combining vowel

Root words are very often preceded by a prefix, followed by a suffix and joined with a combining vowel.

The most common combining vowel is ’o’, but can also be ’a’, ’e’ or ’i’.

When we add the combining vowel, we get a new word component

4. The suffix

It is the element added to the end of a root word or combining vowel. (1)

It describes or qualify the word meaning. (1)

The suffixes can add as an adjective or indicate size, condition, agents, or specialists. (1)

Table 4.1 Suffixes in adjective use.(1)

Table 4.2 Suffixes in expressing medical terms, processes, uses.(1)

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Exercises: 1. Match the prefix with its meaning.

2. Underline the prefixes used in the following words and specify what number or amount each represents:

a. Anaerobic 0 oxygen/s b. Unilateral side/s c. Anemia hemoglobin/s d. Bicuspid cusp/s e. Trifurcation division/s f. Anesthesia feeling/s

3. Give the meaning of the prefix underlined in the following words:

a. Macroglossia = large tongue b. Hypocementosis = cementum c. Micrognathia= jaw d. Panoramic= view e. Ultrasonic= sounds

4. Place a root element for the given words in the blanks provided:

a. Gum tissue gingiva b. Root apex c. Mouth opening d. Tongue e. Lip area

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5. Insert the correct suffix to complete the root element a. Condition of being acid = acidic . b. Surgical cut = inci . c. tooth grinding = brux . d. dead tissue = necro . e. fatty tumor= lip . f. action of chewing = mastica .

References: (1) DOFKA C. Dental Terminology. Third Edition. USA. DELMAR, Cengage learning, 2013. 448

pages.

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II. ANATOMICAL POSITIONING 1. Ventral and Dorsal:

A. B.

A.

B.

2. Anterior and posterior:

A. B.

3. Superficial – Deep:

A.

B.

A.

B.

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4. Superior – Inferior

A.

B.

5. Cranial – Caudal

A.

B.

6. External – Internal

A.

B.

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7. Medial – Lateral / Proximal – Distal

A.

B.

C.

D.

8. Body planes

Saggital plane

Transverse plane

Coronal plane

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III. ANATOMICAL MOVEMENTS 1. Flexion – Extension

2. Abduction and Adduction

3. Elevation and Depression

A.

B.

A.

B.

A.

B.

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4. Pronation and Supination

5. Opposition and Reposition

6. Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion

A.

B.

A.

B.

A.

B.

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References:

(1) http://www.lamission.edu/lifesciences/AliAnat1/Chap1-

anatomical%20terminology.pdf