Glossary and Pronunciation Guide · most difficult words. Many dictionaries will provide each medical term with its correct spelling, and in brackets the phonetic spelling follows

© Jennifer Atkins Glossary and Pronunciation Guide Page | 1

Glossary and Pronunciation

Guide

Medical Administration Training

Written by Jennifer Atkins www.mediweb.com.au


Copyright

Copyright © Jennifer Atkins 2013.1

This training manual is copyright under the Copyright Act 1968.

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Disclaimer

Every attempt has been made to ensure this workbook is free from errors or

omissions. However, as an educational resource, all effort should be made to

ensure you seek professional advice before relying on any statement or fact

contained herein. Material in this workbook is current at the time of writing.

Jennifer Atkins Medical Administration Training

www.mediweb.com.au


Table of Contents

RESOURCES: HELPFUL WEBSITES ............................................................................ 4

GLOSSARIES ........................................................................................................... 5

ABBREVIATIONS GLOSSARY 6

MEDICAL TERMS RELATING TO THE HUMAN BODY 23

MEDICAL TERMS FOR NORMAL CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS IN THE HUMAN BODY 29

MEDICAL TERMS FOR NUMBERS AND QUANTITIES 32

MEDICAL TERMS RELATING TO POSITION AND DIRECTION 34

GLOSSARY OF WORD PARTS AND MEANINGS 36

PRONUNCIATIONS ............................................................................................... 54


RESOURCES: HELPFUL WEBSITES

Online Medical Dictionaries

Medical Dictionary and Abbreviations http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Medical Dictionary http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php

Medical Dictionary www.medterms.com

Medical Dictionary www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/medical_dictionary.asp

Medical Dictionary http://www.mydr.com.au/medical-dictionary

Spell Check www.spellex.com/speller.htm

Medical Abbreviations

Abbreviations http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalabbreviations.php

Acronyms www.drsref.com.au/acronyms

Health Thesaurus

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-

thesaurus.htm

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php

http://www.medterms.com/

http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/medical_dictionary.asp

http://www.mydr.com.au/medical-dictionary

http://www.spellex.com/speller.htm

http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalabbreviations.php

http://www.drsref.com.au/acronyms/

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-thesaurus.htm

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-thesaurus.htm


GLOSSARIES

1. Abbreviations

2. Medical Terms relating to the Human Body

3. Normal Conditions and Problems in the Body

4. Numbers and Quantities

5. Position and Direction

6. MAIN GLOSSARY of word parts and meanings


Abbreviations Glossary

The following abbreviations (and acronyms) are commonly used in medical

environments. It is important to note that not all practitioners use the same

abbreviations, thus they may differ from one environment to the next.

A

A Artery

Ab Antibody, Abnormal

AB, abor Abortion

Abdo Abdomen

ABG Arterial blood gases (test)

ABI Acquired brain injury

ABX Antibiotics

AC Alternating current (electricity)

ac Before meals (ante cibum)

ACE Angiotensin converting enzyme

ACh Acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter)

ACL Anterior cruciate ligament

ACP Acid phosphatase

ACTH Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

ACU Acute care unit

AD Alzheimer’s disease

Ad lib As desired

ADD Attention deficit disorder

ADH Antidiuretic hormone

ADL Activities of Daily Living

ADR Adverse drug reaction

AF Amniotic fluid

Ag Antigen

AI Artificial insemination


AID Artificial insemination by donor

AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AKA Above knee amputation

ALD Alcoholic liver disease

ALL Acute lymphocytic leukaemia

ALP Alkaline phosphatase (enzyme)

ALT Alanine transferase (enzyme)

AMA Australian Medical Association

AMI Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)

anat. Anatomy

ANA Anti nuclear antibodies

ANS Autonomic nervous system

ARD/ARDS Acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF Acute renal failure

AST Aspartate aminotransferase

ASX Asymptomatic (without symptoms)

aux. Auxiliary

AV Atrio-ventricular or arterio-venous

AVM Arterio-venous malformation

B

B. Blood

BD, bd Two times daily (bis die)

Ba Barium

BAL (1) blood alcohol level; (2) bronchoalveolar lavage

BE Barium enema (x-ray examination of the colon)

BGL Blood glucose level

Bili Bilirubin

Biol. Biology

BM Bowel movement


Medical Terms relating to the Human Body

Word Part Meaning

Abdomin/o Abdomen

Achill/o Achilles tendon

Acous/o Hearing

Aden/o Gland

Adenoid- Adenoids

Adip/o Fat, Adipose tissue

Adren/o, Adrenal/o Adrenal gland

Alveol/o Alveoli (of the lungs)

An/o Anus

Angi/o Blood vessel

Aort/o Aorta

Append/ic/o Appendix

Arteriol/o Arteriole

Arthr/o Joint

Arthr/o, Articul/o Joint

Ater/i/o Artery

Atri/o Atrium

Axill/o Armpit

Blephar/o Eyelid

Brachi/o Arm

Bronch/i/o Bronchus

Bronchiol/o Bronchiole

Bucc/o Cheek

Burs/o Bursa (a small, fluid-filled sac)

Caec/o Caecum

Capill/o Capillary


Medical Terms for Normal Conditions and Problems in the Human Body

Word Part Meaning

a-, an- Without; lacking

-agra Seizure, sudden pain

-algesio-, -algesi Pain

-algia Condition of pain

Ankyl/o Crooked, stiffening, bent, fusing

anti- Against

-capnia Condition of Carbon Dioxide

cari- Rot or decay of teeth

contra- Against

Dips/o Thirst

dis- Separation, apart

-dynia Condition of pain, swelling

dys- Difficult, abnormal, painful, bad

-ectasia, -ectasis Expansion, stretching or dilation

-ema Condition

-emesis Vomiting

-esis Abnormal state or condition

eu- Good, normal, well, easily

-ia Condition of, abnormal condition,

disease

-iasis Condition, formation of, disease

-ism Condition, state, process

-itis Inflammation

-lepsy Seizure, fit

-lithiasis Abnormal condition of stones

-lysis, lys/o Break down, destruction, dissolving


Medical Terms for Numbers and Quantities

Word Part Meaning

Aux/i/o, -auxis Increase

Bi- Two, twice, double, life

Brady- Slow

-cle, -cule Small

Deca- Ten

Deci- One tenth

Demi- Half

Deutero- Second

Didym- Twins

Diplo- Double

Hecto- One hundredth

Hemi- Half, on one side

Hol/o- Entire, whole

Homo- The same, resembling

Hyper- Above, above normal, beyond,

excessive, over

Hypo- Under, deficient, below normal

-icle Small

Iso- Equal, like, same

Kilo- One thousandth

Macro- Large

Mega-, megalo- Great, abnormally large

-megaly Enlargement

Mi/o- Make smaller, less

Mic-, micro- Small, one millionth

Milli- One thousandth

Mon/o One, single


Medical Terms relating to Position and Direction

Word Part Meaning

Ab- Away from

Ad- Toward, near

Af- Towards, near, to

Ag- Towards, near, to

Ambi- Both, on both sides

Ante- Before, in front of, forward

Anter/o In front of, anterior

Anti- Against

Apo- Away from, separate

Circum- Around

Contra- Against, opposing

Cycl- Circle

De- Down, away from, ending, reversing

Dextro- Right side

Dia- Across, apart, between, through

Dors/i/o- Back (of the body), dorsal

Ec/o-, Ect/o- Out, outer part, outside

Ef- Out, away from

Em- In

En- Inside, in, within

Endo-, Ento- Within, inner, inside

Epi- Above, Upon, on, outside of

Ex- Out, out of, away from, beyond

Exo- Out, outer part, outside

Extra- Outside of, beyond, outward


Glossary of Word Parts and Meanings

The following glossary contains an alphabetical list of prefixes, suffixes and root

words. Prefixes have a dash after the word, suffixes have dash before the word and

root words may end in /o-. Each word part has its meaning in the second column,

followed by an example of its use in medical terminology.

Word Part Meaning Example

a-, an- Without, lacking Aphasia, Anaemia

ab- Away from Abnormal

Ac- Relating to Acceptor

Acous/o- Hearing Acoustic

Acr/o- To do with the extremities Acrodermatitis

-ad Toward Cephalad

ad- Toward, near Adductor

Aden/o- Gland Adenoma

Adip/o Fat Adipose

Adren/o- Adrenal gland Adrenolytic

Adrenocortic/o Adrenal cortex Adrenocortical

-aemia Condition of blood Hyperglycaemia

Aesthes/i/o, Aesthet- Sensation Anaesthesia

Agglutin/o Clumping, sticking together Agglutination

-agon Assemble together Glucagon

-agra Seizure, sudden pain Podagra

-al Pertaining to Bronchial

Albin/o White Albinism

Alges/i/o Sensation, sense of pain Analgesia

-algia Condition of pain Neuralgia

Alveol/o Alveolus Alveolar

Ambi- Both, around, on both sides Ambidextrous


Ana- Again, going backwards Anaphylaxis

Andr/o Male Androgen

Angi/o- Blood vessel Angioplasty

Ankyl/o Crooked, stiffening, bent, fusing Ankylosis

Ante- Before, in front of, forward Anteflexion

Antero Front, infront of, anterior to Anterolisthesis

Anti- Against Anticoagulant

Appendic/o Appendix Appendicitis

Ar-, -ar Pertaining to Solar, Arrhythmia

Arteri/o- Artery Arterioplasty

Arthr/o Joint Arthritis

-ary Pertaining to Pulmonary

-asthenia Lack of strength Myasthenia

Ather/o Fatty plaque lining a blood vessel Atherosclerosis

Atri/o- Atrium Atrioventricular

Auto- Self Autologous

Aux/i/o, -auxis Increase Auxotroph

Axill/o Armpit Axillary

Bi- Two, twice, double, life Binocular

Bil/i Bile Biliary

Bio- Life, living Biology

-blast Immature cell, developing Osteoblast

Blephar- Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Brachi/o Arm Brachial

Brady- Slow Bradycardia

Bronch/i- Bronchus Bronchitis

Bronchiol/o Bronchiole Bronchiolitis

Bucc/o- Cheek Buccal

Burs/o- Bursa Bursitis

Caec/o Caecum Caecostomy


BSBMED301B Medical Terminology Pronunciation Guide

Medical Administration Training

Written by Jennifer Atkins


Pronunciations

Medical words can be tricky to pronounce, however many dictionaries are a great

help as they provide phonetic spelling. This ensures you can pronounce even the

most difficult words. Many dictionaries will provide each medical term with its

correct spelling, and in brackets the phonetic spelling follows. However, you need to

ensure the dictionary you use has Australian pronunciations.

For example:

Cardiac is pronounced KAR-di-ak

Cardiologist is pronounced KAR-dee-OL-oh-jist

Gastroenteritis is pronounced gas-troh-enter-I-tis

Gastropathy is pronounced gass-TROP-uh-thee

Gastrotomy is pronounced gass-TROT-omi

Many words are pronounced as they are spelt, but there are exceptions. For

example:

Ch is sometimes pronounced as an k Chronic (KRON-ik)

Ps is pronounced as an s Psychologist (sy-KOL-o-jist)

Pn is pronounced as n Pneumonia (new-MOH-nia)

Ph is pronounced as f Phobia (FOH-bia)

Rh is pronounced as r Rheumatism (ROOM-a-tism)

Pt is pronounced as t Ptosis (TOH-sis)

Oe is pronounced as ee Oesophagus (ee-SOF-a-gus)

Ae is pronounced as ee Anaemia (a-NEE-mia)


In this guide the pronunciation is provided after each word. Words of two or more

syllables are broken up with a hyphen (-). The syllable that is stressed is shown in

capitals.

Medical terms are provided for the various systems of the body. Commonly used

terms are provided in each category, followed by the phonetic spelling and meaning

of each word.

Integumentary System

Skeletal System

Muscular System

Digestive System

Cardiovascular System

Respiratory System

Nervous System

Endocrine System

Lymphatic System

Urinary System

Reproductive System

Radiology

Pathology


Self check

Fill in the following tables to track your spelling and pronunciation results.

Spelling results

Chapter Words Attempt 1 Attempt 2 Attempt 3 Attempt 4

Integumentary 16

Skeletal 12

Muscular 11

Digestive 11

Cardiovascular 14

Respiratory 14

Nervous 12

Endocrine 12

Lymphatic 12

Urinary 12

Reproductive 12

Radiology 11

Pathology 10

Pronunciation results

Chapter Words Attempt 1 Attempt 2 Attempt 3 Attempt 4

Integumentary 16

Skeletal 12

Muscular 11

Digestive 11

Cardiovascular 14

Respiratory 14

Nervous 12

Endocrine 12

Lymphatic 12

Urinary 12

Reproductive 12

Radiology 11

Pathology 10


Integumentary System

Word Pronunciation Meaning

Alopecia al-ǒ-PEE-shiǎ Hair loss, particularly from scalp.

Dermatitis der-mǎ-TY-tis Inflammation of the skin.

Dermatofibroma der-mǎ-toh-FI-bro- mǎ Small, red/brown bump in the skin.

Dermatologist der-mǎ-TOL-ŏ-jist A specialist who studies diseases of the

skin.

Eczema EKS-imǎ A recurring, non-infectious,

inflammatory skin condition.

Eosinophil ee-oh-SIN- ŏ-fil A white blood cell that can stain

orange-red.

Epidermis epi-DER-mis The outer layer of the skin.

Erythrocyte i-RITH-roh-syt Red blood cell.

Integumentary in-TEG-yoo-men-tǎ-re The skin, hair and nails.

Keratosis ke-rǎ-TOH-sis A horny overgrowth of the skin.

Melanocyte MEL-ǎ-noh-syt Cells that produce pigment.

Onychomycosis on-i-koh-my-KOH-sis Fungal infection of the nail.

Psoriasis sŏ -RY-ǎ-sis A chronic skin condition with inflamed,

red, raised areas and silvery scales.

Rosacea roh-ZAY-shiǎ A common skin condition with redness,

pimples, and broken blood vessels.

Subcutaneous sub-kew-TAY-nius The deepest layer of skin.

Xeroderma zeer-oh-DER-mǎ Dryness of the skin.

Documents

Glossary and Pronunciation Guide · most difficult words. Many dictionaries will provide each medical term with its correct spelling, and in brackets the phonetic spelling follows