Massage Therapist

FOR THE

MASSAGE THERAPIST

NCBTMB Approved Provider #154019-00

Florida Board of Massage CE Broker Provider #50-1997

CE Broker Course Tracking # 20-6749

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.

P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida33084

1-954-441-9553

MEDICAL LANGUAGE

FOR THE

MASSAGE THERAPIST

Consultants:

Joel D. Stein, D.O., A.O.B.F.P., A.O.B.O.M.M.

Research and Development:

Charles Edwin Cook, L.M. T., C.R. T.

Editor:

Mark D. Blum, D.D.S.

By:

Renee J. Demmery, C.R.T.

All Rights Reserved

MEDICAL LANGUAGE

FOR THE

MASSSAGE THERAPIST

Published By:

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.

P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida33084

1-954-441-9553 tel

1-954-432-1824 fax

This course was developed to help expand the knowledge and skills of massage therapists with respect to the subject of medical language.

The information in this course has been carefully researched and is generally accepted as factual at the time of publication. The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc. disclaims responsibility for any contradictory data prior to the publication of the next revision of this course.

*The image used herein was obtained from IMSI's MasterClips® and MasterPhotos Premium Image Collection, 1895 Francisco Blvd. East, San Rafael, CA94901-5506, USA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COURSE DIRECTIONS

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

COURSE OBJECTIVES

CHAPTER 1

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MEDICAL LANGUAGE

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF MEDICAL LANGUAGE

ROOTS

COMBINING VOWELS

PLURAL AND SINGULAR WORD ENDINGS

CHAPTER 2

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

PREFIXES

SUFFIXES

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND ARTICULAR SYSTEM WORDS

MEDICAL LANGUAGE FOR MASSAGE THERAPIST TEST

TEST ANSWER CARD/COURSE EVALUATION

REFERENCE LIST

COURSE DIRECTIONS

HOW TO BEST PROCEED WITH THIS COURSE

Each chapter should be approached systematically in a careful and objective manner. It is important to master each chapter before going on to the next. Relax, take your time, and go at your own pace. As 2 credits of continuing education are rewarded after successfully completing this course, the reading of this manual and completion of the test questions should not take less than 2 hours. Only after you have successfully mastered all the material in the course should you proceed to the test questions.

COMPLETING THE TEST

Before beginning, please clearly write your name, address, zip code, and license number on your test answer card. Read each question carefully before answering. Please use a ballpoint pen to fill-in your answers on the answer card by completely shading your choice. Keep in mind that each question has only one correct answer. The test consists of 20 questions. For a passing grade, you must correctly answer 16 questions. We encourage your input and would welcome any suggestions to improve our course or test questions. Please feel free to note your suggestions or comments on the course evaluation found at the bottom of the test answer card.

INFORMATION FOR CERTIFICATION

In order to receive your 2 hours of continuing education credit, you must be a registered purchaser of this course. Please notify us of any address or name changes as we keep permanent records for certification and licensure.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Please send your completed test answer card and course evaluation to:

The Institute for Advanced Therapeutics, Inc.

P.O. Box 848152

Pembroke Pines, Florida33084

If you have any questions regarding this course, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-954-441-9553 or fax us at 1-954- 432-1824.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

Learn how to break down medical terms into their component parts.

List singular and plural endings to common medical terms.

Define common prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

Understand the meaning of words used to describe common conditions of the musculoskeletal and articular system.

CHAPTER 1

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF

MEDICAL LANGUAGE

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF MEDICAL LANGUAGE

As massage therapists increasingly interact with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, understanding the language of medicine becomes an important tool in communicating effectively. The language of medicine may seem foreign to most as many are derived from Greek and Latin words.

In this course, we will attempt to unravel the mystery of medical terminology by breaking down terms into their component parts. Most medical terms are made up of small parts that fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each word part has a specific meaning. When one learns to recognize the word parts and their meanings, previously unfamiliar terms can be unraveled and understood.

The first step in understanding medical language is to break down terms into their component parts. Most medical terms only contain two parts: a prefix and root or root and suffix. Some medical terms contain a prefix, root, and suffix.

Root.

Prefix.

Suffix.

ROOTS

The root is what gives basic meaning to the word. Other names for root include stem, core, core element, and root element. It is the foundation or essential core of the word. Medical terms can have one or more roots. Roots can be combined with prefixes, suffixes, and other roots to form medical terms. Some examples include:

ROOTMEANING

cervicneck

cheillip

chrondcartilage

dactylfinger or toe

encephalbrain

gastrstomach

gingivgum

gnathjaw

hepatliver

hysteruterus

leiomysmooth muscle

mammbreast

myringeardrum

odontteeth

omphalnavel

onychfingernail or toenail

opthalmeye

opticeye or vision

oophorovary or egg

pectorchest

pyopus

splenspleen

COMBINING VOWELS

Many times, a vowel is added between the ending consonant of one root and the beginning consonant of the next word part. This is done to make the word easier to pronounce. Some examples include:

Blepharoplasty – Surgical repair of the eyelid.

Cardiopathy – Disease of the heart.

Hepatomegaly – Enlargement of the liver.

Mastopathy – Disease of the breast.

Ovariogenic – Originating from the ovary.

Proctocele – Prolapse of the rectum.

Sideropenia – Abnormally low iron level.

Splenomegaly – Enlargement of the spleen.

Unguiculate – Having nails or claws.

PLURAL AND SINGULAR WORD ENDINGS

SINGULARPLURAL

antrumantra

cecumceca

commisuracommisurae

curvaturacurvaturae

epididymisepididymides

exostosisexostoses

foliumfolia

folliculusfolliculi

foramenforamina

fornixfornicis or fornices

fossafossae

globusglobi

gummagummata or gummas

gyrusgyri

helixhelices

hilumhila

iliumilia

incisuraincisurae

incusincudes

insulainsulae

laminalaminae

lentigolentigines

mandibulamandibulae

musculusmusculi

nervusnervi

olivaolivae

ovariumovaria

papillapapillae

phalanxphalanges

pinnapinnae

radiusradii

reteretia

scapulascapulae

stomastomas or stomata

tentoriumtentoria

vertebravertebrae

CHAPTER 2

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

PREFIXES

As stated previously, many medical terms can be broken down into three parts: prefix, root, and suffix. A prefix is part of the word that comes before the root and modifies the meaning of the root word. It is usually a letter or syllable. Prefixes can be categorized by how they modify the root. They can indicate:

Size.
Location.
Time.
Position.
Amount.
Color.
Negation.

Prefixes are commonly used in the English language but the following examples are specific to medical language:

PREFIXMEANING

a-without, not

ab-away from, from, off

acro-extremity, tip, peak

actino-ray of light, beam

ad-increase, adherence, toward

adeno-gland, glandular

adipo-fat, fatty

aero-air, a gas

PREFIXMEANING

alge-, algia-, algesi-, algio-, algo-pain

allo-differing from the usual

ambi-, ambo-both, around, double

ambly-blunt, dull, dim

amphi-, ampho-on both sides, double

ana-again, back, up

andro-masculine

angio-, angi-blood or lymph vessels

anhydro-without water

aniso-unlike, unequal

ankylo-crooked, bent

ano-anus

ante- before

antero-anterior

anti-opposing, against

apico-summit or tip

arche-, archi-primitive, first, extreme

arthro-joint

PREFIXMEANING

athero-soft, pasty

atmo-steam or vapor

auri-ear

auto-self

auxano-, auxo-, aux-to increase

balan-, balano-glans penis

baro-weight, pressure

basi-, baso-, basio-, base

bathy-, batho-depth

bi-twice, double

bili-bile

bio-life

blepharo-eyelid

brady-slow

bronch-, bronchi-, broncho-bronchus

caco-, caci-, cac-bad

carcino-cancer, malignant

cardio-the heart

cata-down

PREFIXMEANING

caud-tail

celio-the abdomen

centri-, centro-center

cephalo-head

cero-wax

cervico-neck, cervix

chemo-chemistry

chilo-lips

chiro-the hand

chloro-green

chole-bile

cholecysto-gall bladder

choledocho-common bile duct

chorio-membrane

chromato-, chromo-color

chrono-time

chryso-gold

cine-movement

PREFIXMEANING

cis-on this side

cleido-the clavicle

colo-the large intestine

colpo-the vagina

con-with, together

contra-opposed, against

copro-feces

costo-rib

cranio-skull

cryo-cold

crypto-hidden

cyano-blue

cysto- bladder

dactylo-the fingers or toes

de-away from, without

denti-, dento-teeth

dermato-skin

desmo-ligament

PREFIXMEANING

dextro-right side

diplo-double

dynamo-force, energy

ec-away from, out of

ecto-on the outside

encephalo-the brain

endo-inner, within

entero-the intestine

epi-following, subsequent to

episio-the vulva

ergo-work

erythro-red, red blood cell

etio-cause

eu-good, well

extra-without, outside of

facio-the face

ferro-the presence of iron

galvano-electrical

PREFIXMEANING

gastro-the stomach

gen-birth

geronto-old age

giganto-huge

gingivo-the gums of the mouth

glio-glue-like

glosso-tongue

glyco-relating to sugars

gnatho-the jaw

gonio-angle

grapho-writing

gyne-, gyno-, gyneco-female

hemato-, heme-, hemo-blood

hemi-one-half

hepato-the liver

hetero-the opposite, different

hidro-sweat

histio-, histo-tissue

PREFIXMEANING

holo-whole, complete

homeo-, homo-the same, alike

hydro-water

hygro-moisture, dampness

hyo-U-shaped

hyper-above normal, excessive

hypno-sleep

hypo-below normal, deficient

hystero-the uterus

ileo-the ileum

ilio-the ilium

intra-inside, within

intro-into, inward

iso-like, equal

kerato-the cornea

kino-, kinesi-, kinesio-, kineso-movement

labio-the lips

lacti-, lacto-milk

laparo-abdomen

PREFIXMEANING

latero-to one side

leio-smooth

lepto-thin, frail

leuko-white, white blood cell

levo-left side

linguo-the tongue

lipo-fatty

litho-a stone

lyso-dissolution

macro-large

mal-bad

malaco-soft

mammo-the breasts

masto-the breast

medio-middle

melano-black

meno-menstruation

meso-middle

meta-after, behind

PREFIXMEANING

metra-, metro-the uterus

micro-small

mid-middle

mio-less

mono-single, one

morpho-shape

multi-many

myco-fungus

myelo-bone marrow

myo-muscle

nano-dwarfism

narco-stupor

necro-death

nemato-threadlike

neo-new

nephro-the kidney

neuri-, neuro-nerve

noct-night

normo-normal

PREFIXMEANING

noso-disease

odonto-teeth

odyno-pain

oligo-a little, too few

omo-the shoulder

onco-a tumor

onycho-a fingernail or toenail

oophoro-the ovary

ophthalmo-relationship to the eye

opistho-behind, dorsal

orchido-, orchio-the testes

oro-the mouth

ortho-straight, normal

oscheo-the scrotum

osseo-, osteo-, ossi-bone

oto-the ear

ovo-, ovi-egg

pachy-thick

paleo-primitive, early

PREFIXMEANING

pan-all

parieto-a wall

path-, patho-disease

penta-denoting five

peri-near, around

phaco-shaped like a lens

phago-eating

pharmaco-drugs

phlebo-vein

phos-light

phreno-the diaphragm

phyllo-leaf-like

pico-small

pilo-hair

plagio-oblique

plano-flat

pleo-more

pleura-, pleuro-side, rib

pluri-several

PREFIXMEANING

pneo-denoting breath

pneumo-, pneumato-air, gas, lungs, breathing

podo-foot

poikilo-irregular

post-posterior, behind, after

pre-before, anterior

presby-old age

proto-first

proximo-nearest

pseudo-false

psycho-the mind

ptero-wing or feather

pulmono-the lungs

pyelo-pelvis, renal pelvis

pykno-dense

pyo-pus

pyro-fire, heat

quadri-denoting four

rachio-the spine

PREFIXMEANING

radio-radiation

recto-the rectum

reno-, reni-the kidney

retro-behind, backward

rhabdo-rod-shaped

rhino-the nose

rhizo-root

rhodo-red

salpingo-a tube

sarco-flesh or muscular substance

schisto-division

schizo-division, split

sclero-hardness

semi-half, part

sialo-saliva

sidero-iron

somato-the body

sphygmo-pulse

spiro-coil-shaped

PREFIXMEANING

spleno-the spleen

spondylo-the vertebrae

steno-narrowness

stereo-solid, three-dimensional

stetho-denoting the chest

stomato-mouth

strepto-twisted

sub-beneath, inferior

super-excessive, above

supra-over, above

syn-joined, together

syndesmo-ligament

tachy-fast

talo-ankle bone

tele-distant

tendo- or teno-a tendon

terato-deformed, misshapen

thermo-heat

thoraco-the chest, thorax

PREFIXMEANING

thrombo-blood clot

toxico-poison

tracheo-the trachea

trans-across

tri-denoting three

tricho-the hair

tympano-drum, eardrum

ultra-excess

uni-single, one

uro-urine

vasculo-a blood vessel

veno-, veni-the veins

vivi-alive

xantho-yellow

xeno-foreign substance

xero-dry

SUFFIXES

As stated previously, many medical terms can be broken down into three parts: prefix, root, and suffix. A suffix is part of the word that comes after the root and modifies the meaning of the root word. It is usually a letter or syllable. Suffixes can change roots into nouns or adjectives. They can describe a condition, appearance, or symptom. Suffixes can also describe surgical procedures. The following is a list of some of the common suffixes encountered in medical language.

SUFFIXMEANING

-agogue, -agoga promoter or stimulant of

-agrasudden attack of acute pain

-asedenotes an enzyme

-atea replacement for “-ic acid”

-celea swelling, hernia

-ceptorreceiver, taker

-chromerelationship to color

-cidean agent that kills

-cleisisclosure

-didymusfused parts

-ectasia, -ectasisdilation

-ectomyremoval of part

-esiscondition or process

-facientcausing

SUFFIXMEANING

-formin the form, shape of

-fugalto move away from

-fugeflight

-genprecursor of

-geniaproducing, formed by

-graphwritten or recorded

-graphya writing

-iaa condition, usually abnormal

-iasisa condition, usually unhealthy

-icpertaining to

-icspractice or treatment

-ineforms names of chemicals

-isma condition or disease

-ismusimplies contraction or spasm

-iteresembling

-itis denotes inflammatory disorders

-legiareading

-lepsis, lepsya seizure

-logiathe study of

SUFFIXMEANING

-maniaan abnormal love for

-megalylarge

-mermember of a particular group

-monedenoting a hormone

-odesresembling

-oidresemblance to

-oldenotes an alcohol

-omaa tumor

-ologythe study of a subject

-oneindicating a ketone group

-opiavision

-oseindicating a carbohydrate

-osisan abnormal or diseased process

-ostomycreating an opening

-otomycutting into

-pagusfused parts

-paresisparalysis

-pathydisease

-peniadeficiency

SUFFIXMEANING

-phage, -phagia, -phagyeating

-phil, -phile, -philia, -philiccraving or affinity for

-phreniathe diaphragm, the mind

-plastymolding or surgical repair

-plegiaparalysis

-pneabreath

-poiesisproducing

-ptosisprolapse or sinking down

-rrhagiadischarge or hemorrhage

-rrhaphysuturing

-rrheaflowing

-scopea device used to view

-scopyactivity involving a device to view

-statto keep from changing or moving

-thymiamind, emotions

-trophicnutrition

-trophynutrition

-tropichaving an affinity for

-ureticurine

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND ARTICULAR SYSTEM WORDS

As a massage therapist, it is important to understand the meaning of words used to describe conditions of the musculoskeletal and articular system. This understanding will help you to communicate with other members of the healthcare team and treat your patients more effectively. The following is a list of common musculoskeletal and articular system words broken down into their component parts and defined.

WORDCOMPONENTS AND MEANING

arthritisarthr- = joint-itis = inflammation

inflammation of a joint

bursitisburs- = bursa-itis = inflammation

inflammation of a bursa

WORDCOMPONENTS AND MEANING

hemarthrosishem- = blood arthr- = joint

-osis = an abnormal process

blood in a joint

laminectomylamin- = lamina-ectomy = removal of

removal of the lamina

leiomyomaleio- = smoothmyo- = muscle

-oma = a tumor

a tumor of the smooth muscle

myopathymyo- = muscle-pathy = disease

disease of the muscular tissues

myositismyo- = muscle-itis - inflammation

inflammation of a muscle

myorrhaphymyo- = muscle-rrhaphy = suturing

suturing of a muscle

osteomyelitisosteo- = bonemyel- = bone marrow

-itis = inflammation

inflammation of the bone marrow

osteonecrosisosteo- = bonenecro- = death

-osis = an abnormal process

the death of bone

osteogenicosteo- = bone-genic = formed by

formed by bone

WORDCOMPONENTS AND MEANING

osteoidosteo- = bone-oid = resemblance to

resembling bone

pseudoarthritispseudo- = false

false arthritis

somatologysomat- = the body-ology = the study of

the study of the body

subpatellarsub- = beneath

beneath the patella

suprascapularsupra- = above

above the scapula

syndesmitissyndesm- = ligament -itis = inflammation

inflammation of a ligament

tenoplastyteno- = tendon -plasty = surgical repair

surgical repair of a tendon

END OF BOOK

REFERENCE LIST

“Stedman’s Medical Dictionary”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 27th Edition. 2000.

“Stedman’s Orthopaedic & Rehab Words”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Third Edition. 1999.

“Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary”. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Tenth Edition. 1994.

“Stedman’s Medical Speller”. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 3rd Edition. 2001.

5. “The Medical Transcription Workbook”. Health Professions Institute. 1999.

6. “Vera Pyle’s Current Medical Terminology”. Health Professions Institute. Eighth Edition. 2000.