To effectively communicate patient status and related information, you need a basic understanding of medical terminology. Some terms can be broken down into root words with prefixes and suffixes. Others are anatomical terms that relate to location, movement, body position, and body cavities.
Medical Term Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Many medical terms are constructed by combining root words with a prefix and/or suffix. For example:
The root contains the main idea, and the prefix and suffix modify the root. So hypothermia is “a condition of deficient body heat.”
Common Medical Root Words
| Root | Meaning |
| abdomin/o | Abdomen |
| arter/o, arteri/o | Artery, arterial |
| bacteri/o | Bacteria, bacterial |
| bi/o | Life |
| cardi/o | Heart |
| cyt/o | Cell, cellular |
| derm/o | Skin |
| febr/i | Fever |
| gastr/o | Stomach |
| hem/o | Blood |
| neur/o | Nerve |
| oro | Mouth |
| therm/o | Heat |
| trache/o | Trachea (windpipe) |
| vas/o | Vessel, duct |
Common Prefixes and Suffixes
| Prefix/Suffix | Meaning |
| a-, an- | No, not, without |
| -ac, -an, -ary | Pertaining to |
| brady- | Slow |
| -eal | Pertaining to |
| -emia, -emic | Blood condition |
| hyper- | Above, excessive |
| hypo- | Deficient, below, unless, less |
| -ia | Condition |
| -iac, -ic, -ical, -ior | Pertaining to |
| -ion, -ism | Process |
| -itis | Inflammation |
| -oid | Derived from, resembling |
| quasi- | To some degree, as if |
| -rrhage | Bursting forth (of blood) |
| -rrhea | Discharge, flow |
| -sis | Condition, state of |
| -static | Pertaining to stopping, controlling |
| tachy- | Fast |
| -tic | Pertaining to |
Anatomical Terms
Your ability to communicate with other first aid providers and emergency medical personnel will improve by learning terms that describe body parts and systems, body positions, and directions and locations.
Anatomical Directions and Locations
The following terms are used to describe locations and directions with regard to the body:
- Anterior/posterior: Nearer to or at the front of the body is anterior (ventral); Nearer to or at the back is posterior (dorsal).
- Internal/external: Internal means inside the body; external means outside the body.
- Medial/lateral: Anything close to the midline of the body is medial; anything far from the midline is lateral.
- Proximal/distal: Proximal means close to the trunk of the body; distal means far from the trunk of the body.
- Right/left: Always the patient’s right or left, not yours.
- Superficial/deep: Superficial means near the surface of the body; deep refers to far from the surface of the body.
- Superior/inferior: Nearer to or at the head is superior (cephalic) and nearer to or at the feet is inferior (caudal).
Positions of the Body
A patient’s body position can be described using the following terms:
- Anatomical position: Standing with arms at sides and palms forward.
- Dorsal recumbent position: Lying on back with legs flexed and rotated outward.
- Knee-chest position: Resting on knees and chest with head turned to one side.
- Prone position: Facedown; on the stomach.
- Supine position: Face-up; on the back.
- Fowler’s position: Semi-sitting position with the upper body elevated to a 45° to 60° angle.
- Right or left lateral recumbent position: A side-lying position on the right or left side.
- Tripod position: A sitting position in which the patient leans forward with hands on knees to make breathing easier.
Body Cavities
The organs of the body are located within 5 hollow spaces called body cavities. These cavities are (superior to inferior):
- Cranial cavity: Located in the head and protected by the bones of the skull; it contains the brain.
- Spinal cavity: Extends from the base of the skull to the lower back; containing the spinal cord protected by vertebrae of the spinal column.
- Thoracic cavity: Located in the chest, it contains the lungs and the heart. It is protected by the rib cage and sternum.
- Abdominal cavity: Located in the trunk below the rib cage and above the pelvis. It contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, stomach, and intestines.
- Pelvic cavity: Located in the lowest part of the trunk; it contains the bladder, rectum, and female reproductive organs. The pelvic bones and lower spine protect this area.
