Generally, any word in a medical terminology will contain 3 parts: – prefix, root, and suffix. Prefix is a short word added at the start of the word, for e.g. ‘pre’ added to any word means before. Root is the central word to which the prefix and/or suffix belong. Suffix is a short word added at the end for e.g. ‘itis’ added to the end means inflammation.
Now, if these 3 parts are not there, and combining forms are also absent, then –
The origin of word is traced first of all. Most words in medical terminology are either Latin or Greek. For e.g. the word ‘muscle’ comes from a Latin word ‘musculus’; which means ‘ little mouse’. Now, this name is attributed to muscle because it moves like mouse under the skin. Another word, ‘coccyx’ comes from Greek word, ‘kokkyx’; which means cuckoo. This name is kept because the coccyx is a triangular structure which resembles the cuckoo beak.
Then, pronunciation is seen.
Often, symbols are used like ® is the symbol for right and “L (in circle)” is the symbol for left.
Abbreviations are used sometimes, for e.g. ASAP (as soon as possible).
Silent words, like ‘ch’ in ‘chemical’ is pronounced as ‘k’, ‘pn’ used in pneumonia is pronounced as ‘n’.
At last, or at first, see the meanings of individual words, like ‘blood pressure’ meaning ‘pressure that is present in the blood’.