Medical Language Practice / Notes

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
Skeletal System Root Words (V)
Memorize the most important skeletal system’s root words

oste/o bone
chondr/o cartilage
arthr/o joint
myel/o bone marrow
ten/o, tendin/o tendon (binds muscle to bone)
ligament/o ligament (binds bone to bone)
bursa, “bag”
burs/o (shock absorber between tendons and
bones)
my/o, myos/o muscle

Suffixes Meaning
-malacia softening
-porosis porous
-trophy development, stimulation, maintenance
(increase in size and strength of muscles)
-algia, algesia pain
-itis inflammation
-oma tumour
-cyte cell
-plasty surgical repair

Cardiovascular System Combining Forms

Memorize these root words.

angi(o) blood vessel

aort(o) aorta
arteri(o) arter(o)- artery
ather(o) fatty matter
 atri(o) atrium
brady slow
cardi(o) heart
coron(o) heart; crown
dilat(o) widen; expand
ech(o)- sound
electr(o-) electricity, electrical activity
hemangi(o)- blood vessel
pericardi(o) pericardium
phleb(o) vein
rhythm(o) rhythm
stheth(o) chest
sphygm(o) pulse
Tachy fast
thromb(o) blood clot
valv(o) valvul(o)- valve
vas(o) blood vessel
ven(o) vein
ventricul(o) ventricle
Practice : Combining Forms

Root Words Meaning

1 bio- A. red, redness
2 cyan(o)- B. white
3 dors(o)- C. night
4 erythr(o)- D. heat
5 fibr(o)- E. woman
6 gyn(o)- F. eating, swallowing
7 hydr(o)- G. blue
8 immun(o)- H. tumour
9 kinesi(o)- I. life
10 leuk(o)- J. back
11 lip(o)- K. fibre
12 melan(o)- L. plant
13 micr(o)- M. water
14 noct(i)- N. safe, immune
15 onco- O. fat
16 phago- P. motion
17 phyt(o)- Q. black, pigmented
18 pharmaco- R. breathing
19 spir(o)- S. small
20 therm(o)- T. drugs, medicine

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
TYPES OF MEDICINE

Medicine and Definition

Match the medicine with its definition.
1.anaesthetic A. A drug that makes people calmer when
they are very worried or nervous.
2.analgesic
B. A medicine you use for helping you to
3.antacid
cough up mucus from your lung.
4.antibiotic C . A drug that we use in order to sleep
better.
5.antidote
D. A substance that prevents a poison from
6.antihistamine
having bad effects.
7.anti-inflammatory E. A drug or gas that is given to someone
before a medical operation.
8.contraceptive
F. A drug that reduces pain.
9.emetic
G. A pill that you take to help you to sleep.
10.expectorant H. A drug taken to reduce inflammation
(= swelling, heat, and pain).
11.laxative
I. A drug used for preventing a woman from
12.narcotic
becoming pregnant.
13.sedative J. A drug used to treat an allergy.
K. A drug that makes someone calmer or
14.sleeping pill
makes them sleep.
15.tranquillizer
L. A medicine that reduces the amount of
acid in your stomach.
M. A drug that cures illnesses and infections
caused by bacteria.
N. A medicine that helps you to make loose
waste.
O. A drug that makes you vomit
Medicine – Table Completion
Complete the table with the words given

Antibiotics antidepressants anxiety blood pressure pills

blood thinners diuretics epilepsy drugs headaches, muscle aches and pain

heart medicine indigestion pills insomnia lower high blood sugar

man’s best friend bone pills rheumatoid arthritis

Medically known as Commonly referred to as Usage

1 painkiller
2 Antacids heartburn
3 Antiarthritic rheumatism pills
4 bug killers
5 prevent blood clots
6 Anticonvulsants
7 uppers
8 lower high blood pressure
9 Cardiac drugs
10 Water pills remove excess water from
the body
11 Erectile dysfunction impotency
12 Sleeping pills
13 Hypoglycaemic agents
14 Strengthens bones
15 Tranquillizers downers
B. Write the ordinary English words for the corresponding anatomical items in the table
using your knowledge.

Anatomical Items Common word

Abdomen

Axilla

carpus

Coxa

Cubitus

mamma

nates

patella

Complete the sentences using ordinary English words.

Situation: A male patient describing angina pectoris

It’s like a tightness across my _____________________, and it goes up

_____________________ my ______________________ and into my left

_____________________ and __________________________ the left

_______________________.

Situation: A male patient describing renal colic.

It starts ____________________________ the loin and goes into the ___________________

and ________________________ into the testicle.

C. Complete the sentences.

Anatomical term Patient’s statement

Inguinal swelling I’ve got a lump on my __________________

Abdominal pain My boy’s got a __________________ ache

Periumbilical rash I’ve got some spots around my

_________________

Thoracic pain I’ve got pain in the middle of my

_____________________________

Enlarged axillary mode There’s a painful swelling in my

______________________________

Mandibular pain I’ve got pain in my

___________________________