Medical Terminology Simplified

2–3 Recall that cyt/oand -cyteare used to form words that refer to

a _______________.

2–4 A cyt/o/logist is usually a biologist who specializes in the study of cells, espe-

cially one who uses cyt/o/log/ic techniques to diagnose neoplasms.

Using cyt/o,build a word that means study of cells:__________ / _____ /

__________.

2–5 Use cyt/oto form words that mean

specialist in the study of cells:__________ / _____ / ____________________

dissolution or destruction of a cell:__________ / _____ / ____________________

2–6 At the tissue level, the structural organization of the human body consists

of groups of cells working together to carry out a specialized activity. (See Fig. 2–1.)

The medical scientist who specializes in the study of microscopic structures of tissues

is called a hist/o/logist.

Identify word elements in hist/o/logistthat mean

specialist in the study of:____________________

tissue:__________ / _____

When defining a medical word, first define the suffix. Second, define the beginning of the word; finally, define

the middle of the word. Here is an example of the term

super/medi/al

(2) (3) (1)

1. Define the suffix first: -almeans pertaining to.


2. Define the beginning of the word: super-means upper,above.


3. Define the middle of the word: medimeans middle.

Directional Terms

The following frames introduce terms that describe regions of the body. Included are directional terms that describe
a structure in relation to some defined center or reference point.

2–7 The suffixes -ac, -al, -ar, -iac, -ic, and-ior are adjective endings that mean

pertaining to.You will find them used throughout this book. These suffixes help

describe position, direction, body divisions, and body structures.

Use the adjective ending -al to form words that mean pertaining to the

back (of body):dors / __________

side, to one side:later / __________

belly, belly side:ventr / __________

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

32 CHAPTER 2• Body Structure

cell

cyt/o/logy

sī-TŎL-ō-jē

-logist

hist/o

dors/al

DŌR-săl

later/al

LĂT-ĕr-ăl

ventr/al

VĔN-trăl

cyt/o/logist

sī-TŎL-ō-jĭst

cyt/o/lysis

sī-TŎL-ĭ-sĭs

!