Welcome back to the channel where medical topics are made easy.
Before we get started, make sure to turn on the captions down below and read along.
It will help improve your learning.
This video is part III on common medical root words, and it's going to be the final video on it.
We already made videos on common medical abbreviations, common medical prefixes,
and 2 other common root words.
They’re going to be linked down below in the description, so make sure to check them out.
As we go through the video, hit pause before each table
and see if you can figure out the meaning of the root before looking at the answers.
The tables are also time stamped down below in the description to help you out.
This video is filled with many common root words so make sure to watch until the end.
Just to recap, most medical words have a beginning, middle, and end
called the prefix, root, and suffix.
Not every word has a prefix though,
so the root may form the first part of the word if that’s the case.
There may also be more than one root word combined together.
Let’s take a look at our first group of common root words.
Again hit pause in the video and see how many you can figure out before moving on.
The first root is “Capito” which means head.
"Capito" is commonly used in anatomy. One example is the fovea capitis.
The fovea capitis is the small depression in the femoral head
where the ligamentum teres of the hip attaches.
This makes sense because fovea means “small pit or depression”
and capitis refers to head, which in this case it's the head of the femur.
There’s a great video where we simplified the anatomy of the femur,
and that will be linked down below as well.
Just a quick reminder that you're going to see that most of the roots in this video
are shown as ending in the letter “O”.
This is the combining form of the root. Just be aware that there could
be a different vowel other than “O” that follows the root word.
The vowel that follows the root word is known as the combining vowel,
and it connects the root to another root or a suffix.
Next we have “Entero” which refers to the intestines.
A good example would be enterocolitis.
We know from the previous video on root words that "colo" refers to the colon.
We have also mentioned in the past that “itis” is a suffix that means inflammation.
So enterocolitis is inflammation of both the small intestine and colon.
The next root is “Genu” which refers to the knee or a knee-like bend.
Example medical terms are genu varum and genu valgum,
which both refer to angular deformities of the knees.
Genu varum is also called "bow-legs" and refers to the outward bowing of the knees.
Genu valgum is also called "knock-knees" and refers to the inward angulation of the knees.
Moving on to “Veno”, this means vein.
It’s an easy one to remember because “veno” and “vein” sound the same.
An example would be venostasis which is the abnormal slowing
or stoppage of the flow of blood in a vein.
This makes sense because the suffix “stasis” means stagnant,
or a state that does not change, or slowing or stoppage of bodily fluids.
Just a reminder from previous videos, there are other roots that refer to blood vessels as well.
“Arterio” means artery, and we have 3 roots meaning blood vessels.
They are “vasculo”, “angio”, and “vaso”.
The next root is “Laparo” which refers to the abdomen.
A simple trick is to think of your lap which is close to your abdomen.
Remember in the previous root video we also said “abdomino” refers to abdomen as well.
An example medical term is laparotomy which is a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity.
Next we have “Fronto” which refers to the forehead, frontal bone, or frontal lobe of the brain.
It’s easy to remember, just use front to think of forehead or frontal bone.
Another anatomy example is frontoparietal
which refers to both the frontal and parietal bones or lobes of the brain.
Moving on to “Dorso”, this means back.
You might remember from the prefix video we used “dorso” to mean back,
behind, or posterior when talking about positions.
Dorso can also be used in anatomy,
such as the dorsal column which refers to the posterior spinal cord.
The trick you can use is to think of a dorsal fin on the back of a fish or whale,
and this will help you remember "dorso" refers to back.
Next we have “Aur” which refers to the ear.
An example is postauricular which means located or occurring behind the ear.
This is a good example of a medical term that uses a prefix followed by a root.
Remember we learned in the prefix video that "post" can mean back or behind just like "dorso" can.
The next root is “Digit” which refers to finger or toe.
We sometimes use our fingers to count digits or numbers,
so this can help you remember "digit" refers to fingers and toes.
You’re going to see this root used in anatomy, especially of the hand.
For example the flexor and extensor digitorum muscle groups help to flex and extend the digits and/or wrist.
Finally we have “Psych” which refers to the mind.
For example, psychology is the study of the human mind and its functions.
All of the medical root words in the first 2 videos, and up to this point in this video, have pertained to body parts.
We’re now going to wrap up the medical root word series with a few groups of
miscellaneous roots you are likely to encounter.
First we have a “Acouso” which means auditory or hearing.
You can think of acoustic music to help you remember “acouso” refers to sound or hearing.
Next is “Aero” which refers to air or gas.
For example, aerogastria is distension of the stomach by gas.
And this makes sense because we learned in the previous
medical root word video that “gastro” refers to the stomach.
Moving on to “Ankylo” this means crooked or bent. It can also mean fused, stiff, fixed, and closed.
An example medical term is ankylosing spondylitis.
Now this word might seem intimidating at first, but watch how much you have learned from the previous videos
and see how easy medical terminology becomes when you can break down the word.
We know “ankylo” means crooked, bent, or stiff. We learned in the past medical root video that
“spondylo” means spine. And we know “itis” means inflammation from the suffix video.
So ankylosing spondylitis must be some kind of inflammation and stiffening of the spine.
And that’s exactly what it is. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of spinal arthritis
that causes inflammation and fusing of the spine or vertebrae.
Next we have “Auto” which means self or same.
A simple general example is autopilot,
which is a device that steers a plane, ship, or vehicle by itself.
The next root is “Bacterio” which is a simple one to remember - it means bacteria.
You can think of bactericide which is a substance that kills bacteria.
Next we have “Blasto” which refers to immature or bud.
And it might pertain to an immature cell such as a myeloblast,
which is an immature white blood cell that forms in the bone marrow.
Or another example is blastoma which is a type of cancer
caused by malignancies in precursor immature cells.
The next one is “Brachy” which means short.
The example we’ll use here is brachycephaly.
Do you remember what "cephalo" means from the first root word video?
Cephalo means head. So brachycephaly is
a condition in which the shape of the head or skull is short.
Moving on to “Toxi” or “Toxico”, they refer to toxin, toxic, or poison.
You can think of toxicology which refers to the study or branch of science
concerned with the effect and detection of poisons.
Next we have “Litho” which refers to a stone or calculus.
An example is nephrolithiasis which is a kidney stone.
We saw this example in the first root word video when we learned about "nephro" which means kidney.
So it makes sense that nephrolithiasis means kidney stone.
It’s also a good example of 2 root words combined together,
and in this case they’re "nephro" and "litho".
Finally we have “Lacrimo” which means tear.
You can think of the lacrimal gland which is the gland that secretes tears.
Let’s move on to the next group of medical root words.
Again hit pause in the video and see how many you can name before continuing.
First we have “Acro” which means extremities.
It also means top, peak, or extreme.
An example medical term is acromegaly which is abnormal growth of the hands,
feet, and face from overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.
Next is “Chemo” which means chemical.
You can think of chemotherapy which translates to the “treatment of diseases by chemicals”.
The next root is “Andro” which refers to male.
You can think of androgen which is a male sex hormone such as testosterone
that promotes the development of male characteristics.
The opposite of that is “Estro” which refers to female.
You can think of estrogen which is a female sex hormone that promotes
the development of female characteristics.
Next we have “Hidro” which means sweat.
An example medical term is hidradenitis which is inflammation of a sweat gland.
And this makes sense because "Hidro" means sweat, "Adeno" means gland, and "itis" means inflammation.
Another simple trick is to think of "hidro/hydro" and water. And water can help you think of sweat.
Moving on to “Kypho”, this means a humped appearance.
A common example is kyphosis which refers to excessive outward curvature of the spine,
causing a hunched or humped back.
Next is “Myco” which relates to fungus.
You can think of mycology which is the study of fungi,
or mycosis which is a disease caused by an infection with a fungus.
The next root word is “Myringo” which means eardrum.
A great example is myringomycosis because we just learned what “myco” means.
So myringomycosis is a fungal infection of the eardrum or tympanic membrane.
You might remember from the previous root word video that “tympano” also refers to the eardrum,
which is why the medical term for eardrum is tympanic membrane.
Next we have “Patho” which relates to disease.
You can think of pathology which is the study of disease.
Finally we have “Scolio” which means twisted or crooked.
A common example is scoliosis which is the sideways curvature of the spine.
Remember kyphosis meant the outward curvature to give a hunched or humpback appearance.
Now this is sideways curvature.
Let’s wrap it up with one final group of medical roots.
How many can you name before looking at the answers?
First we have “Somato” which relates to the body.
A common medical term is somatosensory which relates to a sensation which can occur
anywhere in the body such as pressure, pain, or temperature.
Next we have “Splanchno” which means viscera,
which are the organs in the cavities of the body, especially the abdomen.
You might learn about the splanchnic nerves which are the nerves that supply the viscera.
The next root is “Gluco” which refers to glucose.
An example term is glucometer which is a device that measures the amount of glucose in the blood.
Similar to “Gluco”, “Glyco” relates to sugar.
For example, glycolysis is the breakdown of sugar or glucose.
Next is “Thermo” which relates to heat.
You can think of a thermometer which is used to measure temperature.
Moving on to “Thrombo”, this refers to the clotting of blood.
For example, thrombectomy is a surgery to remove a blood clot or thrombus from a blood vessel.
Next we have “Tono” which means tension or tone.
It’s easy to remember because “tono” and “tone” sound the same.
You can refer to seizures as being tonoclonic which involve both stiffening,
tension, or tone (which is the tono part) as well as jerking (which is the clonic part).
The next one is simple too. It’s “Phono” which means sound, speech, or voice.
You can think of a “phone” which sounds like “phono” to remember sound or voice.
An example is phonocardiogram which is a graphic record of heart sounds.
Next is “Topo” which means place or position.
You can think of topography which is a term used in anatomy.
It’s the study of anatomy based on position, region, or divisions of the body.
Finally we have “Varico” which refers to a swollen, dilated,
enlarged, or twisted blood or lymph vessel, especially a vein.
And that’s how varicose veins got their name,
which are twisted enlarged veins most commonly in the legs.
Hopefully this helped you better understand medical terminology and roots.
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