6 Terminology of the Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, and Blood Systems Free Online FlashCards

When decoding a medical term, which word part should you interpret first?

Interpret the suffix first; it often identifies what kind of term you are reading.

When is a combining vowel commonly omitted?

The combining vowel is commonly omitted before a suffix that begins with a vowel, as in cardi/itis → carditis.

What does bradycardia mean?

Bradycardia means an abnormally slow heart rate: brady- means slow, cardi means heart, and -ia indicates a condition.

What does lymphadenopathy mean, and what does the term not establish?

Lymphadenopathy means disease or abnormality of the lymph nodes; the term alone does not establish its cause.

What does tachypnea mean?

Tachypnea means rapid breathing: tachy- means fast, and -pnea means breathing.

Why can pneumonia not be fully defined by translating its word parts?

Pneumonia is a lung-related disease term, but its meaning is not fully determined by simply translating pneum/o and a suffix.

What is an erythrocyte?

An erythrocyte is a red blood cell: erythr/o means red, and -cyte means cell.

What does angiography refer to?

Angiography is the imaging or recording of blood vessels; angi/o means vessel and -graphy means imaging or recording.

What procedure does splenectomy name?

Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen; -ectomy means surgical removal.

What does dyspnea mean?

Dyspnea means difficult or uncomfortable breathing; dys- indicates difficulty or abnormality, and -pnea means breathing.

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi; bronch refers to a bronchus, and -itis means inflammation.

What is a leukocyte?

A leukocyte is a white blood cell: leuk/o means white, and -cyte means cell.