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Search medical terms and abbreviations with the most up-to-date and comprehensive medical dictionary from the reference experts at Merriam-Webster. Master today's medical vocabulary. Authoritative pronunciations.
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Get definitions and pronunciations for 5,287 medical words...
- Spondylosis Definition & Meaning
any of various degenerative diseases of the spine… See the...
- ESR Definition & Meaning
The ESR is the speed of red cell settling in a graduated...
- Myoedema Medical Definition
: the formation of a lump in a muscle when struck a slight...
- Crepitation Medical Definition
The meaning of CREPITATION is a grating or crackling sound...
- Myoblastoma
The meaning of MYOBLASTOMA is a tumor that is composed of...
- Subchondral Definition & Meaning
The meaning of SUBCHONDRAL is situated beneath cartilage....
- Xerostomia
abnormal dryness of the mouth due to insufficient secretions...
- Compression Fracture Definition & Meaning
fracture (as of a vertebra) caused by compression of one...
- Malacia
abnormal softening of a tissue —often used in combination…...
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- Basic Term Structure
- Word Roots
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
Medical terms are composed of these standard word parts: 1. Prefix:When included, the prefix appears at the beginning of a medical term and usually indicates a location, direction, type, quality, or quantity. 2. Root:The root gives a term its essential meaning. Nearly all medical terms contain at least one root. When a prefix is absent, the term be...
A root is the foundational element of any medical term. Roots often indicate a body part or system. Common word roots: Compound Words A medical word may include multiple roots. This frequently occurs when referencing more than one body part or system. For example, cardio-pulmo-nary means pertaining to the heart and lungs; gastro-entero-logy means t...
A prefix modifies the meaning of the word root. It may indicate a location, type, quality, body category, or quantity. Prefixes are optional and do not appear in all medical terms. Common prefixes:
Medical terms always end with a suffix.3The suffix usually indicates a specialty, test, procedure, function, condition/disorder, or status. For example, “itis” means inflammation and “ectomy” means removal. Alternatively, the suffix may simply make the word a noun or adjective. For example, the endings -a, -e, -um, and -us are commonly used to crea...
Nov 23, 2021 · This glossary of medication terms from GoodRx was created to help you navigate and define the technical terminology commonly used in pharmacies and to refer to medication. You shouldn’t have to go to pharmacy school to understand how your medications work and how they may affect you.
Find a medical word using the RxList drug medical dictionary of medical definitions. Medical terms are written by pharmacists and doctors and provide insight into medicine related to OTC and prescription drugs including Rx abbreviations.
OpenMD's medical dictionary aggregates definitions from leading medical institutions and includes illustrations, phonetic pronunciations, and related terms.
Among our tips and strategies for learning medical terminology, we’re going to show you how to put your familiarity to work for you. But first, let’s answer a few questions so we can establish who should study medical terminology and why.
Use this list of common medical abbreviations and terminology used by doctors, medical specialists, RNs, PAs, and other health-care professionals to help you read and decipher the information on your prescriptions and doctors' medical notes.