ABSTRACT
Most medical terms are composed of roots or stems derived from Greek or Latin and used in combination with prefixes and suffixes. These language sources are used interchangeably! such as in the term appendicitis containing the Latin appendix and the Greek suffix -itis. For some medical terms, both the Greek and Latin spellings have been adopted as acceptable forms, so the spelling of a root can vary from one term to another. It is imperative, therefore, that a medical dictionary be consulted to determine the correct spelling of unfamiliar words. Prefixes are the most frequently used elements in the formation of medical terms. Most prefixes are commonly used in everyday language and are not unique to medical terminology, so those wanting to learn or improve their mastery of medical terminology have a sound basis on which to build. Medical terms describing position or direction relative to the body are expressed in terms of the "anatomical position".
