Here are examples of common medical terms related to the muscular system that can be easily defined by breaking the terms into their word components.
Hypertrophy
- Break down the medical term into word components: Hyper/trophy
- Label the word components: Hyper = P; trophy = S (this is a exception to the rule where medical terms contain word roots)
- Define the word components: Hyper = above; more than normal; trophy = process of development
- Create a final definition of the medical term: The process of developing (muscles) more than normal
Bradykinesia
- Break down the medical term into word components: Brady/kines/ia
- Label the word components: Brady = P; kines = WR; ia = S
- Define the word components: Brady = slow; kines = movement; ia = condition of
- Create a final definition of the medical term: The condition of slow movement
Fibromyalgia
- Break down the medical term into word components: Fibr/o/my/algia
- Label the word components: Fibr = WR; o = CV; my = WR; algia = S
- Define the word components: Fibr = fibrous connective tissue; my = muscle; algia = pain
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Pain in the fibrous connective tissue of muscles
Rhabdomyolysis
- Break down the medical term into word components: Rhabd/o/my/o/lysis
- Label the word components: Rhabd = WR; o = CV; my = WR; o = CV; lysis = S
- Define the word components: Rhabd = striated (skeletal); my = muscle; lysis = dissolution
- Create a final definition of the medical term: Dissolution of striated skeletal muscle
Interactive Learning Activity: Practice defining and pronouncing medical terms related to the muscular system by breaking them down into word parts.
You can also print these flashcard activities as a Chapter 14 Student Companion Worksheet and check your answers with this Answer Key.