Home›Anatomy›Medical Terminology
📖 Anatomy · Medical Terminology

Memory tricks that make medical terms stick

Medical terminology is the foundation of everything in anatomy. Master the prefixes, suffixes, root words, and directional terms — and every system becomes easier to learn.

Community
📋
Medical Terminology Forum
Ask questions · Share techniques
💬
Medical Terminology Chatroom
Live · Study together now
📖 Medical Terminology

Memory Tricks

Proven Mnemonics & Acronyms — fast to learn, hard to forget.

🎥 How Flashcards Work
A quick walkthrough of tap-to-flip, rating, and how card colors track what you're struggling with.
← Back Next →
Medical Terminology deck1 of 9
Tap to flip
← →
How well do YOU think you know this?
Easy Medium Hard Harder
Tap to flip back
Medical Terminology deck
Easy0
Medium0
Hard0
Harder0
Directional Terms
SAD PILL
Superior · Anterior · Deep · Posterior · Inferior · Lateral · Left/right
The seven directional terms that describe every body position
Before you can describe any structure in the body you need directional terms. SAD PILL gives you the foundational vocabulary. Superior = toward the head. Inferior = toward the feet. Anterior = toward the front. Posterior = toward the back. Deep = away from surface. Lateral = toward the side. Medial = toward the midline.
Superior
Toward the head — the nose is superior to the mouth
Anterior
Toward the front — the sternum is anterior to the spine
Deep
Away from the body surface — the femur is deep to the skin
Posterior
Toward the back — the spine is posterior to the sternum
Inferior
Toward the feet — the navel is inferior to the chest
Lateral
Toward the side — the ears are lateral to the nose
Left/right
Always from the patient's perspective — not yours
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
Maya walks through SAD PILL, term by term — 2:50.
Flashcard
🃏 Directional Terms
SAD PILL
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
SuperiorToward the head — the nose is superior to the mouth
AnteriorToward the front — the sternum is anterior to the spine
DeepAway from the body surface — the femur is deep to the skin
PosteriorToward the back — the spine is posterior to the sternum
InferiorToward the feet — the navel is inferior to the chest
LateralToward the side — the ears are lateral to the nose
Left/rightAlways from the patient's perspective — not yours
Tap to flip back
Cranial Nerves
On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
Olfactory · Optic · Oculomotor · Trochlear · Trigeminal · Abducens · Facial · Auditory · Glossopharyngeal · Vagus · Spinal Accessory · Hypoglossal
The 12 cranial nerves in order — one of the most tested anatomy sequences
The 12 cranial nerves must be memorized in order with their Roman numerals. Each word in the sentence starts with the same letter as the cranial nerve it represents. CN I–XII: Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Auditory (Vestibulocochlear), Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Spinal Accessory, Hypoglossal.
CN I
Olfactory — smell
CN II
Optic — vision
CN III
Oculomotor — eye movement, pupil constriction
CN IV
Trochlear — superior oblique eye movement
CN V
Trigeminal — face sensation, chewing
CN VI
Abducens — lateral eye movement
CN VII
Facial — facial expression, taste anterior tongue
CN VIII
Auditory/Vestibulocochlear — hearing and balance
CN IX
Glossopharyngeal — taste posterior tongue, swallowing
CN X
Vagus — parasympathetic to thorax/abdomen
CN XI
Spinal Accessory — SCM and trapezius muscles
CN XII
Hypoglossal — tongue movement
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Intermediate
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Cranial Nerves
On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
CN IOlfactory — smell
CN IIOptic — vision
CN IIIOculomotor — eye movement, pupil constriction
CN IVTrochlear — superior oblique eye movement
CN VTrigeminal — face sensation, chewing
CN VIAbducens — lateral eye movement
CN VIIFacial — facial expression, taste anterior tongue
CN VIIIAuditory/Vestibulocochlear — hearing and balance
CN IXGlossopharyngeal — taste posterior tongue, swallowing
CN XVagus — parasympathetic to thorax/abdomen
CN XISpinal Accessory — SCM and trapezius muscles
CN XIIHypoglossal — tongue movement
Tap to flip back
Cranial Nerve Function
Some Say Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
Sensory · Sensory · Motor · Motor · Both · Motor · Both · Sensory · Both · Both · Motor · Motor
Is each cranial nerve sensory, motor, or both?
Once you know the 12 cranial nerves, you need to know their function type. Each word in this sentence starts with S (Sensory), M (Motor), or B (Both). Use this alongside the first mnemonic to know both the name AND the function of every cranial nerve.
CN I
Sensory — smell only
CN II
Sensory — vision only
CN III
Motor — eye movement
CN IV
Motor — eye movement
CN V
Both — sensation and chewing
CN VI
Motor — lateral eye
CN VII
Both — expression and taste
CN VIII
Sensory — hearing and balance
CN IX
Both — taste and swallowing
CN X
Both — parasympathetic and sensation
CN XI
Motor — SCM and trapezius
CN XII
Motor — tongue movement
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Intermediate
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Cranial Nerve Function
Some Say Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
CN ISensory — smell only
CN IISensory — vision only
CN IIIMotor — eye movement
CN IVMotor — eye movement
CN VBoth — sensation and chewing
CN VIMotor — lateral eye
CN VIIBoth — expression and taste
CN VIIISensory — hearing and balance
CN IXBoth — taste and swallowing
CN XBoth — parasympathetic and sensation
CN XIMotor — SCM and trapezius
CN XIIMotor — tongue movement
Tap to flip back
Body Planes
SAF
Sagittal · Axial (Transverse) · Frontal (Coronal)
The three body planes — how anatomy divides the body for imaging and description
SAF gives you the three planes used in anatomy and medical imaging. Sagittal cuts left from right. Axial/Transverse cuts top from bottom (think CT scan slices). Frontal/Coronal cuts front from back. Every MRI and CT scan is described using these planes.
Sagittal
Divides left and right — midsagittal = exactly down the middle
Axial
Divides top (superior) from bottom (inferior) — like CT slices
Frontal
Divides front (anterior) from back (posterior) — also called coronal
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Body Planes
SAF
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
SagittalDivides left and right — midsagittal = exactly down the middle
AxialDivides top (superior) from bottom (inferior) — like CT slices
FrontalDivides front (anterior) from back (posterior) — also called coronal
Tap to flip back
Common Prefixes
Brady vs Tachy · Hypo vs Hyper · A- means without
Slow · Fast · Below/Under · Above/Excess · Absence of
The five most tested prefixes in all of medical terminology
Master these five prefixes and you can decode hundreds of medical terms instantly. Brady = slow (bradycardia = slow heart). Tachy = fast (tachypnea = fast breathing). Hypo = below (hypoglycemia = low blood sugar). Hyper = above (hypertension = high blood pressure). A- or An- = without (apnea = without breathing, anemia = without enough blood).
Brady-
Slow — bradycardia, bradypnea
Tachy-
Fast — tachycardia, tachypnea
Hypo-
Below normal — hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia
Hyper-
Above normal — hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperthermia
A-/An-
Without — apnea, anemia, aseptic, analgesia
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Common Prefixes
Prefixes — brady-, tachy-, hypo-, hyper-, a-?
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
Brady vs Tachy · Hypo vs Hyper · A- means without
Brady-Slow — bradycardia, bradypnea
Tachy-Fast — tachycardia, tachypnea
Hypo-Below normal — hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia
Hyper-Above normal — hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperthermia
A-/An-Without — apnea, anemia, aseptic, analgesia
Tap to flip back
Common Suffixes
-ITIS burns · -ECTOMY cuts out · -OSTOMY makes a hole · -PLASTY repairs · -SCOPY looks in
Inflammation · Surgical removal · Surgical opening · Surgical repair · Visual examination
The five surgical and pathology suffixes that appear on every anatomy exam
These five suffixes unlock the meaning of hundreds of medical terms. -itis = inflammation (appendicitis, arthritis). -ectomy = removal (appendectomy, tonsillectomy). -ostomy = creating an opening (colostomy, tracheostomy). -plasty = repair or reconstruction (rhinoplasty, arthroplasty). -scopy = visual examination (colonoscopy, laparoscopy).
-itis
Inflammation — appendicitis, arthritis, colitis, meningitis
-ectomy
Surgical removal — appendectomy, tonsillectomy, mastectomy
-ostomy
Surgical opening — colostomy, tracheostomy, ileostomy
-plasty
Surgical repair — rhinoplasty, arthroplasty, angioplasty
-scopy
Visual examination — colonoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Common Suffixes
Suffixes — -itis, -ectomy, -ostomy, -plasty, -scopy?
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
-ITIS burns · -ECTOMY cuts out · -OSTOMY makes a hole · -PLASTY repairs · -SCOPY looks in
-itisInflammation — appendicitis, arthritis, colitis, meningitis
-ectomySurgical removal — appendectomy, tonsillectomy, mastectomy
-ostomySurgical opening — colostomy, tracheostomy, ileostomy
-plastySurgical repair — rhinoplasty, arthroplasty, angioplasty
-scopyVisual examination — colonoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy
Tap to flip back
Carpal Bones
Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle
Scaphoid · Lunate · Triquetrum · Pisiform · Trapezium · Trapezoid · Capitate · Hamate
All 8 carpal bones in order — lateral to medial, proximal to distal
The 8 carpal bones arranged in two rows. Proximal row (lateral to medial): Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform. Distal row (lateral to medial): Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate. The scaphoid is the most commonly fractured — "anatomical snuffbox" tenderness = scaphoid fracture until proven otherwise.
Scaphoid
Most commonly fractured carpal — anatomical snuffbox
Lunate
Moon-shaped — most commonly dislocated
Triquetrum
Three-cornered bone
Pisiform
Pea-shaped sesamoid bone
Trapezium
Articulates with thumb metacarpal
Trapezoid
Smallest distal carpal bone
Capitate
Largest carpal bone — center of wrist
Hamate
Hook-shaped — ulnar nerve runs beside it
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Intermediate
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Carpal Bones
Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
ScaphoidMost commonly fractured carpal — anatomical snuffbox
LunateMoon-shaped — most commonly dislocated
TriquetrumThree-cornered bone
PisiformPea-shaped sesamoid bone
TrapeziumArticulates with thumb metacarpal
TrapezoidSmallest distal carpal bone
CapitateLargest carpal bone — center of wrist
HamateHook-shaped — ulnar nerve runs beside it
Tap to flip back
Root Words — Organs
Cardi = Heart · Hepat = Liver · Nephr = Kidney · Pulmon = Lung · Gastr = Stomach
The five most essential organ root words in medical terminology
Know these five roots and decode hundreds of medical terms instantly
These root words appear constantly throughout medicine. Cardiology, cardiomegaly, cardiac. Hepatitis, hepatomegaly, hepatectomy. Nephrology, nephritis, nephrectomy. Pulmonary, pulmonitis. Gastroscopy, gastritis, gastrectomy. Learning root words is more efficient than memorizing individual terms — they combine with prefixes and suffixes to create thousands of medical words.
Cardi/o
Heart — cardiology, cardiomegaly, cardiac arrest
Hepat/o
Liver — hepatitis, hepatomegaly, hepatectomy
Nephr/o
Kidney — nephrology, nephritis, nephrectomy
Pulmon/o
Lung — pulmonary, pulmonology
Gastr/o
Stomach — gastroscopy, gastritis, gastrectomy
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Root Words — Organs
Organ root words — cardi, hepat, nephr, pulmon, gastr?
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
Cardi = Heart · Hepat = Liver · Nephr = Kidney · Pulmon = Lung · Gastr = Stomach
Cardi/oHeart — cardiology, cardiomegaly, cardiac arrest
Hepat/oLiver — hepatitis, hepatomegaly, hepatectomy
Nephr/oKidney — nephrology, nephritis, nephrectomy
Pulmon/oLung — pulmonary, pulmonology
Gastr/oStomach — gastroscopy, gastritis, gastrectomy
Tap to flip back
Anatomical Position
FACTS
Facing forward · Arms at sides · Chin level · Toes forward · Standing erect
Standard anatomical position — the reference point for all anatomical descriptions
All anatomical descriptions assume the body is in standard anatomical position. Without this reference point, terms like "anterior" and "posterior" are meaningless. Every directional term, every body plane, and every structural description in anatomy assumes this starting position. FACTS helps you remember all five components.
Facing forward
Eyes looking straight ahead, palms facing forward
Arms at sides
Upper limbs hanging at sides, slightly away from body
Chin level
Head in neutral position, Frankfurt plane horizontal
Toes forward
Feet together, toes pointing anteriorly
Standing erect
Upright standing position — all descriptions reference this
📖 Full Lesson →
Difficulty: Beginner
🎥 Watch Instead
▶
Video coming soon
This lesson's animated video hasn't been made yet — check back soon.
Flashcard
🃏 Anatomical Position
FACTS
Tap to flip
🃏 Answer
Facing forwardEyes looking straight ahead, palms facing forward
Arms at sidesUpper limbs hanging at sides, slightly away from body
Chin levelHead in neutral position, Frankfurt plane horizontal
Toes forwardFeet together, toes pointing anteriorly
Standing erectUpright standing position — all descriptions reference this
Tap to flip back
🎓 Common Exam Questions