Tackling The Veterinary Terminology: Prefixes (gastr-)

Remember the Spelling Bee? Big words are easier to tackle when you understand how they're put together. Veterinary terms are composed in the same way. Just like with other words, the main parts of a veterinary term are a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The difference is that they typically come more directly from Greek or Latin.

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning by providing additional information. It usually indicates number, location, time, or status.
gastr-/gastro [ˈɡæstrə-] - from Greek - stomach

We all know what stomach is. When a medical term starts with gastr-/gastro- it refers to the stomach.

The most common related medical term is gastroenteritis.

As the suffix suggests, it is an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. It is so common because it can have many causes, including dietary indiscretion, such as a successful raid in the garbage. Unfortunately, it can have more serious causes, such as infection, allergies or autoimmune disease too.

Gastritis, then, is inflammation of the stomach only.

The scariest words starting with this prefix you will ever hear are gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV).

Very scary, very dangerous. Deemed a number two dog killer, second only to cancer. It is really too part problem. The dilation itself means that an accumulation of fluid and gas causes the stomach to expand way beyond its normal size. As if that wasn't bad enough, the volvulus bit means that the stomach has flipped around on itself, effectively trapping everything in with no way out.



It is vital that you learn to recognize the signs of this dire emergency.



Gastropexy is a surgical attachment of the stomach to the abdominal wall, done to prevent GDV in highly susceptible breeds.

Gastroesophageal reflux, a fancy term for acid reflux, is a condition in which stomach or intestinal fluids back flow into the esophagus. Gastroscopy is the examination of the stomach with an endoscope.

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Related articles:
Veterinary Suffixes (-itis)
Veterinary Suffixes (-oma) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-pathy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-osis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-iasis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-tomy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-ectomy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-scopy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-emia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-penia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-rrhea) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-cyte) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-blast) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-opsy)
Veterinary Suffixes (-ac/-al)

Veterinary Prefixes (hyper-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hypo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (pyo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myelo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (spondylo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (cardio-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (cervic-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (osteo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (fibro-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (broncho-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hemo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (brady-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (tachy-)
Veterinary Prefixes (hepat-)

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