This chapter introduces the basic structure of medical terminology by dividing words into their component parts such as roots, prefixes, and suffixes. The goals are to analyze words, relate medical terms to body structure and function, and properly use and spell terms. Words are broken down by identifying their roots to determine meaning, suffixes to indicate a process of study, and combining vowels that link parts and aid pronunciation. Examples show how hematology means the study of blood and electrocardiogram is the recording of the heart's electricity. General rules are provided for reading terms and combining parts.

1. Chapter 1
Basic Word Structure

2. Chapter Goals
• Identify basic objectives to guide your study of the medical
language.
• Divide medical words into their component parts.
• Learn the meanings of basic combining forms, prefixes, and
suffixes of the medical language.
• Use these combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes to build medical
words.

3. Objectives in Studying
The Medical Language
• Analyze words by dividing them into component parts.
• Relate the medical terms to the structure and function of the
human body.
• Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems

4. Word Analysis
• HEMAT/O/LOGY

5. Word Analysis (cont’d)
HEMAT/O/LOGY



root

suffix
combining vowel
hemat means blood
-logy means process of study

6. Word Analysis (cont’d)
Important elements:
 Root: foundation of the term
 Suffix: word ending
 Prefix: word beginning
 Combining vowel: vowel (usually o) that links the root to the suffix or the
root to another root and aids pronunciation
 Combining form: combination of the root and the combining vowel

7. Word Analysis (cont’d
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM

root





root  suffix
combining vowels
electr means electricity
cardi means heart
-gram means record

8. Word Analysis (cont’d)
THREE General Rules:
1. Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning
of the term and across
2. Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a
vowel: gastritis not “gastroitis”
3. Keep the combining vowel between two roots: gastroenterology not
“gastrenterology”

9. All information taken from
The Language Of
Medicine
th
10
edition
Davi-Ellen Chabner