This document provides instructions for translating medical terminology by breaking terms down into their component parts including roots, prefixes, and suffixes. It explains how to identify these parts and their meanings. Examples are given to demonstrate the steps of breaking terms down, translating each part, and reassembling the full term. Practice problems are included to apply the skills to specific medical terms.

2. Putting It All Together
Medical Terminology
Laura S. Kabiri, PT, DPT, PhD, CSCS

3. A Word on Roots
How do you distinguish a root from a suffix or prefix?

4. Combining Vowel (/o)
What is the purpose of “/o”?
What is a combining form?
Some examples:

5. When To Keep The Combining Vowel
You will keep the combining vowel
when …
Examples:

6. When To Keep The Combining Vowel
You will keep the combining vowel
when …
Examples:

7. When To Drop The Combining Vowel
You will drop the combining vowel
when …
Why?
Examples:

8. Translating a
Medical Term

9. Step 1:
Give it a try. Try it on the
word “PSYCHOLOGY”...
Find another term to apply this step:
* Note: Some terms might have more than 2
parts.

10. Step 2:
Give it a try. Try it on the word
“PSYCHOLOGY”...
Step 1:
Step 2:
Find another term to apply this step:

11. Step 3:
Find a term to apply steps 1à 3:
Term:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
What about “PSYCHOLOGY”?

12. Step 4:
Find a term to apply steps 1à 4:
Term:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:

13. Find a term to apply steps 1à 5:
Term:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 5:

14. Practice #1
Translate “tachycardia”
1. Break it down:
2. Translate suffix:
3. Translate prefix:
4. Translate root(s):
5. Assemble:

15. Practice #2
Translate “subcutaneous”
1. Break it down:
2. Translate suffix:
3. Translate prefix:
4. Translate root(s):
5. Assemble:

16. Thus Ends This Lecture