This document is from a textbook on medical terminology. It discusses the basic structure of medical words by dividing them into their component parts such as roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. Some key points covered include: - Medical terms can be analyzed by identifying roots, suffixes, prefixes, and combining forms. Understanding the meaning of these parts is important for determining the overall meaning of terms. - Common medical roots include gastro- (stomach), cardio- (heart), neuro- (nerve), and others related to body parts or processes. Frequent suffixes include -itis (inflammation), -algia (pain), and -osis (condition or disease). - Examples are provided of medical words broken down

1. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 1
The Language OfThe Language Of
MedicineMedicine
1010thth
editionedition
Davi-Ellen ChabnerDavi-Ellen Chabner

2. Chapter 1
Basic Word Structure
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.
2

3. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 3
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.

4. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 4
Chapter 1
Lesson 1.1

5. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 5
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.

6. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 6
QUICK QUIZ:
1. All medical terms have:
A. a combining vowel
B. two roots
C. a suffix
D. a prefix

7. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 7
QUICK QUIZ: (cont’d)
2. Which element appears at the beginning
of a medical term?
A. Suffix
B. Prefix
C. Combining vowel
D. Combining form

8. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 8
Word Analysis
HEMAT/O/LOGY

9. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 9
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HEMAT/O/LOGY
  
root  suffix
combining vowel
hemat means blood
-logy means process of study

10. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 10
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

11. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 11
Word Analysis (cont’d)
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM

12. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 12
Word Analysis (cont’d)
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM
    
root  root  suffix
combining vowels
electr means electricity
cardi means heart
-gram means record

13. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 13
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/ITIS

14. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 14
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/ITIS
 
root suffix
gastr means stomach
-itis means inflammation
Note: Drop combining vowel when suffix starts
with a vowel (as in “itis”)

15. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 15
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY

16. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 16
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY
    
root  root  suffix
combining vowels
gastr means stomach
enter means intestines
-logy means process of study

17. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 17
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”

18. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 18
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HYPO/GASTR/IC

19. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 19
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HYPO/GASTR/IC
  
prefix root suffix
hypo- means below
gastr means stomach
-ic means pertaining to

20. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 20
Word Analysis (cont’d)
EPI/GASTR/IC

21. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 21
Word Analysis (cont’d)
EPI/GASTR/IC
  
prefix root suffix
epi- means above
gastr means stomach
-ic means pertaining to

22. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 22
Combining Forms
aden/o _________
arthr/o _________
bi/o _________
carcin/o _________
cardi/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

23. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 23
Combining Forms (cont’d)
aden/o gland
arthr/o joint
bi/o life
carcin/o cancerous, cancer
cardi/o heart
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

24. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 24
QUICK QUIZ:
3. Which term means inflammation
of the gland?
A. Arthritis
B. Adenitis
C. Adenoma
D. Cephalic

25. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 25
Combining Forms
cephal/o _________
cerebr/o _________
cis/o _________
crin/o _________
cyst/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

26. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 26
Combining Forms (cont’d)
cephal/o head
cerebr/o cerebrum
cis/o to cut
crin/o to secrete
cyst/o urinary bladder
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

27. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 27
Combining Forms (cont’d)
cyt/o _________
derm/o or dermat/o _________
electr/o _________
encephal/o _________
enter/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

28. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 28
Combining Forms (cont’d)
cyt/o cell
derm/o or dermat/o skin
electr/o electricity
encephal/o brain
enter/o intestines
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

29. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 29
QUICK QUIZ:
4. Which term means study of cells?
A. Cystoscopy
B. Cystitis
C. Cytology
D. Hematology

30. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 30
Combining Forms
erythr/o _________
gastr/o _________
glyc/o
_________
gnos/o _________
gynec/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

31. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 31
Combining Forms (cont’d)
erythr/o red
gastr/o stomach
glyc/o sugar
gnos/o knowledge
gynec/o woman, female
hemat/o or hem/o blood
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

32. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 32
Combining Forms (cont’d)
hepat/o _________
iatr/o _________
leuk/o _________
log/o _________
nephr/o _________
neur/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

33. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 33
Combining Forms (cont’d)
hepat/o liver
iatr/o treatment, physician
leuk/o white
log/o study of
nephr/o kidney
neur/o nerve
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

34. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 34
Combining Forms (cont’d)
onc/o _________
ophthalm/o _________
oste/o _________
path/o _________
ped/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

35. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 35
Combining Forms (cont’d)
onc/o tumor
ophthalm/o eye
oste/o bone
path/o disease
ped/o child
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

36. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 36
Combining Forms (cont’d)
psych/o _________
radi/o _________
ren/o _________
rhin/o _________
sarc/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

37. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 37
Combining Forms (cont’d)
psych/o mind
radi/o x-rays
ren/o kidney
rhin/o nose
sarc/o flesh
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

38. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 38
Combining Forms (cont’d)
sect/o _________
thromb/o _________
ur/o _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

39. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 39
Combining Forms (cont’d)
sect/o to cut
thromb/o clot, clotting
ur/o urinary tract, urine
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

40. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 40
Suffixes
-ac _________
-al _________
-algia _________
-cyte _________
-ectomy _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

41. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 41
Suffixes (cont’d)
-ac pertaining to
-al pertaining to
-algia pain
-cyte cell
-ectomy excision,
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

42. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 42
QUICK QUIZ:
5. Which suffix means to “cut out” or remove?
A.-ectomy
B.-scopy
C. -itis
D.-opsy

43. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 43
Suffixes
-emia _________
-genic _________
-globin _________
-gram _________
-ic, ical _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

44. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 44
Suffixes (cont’d)
-emia blood condition
-genic produced by or in
-globin protein
-gram record
-ic, ical pertaining to
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

45. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 45
Suffixes (cont’d)
-ion _________
-ist _________
-itis _________
-logy _________
-oma _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

46. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 46
Suffixes (cont’d)
-ion process
-ist specialist
-itis inflammation
-logy process of study
-oma tumor, mass, swelling
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

47. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 47
Suffixes (cont’d)
-opsy
_________
-osis _________
-pathy _________
-scope _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

48. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 48
Suffixes (cont’d)
-opsy process of viewing
-osis condition, usually abnormal
-pathy disease condition
-scope instrument to visually examine
-scopy process of visually examining
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

49. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 49
Suffixes (cont’d)
-sis _________
-tomy _________
-y _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

50. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 50
Suffixes (cont’d)
-sis state of; condition
-tomy process of cutting, incision
-y process, condition
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

51. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 51
Prefixes
a-, an- _________
aut-, auto _________
dia- _________
end-, endo- _________
epi- _________
ex-, exo- _________
Combining Form MeaningCombining Form Meaning

52. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 52
Prefixes (cont’d)
a-, an- no, not, without
aut-, auto- self, own
dia- complete, through
endo- within
epi- above, upon
ex-, exo- out, outside of, outward
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

53. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 53
Prefixes (cont’d)
hyper- _________
hypo- _________
in- _________
peri- _________
pro- _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

54. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 54
Prefixes (cont’d)
hyper- excessive, above, more than normal
hypo- deficient, below, under, less than normal
in- into, in
peri- surrounding, around
pro- before, forward
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

55. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 55
Prefixes (cont’d)
re- _________
retro- _________
sub- _________
trans- _________
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

56. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 56
Prefixes (cont’d)
re- back, backward, again
retro- behind
sub- below, under
trans- across, through
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

57. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 57
Pronunciation of Terms
• When ¯ is above a vowel, the sound is long.
For example:
ā as in āpe
ō as in ōpen
• When ˘ is above a vowel, the sound is short.
For example:
ă as in ăpple
ŏ as in pŏt
• The capitalized syllable is accented.

58. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 58
Pronunciation of Terms
(cont’d)
Examples:
adenitis ăd-ĕ-Nī-tĭs
biology bī-OL-ō-jē
cephalic se-FĂL-ĭk
iatrogenic i-ăt-rō-JĔN-ĭk
resection rē-SĔK-shŭn