Chapter 1

Basic Word StructureCHAPTER SECTIONS

I . Word AnalysisII . Combinning Forms, Suffixes, and PictureIII. Exercise IV. ReviewV. Pronunciation of termsVI. Practical Applications

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

• To divide medical terms in to component parts• To analyze, pronounce, and spell medical terms using

common combining forms ,suffixes, and prefixes

Basic Elements of a Medical Word

Medical Word ElementsSpecialized vocabulary used by health-care

practitioners

A medical word consists of:Word rootCombining formSuffixPrefix

A. Word RootsThe core of a medical term

Contains the fundamental meaning

Most are derived from Greek or LatinEx. Greek word derm and Latin word cutane both refer to the skin

Examples of Word Roots

Greek or Latin Word

Word Root Meaning

Nephros (Gr) Nephr Kidney

Oris (L) Or Mouth

Renes (L) Ren Kidney

Dermatos (Gr) Derm Skin

Notice how the following medical term is analyzed. Can you locate the two combining

forms in this term?

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Notice how the following medical term is analyzed. Can you locate the two combining forms in this term?

GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY

Root root suffix (“stomach”) (“intestines”) (“study of”)

The two combining forms are GASTR/O and ENTER/O. The entire word means “study of the stomach and the intestine. “ Here are other words that are divided into component parts:

GASTROSCOPE

Combining form suffix (“stomach”) (“instrument to visually examine”)

Here are other words that are divided into component parts:

GASTR/O/SCOPE

Combining form suffix (“stomach”) (“instrument to visually examine”) mean “instrument to visually

examine the stomach”.

Combining FormWord root to which a vowel is added

Enables two elements to be connected

Examples of Combining FormsWord Root

Vowel Combining Form

Meaning

Gastr O Gastr/o stomach

Hepat O Hepat/o Liver

Immun O Immun/o Immune, safe

Oste O Oste/o bone

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM

root root suffix (“electricity”) (“heart”) (“record”)

combining vowel combining vowel

COMBINNING FORMS

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMBINING MEDICAL

FORM MEANING TERM MEANING

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aden/o gland adenoma_________________________

adenitis _________________________

-ITIS means “inflammation.”

Arthr/o joint arthritis__________________________

Bi/o life biology__________________________

-LOGY mean “study of “.

biopsy _________________________

-OPSY means “to view.” Living tissue is

removed and viewed under a microsope.

Carcin/o carcinoma____________________________

cancerous -OMA means “mass” or “tumor.”

Cardi/o heart Cardiology___________________________

Cephal/ohead cephalic____________________________

-IC mean “pertaining to.”

Cerebr/o cerebrum, cerebral____________________________

largest part -AL means “pertaining to, ”the Figure shows the

of the brain cerebrum .

cerebrovascular accident (CVA___________

-VASCULAR means “pertaining to blood

vessels”; a CVA is commonly known as a

stroke.

Cyst/o urinary cystoscope__________________________

Cyt/o cell cytology_______________________________

Dermat/o skin dermatitis____________________________

Derm/o dermal______________________________

Electr/o electricity electrocardiogram (ECG,EKG)_____________

-GRAM means “record.”

Encephal/o brain electroencephalogram (EEG)_____________

This record is helpful in determining if a patient

has a seizure disorder, such a epilepsy.

Enter/o intestine enteritis_____________________________

(often the Figure shows the small and large intestines.

small ENTER/O is used to describe the small

intestine) intestine and COLON/O are the combining for

the large intestine (colon).

Erythr/o red erythrocyte

-CYTE means “cell.” Figure below shows the three major

types of blood cells.

Gastr/o stomach Gastroscopy_______________________________

-SCOPY means “process of viewing.”

Gnos/o knowledge diagnosis_______________________________

-SIS means “state of”; DIA-means “complete.”

A diagnosis is the complete knowledge gained

after testing and examining the patient. The

Plural of diagnosis is diagnoses.

prognosis__________________________

PRO- means “before.” A prognosis is a prediction

(“before knowledge”) that is actually made after

the diagnosis. It forecasts the outcome of

treatment.

Gynec/o woman

gynecology ----------------------------------------

SuffixesWord element placed at the end of

a word or word root that changes the meaning of the word

A suffix usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech

Examples of SuffixesCombining

FormSuffix Medical

wordMeaning

Gastr/o

(stomach)

-itis(inflammation)

Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach

-megaly Gastromegaly Enlargement of the stomach

-oma Gastroma Tumor of the stomach

The following table consists of suffixes showing disease or change in the body.

Suffix        Meaning    Example

-algia pain arthralgiajoints

-cele hernia    gastrocelestomach

-dynia pain, swelling

urodyniaurine

-ectasis dilation, expansion

bronchiolectasisbronchus

-(a)emia   blood leuk(a)emiawhite

-gen producing, beginning

carcinogencancer

-iasis abnormal condition, formation of, presence of

cholhgelithiasisgall stone

The following table consists of suffixes showing disease or change in the body.

Suffix        Meaning    Example

-itis   inflammation hepatitisstomach

-malacia softening osteomalaciabone

-megaly enlargement splenomegalyspleen

-oid resemble fibroidfibres

-oma tumour adenomagland

-osis abnormal condition, dermatosisskin

-pathy   disease   nephropathykidney

-penia    decrease,deficiency

erthyropeniared (cell)

-phagia    eating, swallowing  

dysphagiadifficult

-phasia speech aphasiawithout

-plegia    paralysis,stroke     

hemiplegiahalf

-phobia    fear acrophobiaheights

Suffix        Meaning    Example

-ptosis   prolapse, fallingdropping  

blepharoptosiseyelid

-rrhage burst haemorrhageblood

-rrhea discharge,flow of watery stools

diarrhea

-rrhexis   rupture enterorrhexisintestines

-sclerosis    hardening   artheriosclerosisjoints

-spasm   involuntarycontraction,twitching

bronchospasmbronchus

Suffix        Meaning    Example

Suffix        Meaning    Example

-gram record of data    encephalogrambrain

-graph instrument for recording cardiographheart

-graphy   act of recording data radiography

-meter instrument for measuring     craniometercranium

-metry measurement of  audiometryaudio (hearing)

-scope     instrument for viewing laryngoscopelarynx

-scopy examination of laparoscopyabdomen

Suffixes used for diagnoses

Suffix Meaning Example

-ectomy removal     mastectomybreast

-centesis tap, puncture      thoracentesischest

-stomy mouth, forming an opening colostomy colon

-tomy incision, to cut into

tracheotomytrachea

Suffixes: Surgery-incisionsThese suffixes describe types of incisions made during surgery.

Suffix Meaning Example

-desis binding ,stabilization

pleurodesispleural membrane (lining of the lung)

-rrhapy Suture, stitch   Arteriorrhaphy – artery

-pexy fixation,suspension

gastropexystomach

-plasty formation,plastic repair

rhinoplastynose    

-clasis to break down,  refracture

osteoclasisbone   

-lysis loosen, free form adhesions,destruction

enterolysissmall intestine

-tripsy to crush    cholelithotripsygallstone

The following suffixes also describe surgery in terms of repairing, rebuilding, reconstructing, or binding

Adjective endings Example

-ac cadiacheart

-al    skeletalskeleton

-ary salivarysaliva

-ic pelvicpelvis

The following suffixes show the word parts. In other words, these suffixes show whether a word is an adjective, noun, singular or plural

or a diminutive of a larger word.Adjective endings that mean "pertaining to" are:

Adjective endings Example

-ical surgicalsurgery   

-ous venousvein

-tic    paralyticparalysis

-ar muscularmuscles

The following suffixes show the word parts. In other words, these suffixes show whether a word is an adjective, noun, singular or plural or a diminutuve of a larger word.

Adjective endings that mean "pertaining to" are:

Noun endings Meaning Example

-iac   indicates person afflicted

with certain diseases or

conditions

hemophiliac

-ia an unhealthy state anesthesia

-is forms the noun from the root cutisskin

-ism condition, state of being alcholismalcohol

-ist   one who specializes radiologistradiology

-y condition, process neuropathynervous systemdisease

Nouns endingsThese suffixes show the word is a noun.

Diminutive ending Meaning Example

-ole       artioleartery

-icle         small, littleminute

particlepiece

-ule       veinulevein

These suffixes show the word is a small version of a thing.

Singular  Plural  

 

Example

Singular

Example

Plural

a ae patella   patellae

ax   aces thorax    throraces

en ina lumen lumina

ix or ex ices      index    indices

These suffixes indicate whether the noun is singular or plural.

Singular  Plural  

 

Example

Singular

Example

Plural

sis ses    diagnosis    diagnoses

on    a ganglion   ganglia

um a      ovum ova

us i   digitus digiti

y ies   deformity deformities

ma mata   carcinoma carcinomata

These suffixes indicate whether the noun is singular or plural.

b. PrefixesWord element attached to the beginning

of a word or word root

A prefix usually indicates a number, time, position, direction, or negation

Examples of PrefixesPrefix Word

Root

Suffix Medical Word

Meaning

Hyper-(above normal)

Therm

(heat)

-ia(condition)

Hyperthermia Condition of excessive heat

Intra-(in, within)

Muscul(muscle)

-ar(relating to)

Intramuscular Within the muscle

Insert table 3-1

Basic Rules

Defining Medical Words

Building Medical Words

Defining Medical WordsRule #1

Define the suffix or last part of the word

Rule #2Define the first part of the word (word, root,

combining form, or prefix)

Rule #3Define the middle parts of the word

Example of Defining Rules“Gastroenteritis”

Combining Form

Middle Suffix

Gastr/o Enter/ -itis

Stomach Intestine inflammation

Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 1

Definition – inflammation of the stomach and intestine

Example of Defining Rules“Enterocolitis”

Combining Form

Middle Suffix

Enter/o col/ -itis

Intestine colon inflammation

Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 1

Definition – inflammation of the colon and intestine

Building Medical Words

Rule #1A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowelExample

Hepat/ + -itis = hepatitis Inflammation of the liver

Rule #2A combining form links a suffix that begins with a

consonantExample

Hepat/o + cyte = hepatocyte Liver cell

Rule #3Use a combining form to link a root to another

root to form a compound wordExample

Oste/o + chondr/ + -itis =osteochondritis Inflammation of bone and cartilage