Medical Terminology Systems

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Basic Elements of a Medical Word

Medical Word Elements

Specialized vocabulary used by health-care practitioners

A medical word consists of:Word root

Combining form

Suffix

Prefix

Word Roots

The 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

Combining Form

Word root to which a vowel is added

Enables two elements to be connected

Examples of Combining Forms

Word 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

Suffixes

Word 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 Suffixes

Combining Form

Suffix Medical word

Meaning

Gastr/o

(stomach)

-itis(inflammation)

Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach

-megaly Gastromegaly Enlargement of the stomach

-oma Gastroma Tumor of the stomach

Prefixes

Word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root

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

Examples of Prefixes

Prefix 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

Basic Rules

Defining Medical Words

Building Medical Words

Defining Medical Words

Rule #1Define 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

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

Building Medical Words

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

ExampleOste/o + chondr/ + -itis =osteochondritis

– Inflammation of bone and cartilage

Pronunciation Guidelines

Inside front cover of textbook