1. Basic Word Structure
Chapter 1

2. Objectives Divide medical words into their component parts.
Find the meaning of basic combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes of the medical language.
Use these combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes to build medical words.

3. How to study Medical Language
Analyze words by dividing them into their 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
Root: Foundation of the word - also known as the combining form. Usually indicates the body part
Suffix: word ending
Prefix: word beginning
Combining Vowel: Usually an “o”; links the root to the suffix or the root to another root.

5. Suffixes End of the word
Usually indicate the procedure, condition, disorder or disease

6. Suffixes Ac (adjective) pertaining to
Um (noun ending) person, place or thing
Pathology suffixes: -itis, -megaly, -algia,
-necrosis
Procedures: -centesis, -ectomy, -plasty
“rr’s”: -rrhea, -rrhaphy, -rrhage

7. Prefixes Time/Event Pre: before Peri: surrounding Post: after
Location retro-, sub-, endo-
Number uni-, poly-, tri-
Status auto-, a-, an-

8. Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes
Ab - away from
dys - bad, difficult, painful
hyper - excessive or increased
inter - between or among
sub - under, less, or below
Ad - forward, in the direction of
eu - good, normal, well or easy
hypo - deficient or decreased
intra - within or inside
supra - above or excessive

9. RULES
Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term across.
Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel.
Keep the combining vowel between 2 roots.
Do not use combining vowel after a prefix

10. Examples
HEMATOLOGY
HEMAT/ O/ LOGY
root suffix
combining vowel

11. Let’s Review! Root: foundation of the term Suffix: word ending
Prefix: word beginning
Combining vowel: links the root to the suffix or the root to another root
Combining form: combination of the root and the combining vowel