Medical Terminology Systems Chapter 1

Basic Word Structure CHAPTER SECTIONS I . Word Analysis II . Combining Forms, Suffixes, and Picture Exercise 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 Chapter 1 Basic Elements of a Medical Word

Word Parts Are the Key! © Cengage Learning

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 At least one word root in most medical words Most are derived from Greek or Latin Ex. 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 Dermatos (Gr) Derm Skin

Combining Form(CF) Enables two elements to be connected Created when a word root is combined with a vowel, known as a combining vowel Combining vowel usually an o, but sometimes an i or an e Enables two elements to be connected

Examples of Combining Forms Word Root Vowel Combining Form Meaning Gastr O Gastr/o stomach Hepat Hepat/o Liver Immun Immun/o Immune, safe Oste Oste/o bone

Suffixes Word element placed at the end of a word or word root that changes the meaning of the word Usually an indication of a pathology, condition, symptom, therapeutic or diagnostic procedure, or part of speech

Suffixes Example: © Cengage Learning

Examples of Suffixes Suffix Medical word Meaning Gastr/o (stomach) 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 Usually an indication of a number, time, position, measurement, direction, or negation

Prefixes Example: © Cengage Learning

Examples of Prefixes Intra- Muscul -ar 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 #1 Define the suffix or last part of the word Rule #2 Define the first part of the word (word, root, combining form, or prefix) Rule #3 Define 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

Determining Meanings on the Basis of Word Parts An example to take apart: © Cengage Learning

Define Medical Words Exercise gastr/itis: oste/o/arthr/itis: poly/neur/itis:

Define Medical Words Exercise gastr/itis: inflammation of the stomach oste/o/arthr/itis: inflammation of the bone and joint poly/neur/itis: inflammation of many nerves

Building Medical Words Rule #1 A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel Example Hepat/ + -itis = hepatitis Inflammation of the liver Rule #2 A combining form links a suffix that begins with a consonant Hepat/o + cyte = hepatocyte Liver cell

Building Medical Words Rule #3 Use a combining form to link a root to another root to form a compound word Example Oste/o + chondr/ + -itis =osteochondritis Inflammation of bone and cartilage

Build Medical Words Exercise Determine which of the three rules for building medical words applies to the following terms. arthr/itis gastr/o/intestin/al hepat/o/cyte

Build Medical Words Exercise arthr/itis — Rule 1: A root links a suffix that begins with a vowel. gastr/o/intestin/al — Rule 3: A CF links a root to another root to form a compound word; a root links a suffix that begins with a vowel. hepat/o/cyte — Rule 2: A CF links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Exercises

Complete the phrases with the correct word part: Exercise 1: Complete the phrases with the correct word part: A __ is attached at the beginning of a word root ___ are usually an “o” All medical terms contain one or more ___ 4. A ____is attached at the end of a word root. 5. The ______ _____ is the word root with the combining vowel attached

Exercise 2: True or False There is always a prefix at the beginning of a medical term A combining vowel is always used when connecting a word root and a suffix A prefix modifies the meaning of the word A combining vowel is used to ease pronunciation “I” is the most commonly used combing vowel The word root is the core of a medical term A combining vowel is used between a prefix and word root A combining form is a word part

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