1. Medical Terminology Systems
Chapter 1

2. 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

3. Basic Elements of a Medical Word
Chapter 1
Basic Elements of a Medical Word

4. Word Parts Are the Key!
© Cengage Learning

5. Medical Word Elements
Specialized vocabulary used by health-care practitioners
A medical word consists of:
Word root
Combining form
Suffix
Prefix

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Suffixes
Example:
© Cengage Learning

12. 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

13. 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

14. Prefixes
Example:
© Cengage Learning

15. 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

16. Basic Rules
Defining Medical Words
Building Medical Words

17. 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

18. 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

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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. Exercises

27. 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

28. 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

29. The end