1. Chapter 1
Objectives
Identify basic objectives to guide your study of the medical language
Divide medical words into their component parts
Learn the meanings of basic combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes of the medical language.
Use these combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes to build medical words.
Analyze words by dividing them into component parts.
Relate the medical terms to the structure and function of the human body.
Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems.

2. Basic Word Structure
Chapter 1
Pages 1 – 32

3. Objectives in Studying the Medical Language
Pages 2 – 3
Objectives in Studying the Medical Language
Analyze words by dividing them into component parts
Relate the medical terms to the structure and function of the human body
Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems
There are three objectives when studying medical terminology
1. Analyze words by dividing them into component parts
Learn the tools of word analysis that will make understanding complex terminology easier.
Do not simply memorize terms; think about dividing terms into their component parts.
The reason for this is that Medical terms are like jigsaw puzzles in that they are constructed of small pieces that make each word unique, with one major difference: These pieces can be shuffled up and used in lots of combinations to make other words.
Become familiar with word parts and learn what each means
2. Relate the medical terms to the structure & function of the human body
Memorization of terms, although essential to retention of the language, SHOULD NOT become the primary objective of your study.
Medical terms explained in their proper context will be easier to remember.
Thus, the term hepatitis, meaning inflammation (-itis) of the liver (hepat), is better understood when you know where the liver is & how it functions.
3. Be aware of spelling & pronunciation problems.
Some medical terms are pronounced alike but are spelling differently, which accounts for their different meanings.
FOR EXAMPLE, ilium and ileum have identical pronunciations, but the first term ilium, means a part of the hip bone, whereas the second term, ileum, refers to a part of the small intestine.
Even when terms are spelled correctly, they can be misunderstood if incorrect pronunciation.
FOR EXAMPLE, the urethra is the tube leading for the urinary bladder to the outside of the body, whereas a ureter is one of two tubes each leading from a single kidney & inserting into the urinary bladder.

4. Word Analysis Pages 3 – 6 Root = the foundation of the word
Suffix = the word ending
Prefix = beginning of the word
Combining vowel (usually o) = it joins one word part to another.
Combining form = the root plus the combining vowel.
Studying medical terminology is very similar to learning a new language.
Breaking the complex words into their basic parts should make them easier to understood.
First lets go over some definitions and rules before we start to analyze words.
Root = the foundation of the word; medical terms can have one or more roots
Suffix = the word ending; All medical terms have one
Prefix = beginning of the word; not all medical terms contain prefixes
Combining vowel (usually o) = a vowel that has no meaning of its own; it joins one word part to another.
Combining form = the root plus the combining vowel.

5. Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Pages 3 – 6
Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Three general rules:
READ from the suffix → beginning and across
DROP the combining vowel if suffix begins with a vowel
gastritis ≠ gastroitis
KEEP combining vowel between two roots
gastroenterology ≠ gastrenterology
Studying medical terminology is very similar to learning a new language.
Three general rules:
1) READ the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and across.
2) DROP the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel; gastritis, not “gastroitis”
3) KEEP the combining vowel between two roots; gastroenterology, not “gastrenterology”

6. Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Pages 3 – 6
Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Gastritis
Root: gastr = stomach
Combining vowel: none
Suffix: –itis = inflammation
Gastroenterology
Root: enter = intestines
Combining vowel: o
Suffix: –logy = process of study
means inflammation of the stomach
means process of study of the stomach and intestines
Gastritis
Root: gastr = stomach
Combining vowel: no combining vowel
Suffix: –itis = inflammation
Gastroenterology
Root: enter = intestines
Combining vowel: o
Suffix: –logy = process of study

7. Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Pages 3 – 6
Word Analysis (Cont’d)
hematology
Root: hemat = blood
Combining vowel: o
Suffix: –logy = process of study
Electrocardiogram
Root: electr = electricity
Root: cardi = heart
Suffix: –gram = record
means process of study of blood
means record of the electricity in the heart
hematology
Root: hemat = blood
Combining vowel: o
Suffix: –logy = process of study
Electrocardiogram
Root: electr = electricity
Root: cardi = heart
Suffix: –gram = record

8. Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Pages 3 – 6
Word Analysis (Cont’d)
Hypogastric
Prefix: hypo– = below
Root: gastr = stomach
Suffix: –ic = pertaining to
Epigastric
Prefix: epi– = above
means pertaining to below the stomach
means pertaining to above the stomach
Hypogastric
Prefix: hypo– = below
Root: gastr = stomach
Suffix: –ic = pertaining to
Epigastric
Prefix: epi– = above

9. Pronunciation of Terms
Chapter 1
Pronunciation of Terms
When ¯ is above a vowel, the sound is long. For example:
ā as in āpe
ō as in ōpen
When ˘ is above a vowel, the sound is short. For example:
ă as in ăpple
ŏ as in pŏt
The capitalized syllable is accented.
Review long and short vowel sounds with the students.
The syllable that appears in all caps is the accented syllable.
For pronunciations

10. Pronunciation of Terms Examples
Chapter 1
Pronunciation of Terms Examples
adenitis ăd-ĕ-Nī-tĭs biology bī-OL-ō-jē cephalic se-FĂL-ĭk iatrogenic i-ăt-rō-JĔN-ĭk resection rē-SĔK-shŭn

11. Combining Forms Page 7 aden/o arthr/o bi/o carcin/o cardi/o cephal/o
Combining Form Meaning Example
aden/o arthr/o bi/o carcin/o cardi/o cephal/o
gland
joint
life
cancerous, cancer
heart
head
adenoma, adenitis
arthritis
biology
biopsy
carcinoma
cardiology
cephalic
adenoma – The suffix -oma means tumor or mass. adenitis – The suffix -itis means inflammation.
arthritis 
biology – The suffix -logy is composed of the root log (study) and the final suffix -y (process or condition). biopsy – The suffix -opsy means process of viewing. Living tissue is removed from the body and viewed under a microscope.
carcinoma – A carcinoma is a cancerous tumor. Carcinomas grow from the epithelial (surface or skin) cells that cover the outside of the body and line organs, cavities, and tubes within the body (Figure 1-3).
cardiology
cephalic – (sĕ-FĂL-ĭk) The suffix -ic means pertaining to. A cephalic presentation describes a “head first” position for the delivery of an infant.

12. Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Page 8
Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Combining Form Meaning Example
cerebr/o cis/o crin/o cyst/o
cerebrum (largest part of the brain)
to cut
to secrete (to form and give off)
urinary bladder (a sac, cyst, or sac containing fluid)
cerebral
incision, excision
endocrine gland
cystoscopy
cerebral – The suffix -al means pertaining to. Figure 1-4 shows the cerebrum and its many functional areas.
incision – The prefix in- means into, and the suffix -ion means process. excision – The prefix ex- means out.
endocrine glands – The prefix endo- means within; 
endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands) secrete hormones directly within (into) the bloodstream.
Other glands, called exocrine glands, release their secretions (e.g., saliva, sweat, tears, milk) through tubes (ducts) to the outside of the body.
cystoscopy – (sĭs-TŎS-kō-pē) The suffix -scopy is a complex suffix that includes the root scop, meaning visual examination, and the final suffix -y, meaning process. 

13. Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Page 9
Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Combining Form Meaning Example
cyt/o derm/o, dermat/o electr/o encephal/o enter/o erythr/o gastr/o
cell
skin
electricity
brain
intestines (usually small intestine)
red
stomach
cytology
dermatitis, hypodermic
electrocardiogram
electroencephalogram
intestines
erythrocyte
gastrectomy, gastrotomy
cytology – See Figure 1-5 for examples of blood cells.
dermatitis
hypodermic – The prefix hypo- means under or below.
electrocardiogram – The suffix -gram means record. Abbreviated ECG (or sometimes EKG).
electroencephalogram – Abbreviated EEG.
enteritis – The small intestine is narrower but much longer than the large intestine (colon). See Figure 1-1 which shows the small and large intestines.
erythrocyte – The suffix -cyte means cell. Erythrocytes carry oxygen in the blood.
gastrectomy – The suffix -ectomy means excision or removal. All or, more commonly, part of the stomach is removed. gastrotomy – The suffix -tomy is another complex suffix, which contains the root tom, meaning to cut, and the final suffix -y, meaning process of.

14. Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Page 10
Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Combining Form Meaning Example
glyc/o gnos/o gynec/o hemat/o, hem/o hepat/o iatr/o
sugar
knowledge
woman, female
blood
liver
treatment, physician
hyperglycemia
diagnosis, prognosis
gynecology
hematology, hematoma, hemoglobin
hepatitis
iatrogenic
hyperglycemia – The prefix hyper- means excessive, above, or more than normal. The suffix -emia means blood condition.
diagnosis – The prefix dia- means complete. The suffix -sis means state or condition of. A diagnosis is made after sufficient information has been obtained about the patient's condition. Literally, it is a “state of complete knowledge.” prognosis – The prefix pro- means before. Literally “knowledge before,” a prognosis is a prediction about the outcome of an illness, but it is always given after the diagnosis has been determined.
gynecology
hematology
hematoma – In this term, -oma means a mass or collection of blood, rather than a growth of cells (tumor). A hematoma forms when blood escapes from blood vessels and collects as a clot in a cavity or organ or under the skin. See Figure 1-6. hemoglobin – The suffix -globin means protein. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells.
hepatitis
iatrogenic – The suffix -genic means pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in. Iatrogenic conditions are adverse effects that result from treatment or intervention by a physician.

15. Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Pages 10 – 11
Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Combining Form Meaning Example
leuk/o log/o nephr/o neur/o onc/o ophthalm/o oste/o path/o ped/o
white
study of
kidney
nerve
tumor (cancerous)
eye
bone
disease
child
leukocyte
dermatology
nephritis, nephrology
neurology
oncology, oncologist
ophthalmoscope
osteitis, osteoarthritis
pathology, pathologist
pediatric, orthopedist
leukocyte – This blood cell helps the body fight disease.
dermatology 
nephritis  nephrology 
neurology 
oncology  oncologist – The suffix -ist means one who specializes in a field of medicine (or other profession).
ophthalmoscope – (ŏf-THĂL-mō-skōp) The suffix -scope means an instrument for visual examination.  
HINT: Pronunciation helps!
The first syllable is “ŏf” and here the “f” sound is spelled “ph.”
osteitis  osteoarthritis  This condition of aging is actually a degeneration of bones and joints often accompanied by inflammation.
pathology pathologist – A pathologist examines biopsy samples microscopically and examines dead bodies to determine the cause of death.
pediatric
Notice that ped/o is also in the term orthopedist.
Orthopedists once were doctors who straightened (orth/o means straight) children's bones and corrected deformities.
Nowadays, orthopedists specialize in disorders of bones and muscles in people of all ages.

16. Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Page 12
Combining Forms (Cont’d)
Combining Form Meaning Example
psych/o radi/o ren/o rhin/o sarc/o sect/o thromb/o ur/o
mind
x-rays
kidney
nose
flesh
to cut
clot, clotting
urinary tract, urine
psychology, psychiatrist
radiology
renal
rhinitis
sarcoma
resection
thrombocyte
urologist
psychology  psychiatrist 
radiology – Low-energy x-rays are used for diagnostic imaging.
renal – Ren/o (Latin) and nephr/o (Greek) both mean kidney.
Ren/o is used with -al (Latin) to describe the kidney, whereas nephr/o is used with other suffixes such as -osis, -itis, and -ectomy (Greek) to describe abnormal conditions and operative procedures.
rhinitis 
sarcoma – This is a cancerous (malignant) tumor. A sarcoma (Figure 1-7) grows from cells of “fleshy” connective tissue such as muscle, bone, and fat, whereas a carcinoma (another type of cancerous tumor) grows from epithelial cells that line the outside of the body or the inside of organs in the body.
resection – The prefix re- means back. A resection is a cutting back in the sense of cutting out or removal (excision). A gastric resection is a gastrectomy, or excision of the stomach.
thrombocyte  Also known as platelets, these cells help clot blood.
A thrombus is the actual clot that forms, and thrombosis (-osis means condition) is the condition of clot formation.
urologist 

17. Page 13
Suffixes
Suffix Meaning Example
-ac, -al, -ic, ical -algia -cyte -ectomy -emia -genic -globin
pertaining to
pain
cell
excision, removal
blood condition
produced by or in (producing)
protein
cardiac, neural, gastric, neurologic
arthralgia, neuralgia
erythrocyte
nephrectomy
leukemia
carcinogenic, pathogenic, iatrogenic
hemoglobin
Cardiac
Neural
gastric  neurologic – Log/o means study of.
arthralgia  neuralgia
erythrocyte
nephrectomy
leukemia – Literally, this term means “a blood condition of white (blood cells).”
Actually, it is a condition of blood in which cancerous white blood cells proliferate (increase in number).
carcinogenic – Cigarette smoke is carcinogenic. pathogenic – Many viruses and bacteria are pathogenic organisms. iatrogenic – In this term, -genic means produced by.
hemoglobin

18. Suffixes (Cont’d) Pages 13 – 14
Suffix Meaning Example
-gram -ion -ist -itis -logy -oma -opsy -osis
record
process
specialist
inflammation
process of study
tumor, mass, swelling
process of viewing
condition, usually abnormal
electroencephalogram
excision
ophthalmologist
cystitis
endocrinology
hepatoma
biopsy
nephrosis, leukocytosis
electroencephalogram
excision 
ophthalmologist 
cystitis
endocrinology
hepatoma – A hepatoma (hepatocellular carcinoma) is a malignant tumor of the liver.
biopsy – Biopsy specimens are obtained and viewed under a microscope.
nephrosis  leukocytosis (slight increase in numbers when used with blood cells) This condition, a slight increase in normal white blood cells, occurs as white blood cells multiply to fight an infection. Don't confuse leukocytosis with leukemia, which is a cancerous (malignant) condition marked by high levels of abnormal, immature white blood cells.

19. Suffixes (Cont’d) Page 14 -pathy -scope -scopy -sis -tomy -y
Suffix Meaning Example
-pathy -scope -scopy -sis -tomy -y
disease condition
instrument to visually examine
process of visually examining
state of; condition
process of cutting, incision
process, condition
enteropathy, adenopathy
endoscope
endoscopy, colonoscopy
prognosis
osteotomy
gastroenterology
enteropathy (ĕn-tĕ-RŎP-ă-thē)
adenopathy (ă-dĕ-NŎP-ă-thē)
endoscope – Endo- means within. A cystoscope is a type of endoscope.  A periscope is a nonmedical term meaning an instrument to visually examine an area around (peri-) an obstacle.
endoscopy (ĕn-DŎS-kō-pē) – Endoscopy is performed with an endoscope.
A common endoscopic procedure is a colonoscopy (colon/o = colon or large intestine).
prognosis 
osteotomy (ŏs-tē-ŎT-tō-mē)
gastroenterology 

20. Pages 14 – 15
Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
a-, an- aut-, auto- dia- endo- epi- ex-, exo- hyper
no, not, without
self, own
complete, through
within
above, upon
out, outside of, outward
excessive, above, more than normal
anemia
autopsy
diagnosis
endocrinologist
epigastric, epidermis
excision, exocrine glands
hyperthyroidism
anemia – Anemia is a decreased number of erythrocytes or an abnormality of the hemoglobin (a chemical) within the red blood cells.
This results in decreased delivery of oxygen to cells of the body.
Anemic patients look so pale that early physicians thought they were literally “without blood.”
autopsy – This term literally means “process of viewing by oneself.”
Hence, an autopsy is the examination of a dead body with one's own eyes to determine the cause of death and nature of disease.
diagnosis – The plural of diagnosis is diagnoses. 
endocrinologist 
epigastric
epidermis – This outermost layer of skin lies above the middle layer of skin, known as the dermis.
excision  exocrine glands
hyperthyroidism – The suffix -ism means process or condition.

21. Prefixes (Cont’d) Pages 14 – 15
Prefix Meaning Example
hypo- in- peri- pro- re- retro- sub- trans-
deficient, below, under, less than normal
into, in
surrounding, around
before, forward
back, backward, again
behind
below, under
across, through
hypogastric, hypoglycemia
incision
pericardium
prostate gland
resection
retrocardiac
subhepatic
transhepatic
hypogastric – When hypo- is used with a part of the body, it means below. Hypoglycemia –In this term, hypo- means deficient.
incision
pericardium – The suffix -um means a structure. The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart.
prostate gland – This exocrine gland “stands” (-state) before or in front of the male urinary bladder (see Figure 1-2). It produces semen, which contains fluid and sperm cells.
resection – This is an operation in which tissue is “cut back” or removed. The Latin resectio means a trimming or pruning.
retrocardiac
subhepatic
transhepatic