1. Medical Terminology – Lecture 3
More about Combining vowels
Pluralizing medical terms
Examples Prefixes
Examples Suffixes
20 February, 2015

2. More about Combining vowels (1)
When a word has more than one root, a combining vowel is used to link the root to each other.
IE: osteoarthritis oste/ o / arthr/ itis

3. More about Combining vowels (2)
A combining vowel is used between a word root and a suffix that begins with a consonant (not a vowel).
This is to make pronunciation easier.
Word root: scler / (hardening)
Suffix: / derma (skin)
Term: Scler / o / derma (hardening of the skin)
Combining vowel

4. More about Combining vowels (3)
The suffixes:
-scope (instrument to view)
-rrhexis (rupture)
-rrhea (flow or discharge)
all begin with a consonant, therefore a combining vowel must be used between the word root and the suffix.

5. More about Combining vowels (4)
The suffixes:
-algia (pain)
-edema (swelling)
-uria (urine, urination)
begin with a vowel, therefore a combining vowel is NOT used between the word root and the suffix.

6. Pluralizing Terms (1) Rules Add -s to words ending in any vowel or
consonant except s,x,z, or y
(ex. joint- joints)
Add -es to words ending in s,x, or z
(ex. reflex - reflexes)

7. (ex. appendix - appendices) (ex. mastectomy- mastectomies)
Pluralizing Terms (2)
Rules Continued
Remove -x and add -ces to Latin words
ending in x
(ex. appendix - appendices)
Remove the -y and add -ies to words
ending in y preceded by a consonant
(ex. mastectomy- mastectomies)

8. (ex. bacillus- bacilli) (ex. psychosis - psychoses)
Pluralizing Terms (3)
Rules Continued
Remove -us and add -i to Latin words
ending in us
(ex. bacillus- bacilli)
Change -sis to -ses in Greek words ending
in sis
(ex. psychosis - psychoses)

9. PREFIXES Word beginning;
Indicates size, quantity, position of, and location.
Not all medical words have prefixes.
Examples:
Hyper- (excessive)
Pre (before)
Post (after)
Homo- (same)
Hypo (under)

10. Prefixes (a–aut) Prefixes (1) Prefix Meaning a ab ambi Ana Ante Anti
aut(o)
without
away from
both, around
up, toward
before
against
Self

11. Prefixes (brachy–hypo)
Meaning
brachy
brady
contra
dys
hemi
hyper
hypo
short
slow
against
abnormal; difficult
half
above normal
below normal

12. Prefixes (inter–peri)
Meaning
inter
iso
mal
meta
micr(o)
olig(o)
peri
between
equal; same
bad; inadequate
after
small
few; little; scanty
around; about; near

13. Prefixes (4) Prefix Meaning pro re retro semi supra tachy un
before; forward
again; backward
behind; backward
half
above; over
fast
not

14. 1. Suffixes
Word Ending
Suffix usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or denotes part of speech of the medical term (noun, verb, adjective)
Adjective terminals (pertaining to)    Noun Terminals
-ic                                       -y
-al                                      -ia
-ical                                    -um
-ac                                      is

15. All medical words have suffixes.
A suffix is added to the END of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning.
By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning.
All medical words have suffixes.
Examples:
-itis -ic
-logy -lysis

16. Suffixes (1) Suffix Meaning -ad -algia -asthenia -blast -cidal -clast
-crine
toward
pain
weakness
immature; forming
destroying; killing
breaking
secreting

17. Suffixes (crit–ectomy)
Meaning
-crit
-cyte
-cytosis
-derma
-dynia
-ectasis
-ectomy
separate
cell
condition of cells
skin
pain
expanding; dilating
removal of

18. Suffixes (emesis–graphy)
Meaning
-emesis
-emia
-esthesia
-globin
-gram
-graph
-graphy
vomiting
blood
sensation
protein
a recording
recording instrument
process of recording

19. Suffixes (ic–malacia)
Meaning
-ic
-ism
-itis
-kinesia
-logist
-lysis
-malacia
pertaining to
condition; disease
inflammation
movement
one who practices
destruction of
softening

20. Suffixes (mania-pathy)
Meaning
-mania
-megaly
-oid
-opia
-ostomy
-para
-pathy
obsession
enlargement
like; resembling
vision
opening
bearing
disease

21. Suffixes (penia-phrenia)
Meaning
-penia
-pepsia
-pexy
-phage
-phobia
-phonia
-phrenia
deficiency
digestion
fixation
eating; devouring
fear
sound
of the mind

22. Suffixes (phylaxis-rrhaphy)
Meaning
-phylaxis
-plasty
-plegia
-pnea
-ptosis
-rrhagia
-rrhaphy
protection
surgical repair
paralysis
breath
falling down; drooping
heavy discharge
surgical suturing

23. Suffixes (rrhexis-tropia)
Meaning
-rrhexis
-spasm
-stasis
-stenosis
-tomy
-trophy
-tropia
rupture
contraction
stopping; constant
narrowing
cutting operation
nutrition
turning

24. Apply Your Knowledge Apply Your Knowledge
Using various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.
Meaning
Term
Absence of blood
Bluish color of hands and feet
Equal vision in both eyes.
Fast heart.
Breakdown of sugar.
anemia
cyanosis
isopia
tachycardia
glycolysis

25. Apply Your Knowledge Part 2
Using various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.
Meaning
Term
Lack of white blood cells.
Softening of bone.
Inflammation of a vein.
Nerve pain.
Science of skin and its diseases.
leukopenia
osteomalacia
phlebitis
neuralgia
dermatology

26. gastr- o- intestin-al pertaining to the stomach and intestine
root root suffix
oste-o-arthr(o)-itis bone joint inflammation
degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it. Note: -itis is a misnomer, no inflammation seen usually.
rest-o-cyt-hemia ???????
cardi-o-myo-pathy disease of the myocardium
cardi-o-my-o-pathy any disease that affect the function and structure
root root suffix of the heart (muscle)
gastr-o-enter-itis inflammation of the stomach and intestines
oste-o-penia deficiency of bone
root suffix

27. hem-o-stasis the process by which bleeding is stopped
root suffix blood- arrest in a process
mes-encephalon middle brain
gastr-o-enter-ology study of stomach and intestine
gastr-o-enter-o-logy
root root suffix
arachn-o-phobia irrational, persistent fear of things
root suffix or situations (phobia for) of spiders
hyper-keton-emia increase keton in the blood
hyper-keto-nemia increase keto blood
path-o-phi-ology ????,
macro-globulin-emia macroglobulins in the blood
macro-globuli-nemia
prefix root suffix

28. prefix root suffix condition of above/excessive sweat
oste-o-porosis porous bone
root suffix
hyper-hidr-o-sis above/excessive or profuse sweating
prefix root suffix condition of above/excessive sweat
lymph-o-cyte lymph cell
root root
cardi-o-logy  study of the structure, function,
root suffix and disorders of the heart
Dermat-o-fibr-o-mal bad fiber of skin
Dermat-o-fibr-o-ma bad fibrous tumor of skin
root root suffix