Chapter-1:Chapter-1:Basic Word StructureBasic Word Structure

Tri-State Business InstituteTri-State Business Institute

MD000 Medical Terminology 1MD000 Medical Terminology 1

Micheal H. McCabe, EMT-PMicheal H. McCabe, EMT-P

Objectives in Studying Objectives in Studying the Medical Language:the Medical Language: Analyze words by dividing them Analyze words by dividing them

into component parts.into component parts. Relate the medical terms to the Relate the medical terms to the

structure and function of the structure and function of the human bodyhuman body

Be aware of spelling and Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problemspronunciation problems

Word Analysis:Word Analysis:

Divide words into component Divide words into component parts using the “Slash Method.”parts using the “Slash Method.”

Locate the root words, suffixes, Locate the root words, suffixes, and prefixes of each term.and prefixes of each term.

Start with the suffix and move Start with the suffix and move back to the beginning of the term back to the beginning of the term to understand its meaning.to understand its meaning.

Word Parts:Word Parts:

The root is the foundation of the The root is the foundation of the word. All medical terms have one word. All medical terms have one or more roots.or more roots.

The suffix is the word ending. All The suffix is the word ending. All medical terms have a suffix.medical terms have a suffix.

The combining vowel is usually The combining vowel is usually “O”. It links the root to the suffix “O”. It links the root to the suffix or to another root.or to another root.

Example: Example: HEMATOLOGYHEMATOLOGY Slash the word into parts by Slash the word into parts by

locating the combining vowel and locating the combining vowel and bracketing it with slashesbracketing it with slashes

HEMAT/O/LOGYHEMAT/O/LOGY

Example: Example: HEMAT/O/LOGYHEMAT/O/LOGY The root here is HEMAT, it means The root here is HEMAT, it means

“blood”“blood” The linking vowel is “O” The linking vowel is “O” The suffix here is LOGY, it means The suffix here is LOGY, it means

“study of.”“study of.” Starting with the suffix, we read Starting with the suffix, we read

“Study of Blood.”“Study of Blood.”

Another Example:Another Example:

Term: ELECTROCARDIOGRAMTerm: ELECTROCARDIOGRAM Slashed: ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAMSlashed: ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM This word has two roots: ELECTR This word has two roots: ELECTR

meaning electricity and CARDI meaning meaning electricity and CARDI meaning HEART.HEART.

The suffix is GRAM meaning RECORD OF.The suffix is GRAM meaning RECORD OF. Starting with the suffix and moving back Starting with the suffix and moving back

to the beginning we read: “Record of to the beginning we read: “Record of the electricity in the heart.”the electricity in the heart.”

Yet Another Exercise:Yet Another Exercise:

Term: GASTRITISTerm: GASTRITIS This word lacks a combining vowel.This word lacks a combining vowel. The suffix “itis”, meaning The suffix “itis”, meaning

“Inflammation” begins with a vowel, so “Inflammation” begins with a vowel, so no combining vowel is needed.no combining vowel is needed.

The “slashed” word is GASTR/ITIS.The “slashed” word is GASTR/ITIS. GASTR is the root word, it means GASTR is the root word, it means

“Stomach.”“Stomach.” The entire term reads “Inflammation of The entire term reads “Inflammation of

the stomach.”the stomach.”

Combining Two Roots:Combining Two Roots:

When a term contains two roots, When a term contains two roots, anatomical position dictates the anatomical position dictates the order of the roots.order of the roots.

Even if the second root begins Even if the second root begins with a vowel, we generally use with a vowel, we generally use “O” as a combining vowel “O” as a combining vowel between the roots.between the roots.

Example: GASTROENTEROLOGYExample: GASTROENTEROLOGY

Dissection of the term Dissection of the term Gastroenterology:Gastroenterology: GASTR is the first root, it means GASTR is the first root, it means

“stomach.”“stomach.” The first “O” is the combining vowel.The first “O” is the combining vowel. ENTER is the second root, it means ENTER is the second root, it means

intestines.intestines. The stomach precedes the intestines in The stomach precedes the intestines in

the GI tract, so GASTR goes first.the GI tract, so GASTR goes first. The second “O” is the combining vowel The second “O” is the combining vowel

that links the root words to the suffix that links the root words to the suffix “LOGY.”“LOGY.”

The complete term thus means “Study of The complete term thus means “Study of the stomach and intestines.”the stomach and intestines.”

Three General Rules:Three General Rules:

1.1. Read the meaning of medical Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and across.beginning of the term and across.

2.2. Drop the combining vowel before a Drop the combining vowel before a suffix beginning with a vowel.suffix beginning with a vowel.

3.3. Keep the combining vowel Keep the combining vowel between two roots.between two roots.

Combining Form:Combining Form:

The combining form is the The combining form is the combination of a root word and combination of a root word and the combining vowel.the combining vowel.

Combining forms can be used Combining forms can be used with many different suffixes, so with many different suffixes, so it’s useful to know the meaning of it’s useful to know the meaning of a combining form to decipher the a combining form to decipher the meaning of a term.meaning of a term.

Prefixes:Prefixes:

The prefix is a small part attached The prefix is a small part attached to the beginning of the term.to the beginning of the term.

Not all medical terms contain Not all medical terms contain prefixes, but the prefix can have prefixes, but the prefix can have an important influence in an important influence in meaning.meaning.

Examples of Prefixes:Examples of Prefixes:

SUB/GASTR/ICSUB/GASTR/IC– ““Sub” is a prefix meaning “below”Sub” is a prefix meaning “below”– ““Gastr” is the root meaning “stomach.”Gastr” is the root meaning “stomach.”– ““Ic” is a suffix meaning “pertaining to.”Ic” is a suffix meaning “pertaining to.”– The term means “pertaining to below the The term means “pertaining to below the

stomach.stomach.– Usage: “The patient is complaining of Usage: “The patient is complaining of

subgastric pain.” Subgastric is an adjective subgastric pain.” Subgastric is an adjective that describes the location of the pain. that describes the location of the pain.

Examples of Prefixes:Examples of Prefixes:

EPI/GASTR/ICEPI/GASTR/IC– ““Epi” is a prefix meaning “above.”Epi” is a prefix meaning “above.”– ““Gastr” is the root meaning “stomach.”Gastr” is the root meaning “stomach.”– ““Ic” is a suffix meaning “pertaining to.”Ic” is a suffix meaning “pertaining to.”– The entire term reads: “Pertaining to The entire term reads: “Pertaining to

above the stomach.”above the stomach.”– Usage: “The patient is having epigastric Usage: “The patient is having epigastric

pain.” Again, the term is used as an pain.” Again, the term is used as an adjective to describe the location of the adjective to describe the location of the pain.pain.

Important Elements of Important Elements of Medical Terms:Medical Terms: Root: The Foundation of the termRoot: The Foundation of the term Suffix: Word endingSuffix: Word ending Prefix: Word beginningPrefix: Word beginning Combining Vowel: Usually “O” – Combining Vowel: Usually “O” –

vowel that links the root to the vowel that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root.suffix or the root to another root.

Combining Form: Combination of Combining Form: Combination of the root and the combining vowel.the root and the combining vowel.

Combining Forms, Combining Forms, Prefixes, and Suffixes:Prefixes, and Suffixes: The following list contains The following list contains

common combining forms, common combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes with prefixes, and suffixes with examples of how each are used.examples of how each are used.

Analyze the examples and Analyze the examples and determine the meaning of each determine the meaning of each by breaking the word down into by breaking the word down into its component parts.its component parts.

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Aden/oAden/o

Arthr/oArthr/o Bi/oBi/o

Carcin/oCarcin/o Cardi/oCardi/o Cephal/oCephal/o

AdenomaAdenoma AdenitisAdenitis ArthritisArthritis BiologyBiology BiopsyBiopsy CarcinomaCarcinoma CardiologyCardiology CephalicCephalic

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Cerebr/oCerebr/o Cis/oCis/o

Crin/oCrin/o Cyst/oCyst/o Cyt/oCyt/o Demer/o or Demer/o or

Dermat/oDermat/o

CerebralCerebral IncisionIncision ExcisionExcision EndocrineEndocrine CystoscopyCystoscopy CytologyCytology DermatitisDermatitis HypodermicHypodermic

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Electr/oElectr/o Encephal/oEncephal/o Enter/oEnter/o Erythr/oErythr/o Gastr/oGastr/o

Gnos/oGnos/o

ElectrocardiogramElectrocardiogram EncephalitisEncephalitis EnteritisEnteritis ErythrocyteErythrocyte GastrectomyGastrectomy GastrotomyGastrotomy DiagnosisDiagnosis PrognosisPrognosis

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Gynec/oGynec/o Hemat/o or Hemat/o or

hem/ohem/o

Hepat/oHepat/o Iatr/oIatr/o Leuk/oLeuk/o Nephr/oNephr/o

GynecologyGynecology HematologyHematology HematomaHematoma HepatitisHepatitis IatrogenicIatrogenic LeukocyteLeukocyte NephritisNephritis nephrologynephrology

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Neur/oNeur/o Onc/oOnc/o

Opthalm/oOpthalm/o Oste/oOste/o

Path/oPath/o

NeurologyNeurology OncologyOncology OncologistOncologist OpthalmascopeOpthalmascope OsteitisOsteitis OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis PathologyPathology PathologistPathologist

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Ped/oPed/o Psych/oPsych/o

Radi/oRadi/o Ren/oRen/o Rhin/oRhin/o Sarc/oSarc/o Sect/oSect/o

PediatricPediatric PsychologyPsychology PsychiatristPsychiatrist RadiologyRadiology RenalRenal RhinitisRhinitis SarcomaSarcoma ResectionResection

Combining Forms:Combining Forms:

Thromb/oThromb/o Ur/oUr/o

ThrombocyteThrombocyte UrologyUrology

Suffixes:Suffixes:

-ac-ac -al-al -algia-algia

-cyte-cyte -ectomy-ectomy -emia-emia -genic-genic

CardiacCardiac NeuralNeural ArthalgiaArthalgia NeuralgiaNeuralgia ErythrocyteErythrocyte NephrectomyNephrectomy LeukemiaLeukemia CarcinogenicCarcinogenic

Suffixes:Suffixes:

-genic-genic

-gram-gram -ic, -ical-ic, -ical

-ion-ion -ist-ist -itis-itis

PathogenicPathogenic IatrogenicIatrogenic EEGEEG GastricGastric NeurologicalNeurological ExcisionExcision GynecologistGynecologist CystitisCystitis

Suffixes:Suffixes:

-logy-logy -oma-oma -opsy-opsy -osis-osis

-pathy-pathy

-scope-scope

EndocrinologyEndocrinology HepatomaHepatoma BiopsyBiopsy NephrosisNephrosis LeukocytosisLeukocytosis EnteropathyEnteropathy AdenopathyAdenopathy EndoscopeEndoscope

Suffixes:Suffixes:

-scopy-scopy -sis-sis -tomy-tomy -y-y

EndoscopyEndoscopy PrognosisPrognosis OsteotomyOsteotomy GastroenterologyGastroenterology

Prefixes:Prefixes:

A-, an-A-, an- Auto-Auto- Dia-Dia- Endo-Endo- Epi-Epi-

Ex-Ex- Exo-Exo-

AnemiaAnemia AutopsyAutopsy DiagnosisDiagnosis EndocrinologistEndocrinologist EpigastricEpigastric EpidermisEpidermis ExcisionExcision ExocrineExocrine

Prefixes:Prefixes:

Hyper-Hyper- Hypo-Hypo-

In-In- Peri-Peri- Pro-Pro- Re-Re- Retro-Retro-

HyperglycemiaHyperglycemia HypogastricHypogastric HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia IncisionIncision PericardiumPericardium PrognosisPrognosis ResectionResection RetrocardiacRetrocardiac

Prefixes:Prefixes:

Sub-Sub- Trans-Trans-

SubhepeticSubhepetic TranshepeticTranshepetic

Homework:Homework:

Each chapter in the textbook Each chapter in the textbook includes:includes:– Practical ApplicationsPractical Applications– ExercisesExercises– Pronunciation of TermsPronunciation of Terms

Do Do EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING in each chapter in each chapter after we go over it in class.after we go over it in class.

Work ahead with extreme caution!Work ahead with extreme caution!

Looking Ahead:Looking Ahead:

This book will also be used in This book will also be used in Medical Terminology II.Medical Terminology II.

That means we’ll cover 22 That means we’ll cover 22 chapters in 12 weeks.chapters in 12 weeks.

We won’t be doing them in the We won’t be doing them in the same order as the book!same order as the book!

For Tomorrow:For Tomorrow:

Complete all exercises in Chapter-Complete all exercises in Chapter-1, pages 14-22.1, pages 14-22.

Review Pronunciation of all terms Review Pronunciation of all terms in Chapter-1, pages 25-28in Chapter-1, pages 25-28

Read Chapter-2, pages 31-58Read Chapter-2, pages 31-58 If you have access to a computer: If you have access to a computer:

explore the CD-ROM that explore the CD-ROM that accompanies your book.accompanies your book.

The EndThe End