(CH1) Medical Terminology - Plurals & Components

Quick & Easy 10th Edition - Medical Language Simplified

Root

foundation of a term, gives it meaning

Prefix

word beginning, modifies the root

Suffix

word ending, modifies the root

Combining Vowel

links root to suffix or another root—for pronunciation

Combining Form

the combining vowel & the word root

-is

(diagnosis)

-es

(diagnoses)

-um

(cerebrum)

-a

(cerebra)

-us

(alveolus)

-i

(alveoli)

[some will use -era or -ora (viscus — viscera) or simply add -es (viruses)]

-a

(vertebra)

-ae

(vertebrae)

-ix

(appendix)

-ices

(appendices)

-ex

(cortex)

-ices

(cortices)

-ax

(thorax)

-aces

(thoraces

-ma

(sarcoma)

-mata, or simply add -s

(sarcomas, sarcomata)

-on

(protozoon)

-a

(protozoa)

[some will simply add -s (chorion—chorions)]

-nx

(pharynx)

-nges

(pharynges)