Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure (The Language of Medicine, 13th edition)

Flashcards covering basic word structure, combining forms, prefixes, suffixes, and example terms from Chapter 1.

What are the five main elements used to analyze medical words?

Root, suffix, prefix, combining vowel, and combining form.

What is a combining form?

A root plus a combining vowel that links to a suffix or another root.

What does the combining form hemat/o mean?

Blood.

What does the suffix -logy mean?

Process of study.

What does the combining form gastr/o mean?

Stomach.

In the term HEMAT/O/LOGY, what is the combining vowel?

O.

What does gastritis mean?

Inflammation of the stomach.

What does the combining form enter/o mean?

Intestines.

What does gastr/o/enter/o/LOGY mean?

The study of the stomach and intestines.

Rule 1: How should you read the meaning of a term?

Read the meaning from the suffix back to the beginning of the term.

Rule 2: What should you do before a suffix that begins with a vowel?

Drop the combining vowel (usually o).

Rule 3: When should you keep the combining vowel?

Between two roots.

What does hypo- mean?

Below, under, or deficient.

What does epi- mean?

Above or upon.

What does hyper- mean?

Excessive, above, more than normal.

What does endo- mean?

Within.

What does exo- mean?

Out, outside of, outward.

What does a- / an- mean?

No, not, without.

What does aut- / auto- mean?

Self, own.

What does dia- mean?

Through, complete.

What does peri- mean?

Around, surrounding.

What does pro- mean?

Before, forward.

What does re- mean?

Again, back.

What does retro- mean?

Behind, backward.

What does sub- mean?

Below, under.

What does trans- mean?

Across, through.

What does -ectomy mean?

Excision, removal.

What does -emia mean?

Blood condition.

What does -gram mean?

Record.

What does -ic (or -ical) mean?

Pertaining to.

What does -osis mean?

Condition, usually abnormal.

What does -pathy mean?

Disease condition.

What does -scope mean?

Instrument to visually examine.

What does -scopy mean?

Process of visually examining.

What does -oma mean?

Tumor, mass, swelling.

What does -itis mean?

Inflammation.

What does -opsy mean?

Process of viewing.

What does -tomy mean?

Process of cutting; incision.

What does -sis mean?

State of; condition.

What does -y mean?

Process, condition.

What does cephal/o mean?

Head.

What does cyst/o mean?

Urinary bladder.

What does cyt/o mean?

Cell.

What does derm/o or dermat/o mean?

Skin.

What does aden/o mean?

Gland.

What does cardi/o mean?

Heart.

What does hepat/o mean?

Liver.

What does enter/o mean?

Intestines.

What does neph/o mean?

Kidney.

What does neur/o mean?

Nerve.

What does ophthalm/o mean?

Eye.

What does oste/o mean?

Bone.

What does path/o mean?

Disease.

What does ped/o mean?

Child.

What does psych/o mean?

Mind.

What does radi/o mean?

X-rays.

What does ren/o mean?

Kidney.

What does rhin/o mean?

Nose.

What does sarc/o mean?

Flesh.

What does sect/o mean?

To cut.

What does thromb/o mean?

Clot; clotting.

What does ur/o mean?

Urinary tract or urine.

What does GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY refer to as a field of study?

Study of the stomach and intestines.