Chapter One Study Guide: Medical Terminology

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering the components of medical terms, combining forms, prefixes, suffixes, irregular plurals, and sample exam questions from Chapter One.

combining form

A core component of medical terms consisting of a word root plus a combining vowel, subject to rules of combining.

word root

The foundational component of a medical term that establishes its basic meaning.

suffix

A word component attached to the end of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning.

prefix

A word component attached to the beginning of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning.

eponym

A medical term, disease, or structure named after a specific person or place.

cephal/o

Combining form meaning head.

ophthalm/o

Combining form meaning eye.

ot/o

Combining form meaning ear.

rhin/o

Combining form meaning nose.

laryng/o

Combining form meaning larynx or voice box.

pulmon/o

Combining form meaning lung.

cardi/o

Combining form meaning heart.

gastr/o

Combining form meaning stomach.

hepat/o

Combining form meaning liver.

enter/o

Combining form meaning intestines or small intestine.

nephr/o

Combining form meaning kidney.

arthr/o

Combining form meaning joint.

my/o

Combining form meaning muscle.

oste/o

Combining form meaning bone.

carcin/o

Combining form meaning cancer or cancerous.

electr/o

Combining form meaning electricity.

path/o

Combining form meaning disease.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal or excision.

-gram

Suffix meaning record or picture.

-itis

Suffix meaning inflammation.

-logy

Suffix meaning the study of.

-megaly

Suffix meaning enlargement.

-pathy

Suffix meaning disease or disease process.

a-

Prefix meaning without, not, or absence of.

bi-

Prefix meaning two, double, or both.

dys-

Prefix meaning difficult, painful, bad, or abnormal.

inter-

Prefix meaning between or among.

post-

Prefix meaning after or behind.

sub-

Prefix meaning under or below.

Periesophagitis

The correct spelling of peri- + esophag/o + -itis, referring to inflammation around the esophagus.

pharynges

The correct irregular plural spelling of pharynx.

nephrocentesis

A surgical puncture of the kidney.