Chapter 1 Med Terms (TB)

Study phrases and terms from Chapter 1 of your Med Terms textbook!

Word Root

The foundation of a medical term and contains it’s primary meaning

Combining Forms

Created when a word root is combined with a vowel

Suffix

A word element placed at the end of a word that changes the meaning of the word

Prefix

A word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. Not every med-term has one. Indicates things like a number, time, position, direction, or negation.

Dermatos (Greek)

A greek Word that refers to SKIN

Cutane (WR)

A Latin word that refers to SKIN and primarily used to describe ana anatomical structure. (It’s Latin Term is Cutis).

Dermat (Word Root)

A Greek root used primary in terms that describe a disease, condition, treatment, or diagnosis of the SKIN.

Kidney

Its Greek term is nephros, and that Word Root is nephr. It’s Latin term is renes, and that Word Root is ren.

Mouth

It’s Greek term is stomatos and that Word Root is stomat. It’s Latin term is oris and its Word Root is or.

/oma

tumor; suffix

/al

pertains or pertaining to; suffix

/itis

inflammation; suffix

Combining Vowel

Usually an o but sometimes an i. Enables two or more word elements to be connected.

erythr/o

red

gastr/o

stomach

hepat/o

liver

immun/o

immune, immunity, safe

nephr/o

kidney

oste/o

bone

-ectomy

excision, removal; suffix

-megaly

enlargement; suffix

an-

without, not; prefix

esthes

feeling; Word Root

-ia

condition; suffix

hyper

excessive, above normal; prefix

therm

heat; Word Root

-ar

pertaining to; suffix

intra-

in, within; prefix

muscul

muscle; Word Root

para-

near, beside, beyond; prefix

nas

nose; Word Root

poly-

many, much; prefix

ur

urine; Word Root

pre-

before

nat

birth; Word Root

Step 1 of Defining Medical Words

Identify the suffix or last part of the word

Step 2 of Defining Medical Words

Define the first part of the word. (This may be a word root (WR), combining form (CF), or prefix.

Step 3 of Defining Medical Words

Define the middle parts of the word

intestine

enter/; Word Root

-cyte

cell; suffix

cartilage

chondr; Word Root

joint

arthr; Word Root

Defining a Medical Word

Remember, 3,1,2. Look at the last part, then the first, then the middle.

Rule #1 of Building Medical Words

A word root links a suffix that beings with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u, sometimes y)

Rule #2 of Building Medical Words

A combining form (root + o ) links a suffix that begins with a consonant

Rule #3 of Building Medical Words

A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word. This rule holds true even if the second root begins with a vowel, as in osteoarthritis.

keep in mind that the rules for linking multiple roots to each other are slightly different from the rules for linking roots and combining forms to suffixes.