MDCA 1313 — Chapter 1: Medical Terms, Prefixes, Suffixes & Rules

Medical terms, prefixes, suffixes, and word-building rules.

What is a word root?

The base of a word. Example: cardi = heart.

What is a prefix?

A word part at the beginning of a word. Example: peri- = around.

What is a suffix?

A word part at the end of a word. Example: -itis = inflammation.

What is a combining vowel?

A vowel, usually o, that links a root to another root or a suffix.

What is a combining form?

A word root plus a combining vowel. Examples: cardi/o and my/o.

When joining two roots, keep or drop the first combining vowel?

Keep it, even when the next root begins with a vowel. Example: gastr/o + enter/o.

When a suffix begins with a vowel, keep or drop the combining vowel?

Drop it. Example: adip/o + -ectomy = adipectomy.

When a suffix begins with a consonant, keep or drop the combining vowel?

Keep it. Example: gastr/o + -scope = gastroscope.

Break down cardiomyopathy.

cardi/o = heart; my/o = muscle; -pathy = disease. Disease of the heart muscle.

What does xantho- mean? (prefix)

Yellow

What does cyano- mean? (prefix)

Blue

What does erythro- mean? (prefix)

Red

What does glauco-, polio- mean? (prefix)

Gray

What does leuko-, albo- mean? (prefix)

White

What does melano- mean? (prefix)

Black

What does chloro- mean? (prefix)

Green

What does purpuro- mean? (prefix)

Purple

What does epi- mean? (prefix)

Above, upon

What does peri-, circum- mean? (prefix)

Around

What does a- mean? (prefix)

Without

What does ante-, pre-, pro- mean? (prefix)

Before

What does anti-, contra- mean? (prefix)

Against

What does bi-, di- mean? (prefix)

Two

What does dorso- mean? (prefix)

Back

What does diplo- mean? (prefix)

Double

What does dia-, trans-, per- mean? (prefix)

Through

What does dis- mean? (prefix)

Apart, separate

What does dys- mean? (prefix)

Painful (as listed in your handout); also difficult or abnormal

What does ecto-, ex-, exo-, extra- mean? (prefix)

Outside

What does en-, endo-, intra- mean? (prefix)

Within, inside

What does hemi-, semi- mean? (prefix)

Half

What does e-, ec-, ex- mean? (prefix)

Out, away

What does hypo-, infra-, sub- mean? (prefix)

Below

What does para- mean? (prefix)

Around (as listed in your handout); also beside or near

What does tri- mean? (prefix)

Three

What does meso- mean? (prefix)

Middle

What does retro- mean? (prefix)

Backward

What does re- mean? (prefix)

Back or again

What does post- mean? (prefix)

After

What does pan- mean? (prefix)

All

What does eu- mean? (prefix)

Good, well

What does pachy- mean? (prefix)

Thick

What does -dynia, -dyne mean? (suffix)

Pain

What does -algesia, -algia mean? (suffix)

Presence or condition of pain

What does -cele mean? (suffix)

Swelling, hernia, protrusion

What does -clasis, -clasia mean? (suffix)

Breaking

What does -itis mean? (suffix)

Inflammation

What does -megaly mean? (suffix)

Enlargement

What does -oma mean? (suffix)

Tumor

What does -pathy mean? (suffix)

Disease

What does -rrhage, -rhagia, -rrhagic mean? (suffix)

Bursting forth

What does -rrhea mean? (suffix)

Flow, discharge

What does -rrhexis mean? (suffix)

Rupture

What does -schisis mean? (suffix)

Fissure, splitting

What does -dilation, -dilatation mean? (suffix)

Expansion, widening

What does -ectasia, -ectasis mean? (suffix)

Dilation

What does -edema mean? (suffix)

Accumulation of fluid, swelling

What does -malacia mean? (suffix)

Softening

What does -necrosis mean? (suffix)

Death of tissue

What does -ptosis mean? (suffix)

Drooping, downward displacement, prolapse

What does -spasm mean? (suffix)

Sudden contraction, cramp

What does -stasis mean? (suffix)

Suppression, stoppage

What does -stenosis mean? (suffix)

Narrowing, constriction

What does -sclerosis mean? (suffix)

Hardening

What does -trophy mean? (suffix)

Nourishment

What does -tropic mean? (suffix)

Turning toward, tending to turn

What does -emia mean? (suffix)

Condition of blood

What does -penia mean? (suffix)

Decrease or deficiency; the handout specifies decreased blood cells

What does -poiesis mean? (suffix)

Formation

What does -ole, -ula, -cle mean? (suffix)

Diminutive: small

What does -iatry, -iatrics mean? (suffix)

Treatment

What does -logy mean? (suffix)

Study of

What does -ist, -ian mean? (suffix)

Specialist in a field of study

What does -ologist mean? (suffix)

One who studies; specialist

What does -ia, -ism, -sis, -y, -osis mean? (suffix)

Condition of

What does -asis, -iasis, -esis mean? (suffix)

Abnormal or morbid condition

What does -ac, -al, -ar, -ory, -ic, -ical, -eal, -ile, -ous, -form, -oid, -ose mean? (suffix)

Adjective-forming endings: pertaining to, characterized by, resembling, or relating to

How does an ending in -sis change to an adjective form in the handout?

Change -sis to -tic.

What does -centesis mean? (suffix)

Puncture, tap

What does -ectomy mean? (suffix)

Excision, surgical removal

What does -stomy mean? (suffix)

Surgical creation of an opening

What does -tomy mean? (suffix)

Incision, cutting

What does -desis mean? (suffix)

Binding, fusion

What does -pexy mean? (suffix)

Surgical fixation

What does -plasty mean? (suffix)

Plastic or surgical repair

What does -rrhaphy mean? (suffix)

Suture repair

What does -tripsy mean? (suffix)

Crushing

What does -graph mean? (suffix)

Instrument for recording data

What does -scope mean? (suffix)

Instrument for examining

What does -meter mean? (suffix)

Instrument for measuring

What does -tome mean? (suffix)

Instrument for cutting

What does -graphy mean? (suffix)

Act or process of recording

What does -metry mean? (suffix)

Process of measuring

What does -gram mean? (suffix)

Record or tracing of data

Distinguish -graph, -graphy, and -gram.

-graph = recording instrument; -graphy = recording process; -gram = resulting record.

Distinguish -ectomy, -tomy, and -stomy.

-ectomy = surgical removal; -tomy = incision; -stomy = surgical creation of an opening.

What is the plural of patella?

patellae

What plural ending replaces -a in the handout?

-ae; example: patella → patellae

What is the plural of foramen?

foramina

What plural ending replaces -en in the handout?

-ina; example: foramen → foramina