Chapter 1 Learning Terminology, Word Roots, and Combining Forms

Karkinos

Ancient word for cancer

Ligament

The modern term for the Latin ligamentum

Kardia

The historical derivation of the modern cardi/o

Tendo

The historical derivation of the modern tendon

Nerve

The modern term for the Latin nervus

Arteria

The historical derivation of the modern artery

Vein

The modern term for the Latin vena

Cella

The historical derivation of the modern cell

Sinus

The historical derivation of the modern sinus

Hernia

The modern term for hernia

Eponyms

Terms formed from names, such as Parkinson disease

Hippocrates

Greek physician, sometimes referred to as “the father of medicine”, who organized an approach to medicine and wrote the Hippocratic Oath.

Word Root

A word root is a portion of the word that contains its basic meaning. Usually indicate a body part or system

Combining Form

Combining forms are the word root and a combining vowel that connects or links two parts whenever two consonants come together to aid pronunciation

Prefixes

Prefixes are word parts attached to the beginning of a word or word root that modify its meaning. Usually indicate a location, direction, quality, or quantity

Suffixes

Suffixes are word parts attached to the end of a word or word root that modify its meaning. May include a test, procedure, specialty, function, or disorder. May indicate a test, procedure, specialty, function, or disorder

SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms)

A detailed medical terminology standard that was developed for use in EMRs