Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure – Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic word structure (roots, prefixes, suffixes), combining forms, and example terms from Chapter 1 of The Language of Medicine.

Root

Foundation of a word; the base part that carries the essential meaning.

Suffix

A word ending added to a root to modify its meaning (often indicating a condition, procedure, or part of speech).

Prefix

A word part attached to the beginning of a term to modify its meaning.

Combining vowel

A vowel (usually o) that links the root to a suffix or to another root.

Combining form

A root plus its combining vowel used to join with another root or suffix.

Hematology

The study of blood.

Hemat/o

Combining form meaning blood.

Electrocardiogram

Record of the electrical activity of the heart.

Electr/o

Combining form meaning electricity.

Cardi/o

Combining form meaning heart.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach.

Gastr/o

Combining form meaning stomach.

Gastroenterology

The study of the stomach and intestines.

Gastr/o/Enter/o/logy

Gastroenterology; gastr/o = stomach, enter/o = intestines, logy = study of.

Hypogastric

Pertaining to below the stomach.

Epigastric

Pertaining to above the stomach.

Gastr-

Root meaning stomach.

Enter-

Root meaning intestines.

Aden/o

Gland.

Arthr/o

Joint.

Bi/o

Life.

Carcin/o

Cancerous; cancer.

Cyt/o

Cell.

Derm/o

Skin.

Encephal/o

Brain.

Enter/o

Intestines.

Hepat/o

Liver.

Iatr/o

Treatment or physician.

Leuk/o

White.

Log/o

Study of.

Nephr/o

Kidney.

Neur/o

Nerve.

Onc/o

Tumor.

Ophthalm/o

Eye.

Oste/o

Bone.

Path/o

Disease.

Ped/o

Child.

Psych/o

Mind.

Radi/o

X-rays; part of imaging terms.

Ren/o

Kidney.

Rhin/o

Nose.

Sarc/o

Flesh.

Sect/o

To cut.

Thromb/o

Clot.

Ur/o

Urinary tract or urine.

A-/an-

Prefixes meaning no, not, without.

Hyper-

Prefix meaning excessive, above, more than normal.

Hypo-

Prefix meaning below, under, less than normal.

In-

Prefix meaning into, in.

Peri-

Prefix meaning surrounding, around.

Pro-

Prefix meaning before, forward.

Re-

Prefix meaning back, backward, again.

Retro-

Prefix meaning behind.

Sub-

Prefix meaning below, under.

Trans-

Prefix meaning across, through.

Suffix -itis

Inflammation.

Suffix -logy

Study of; a branch of knowledge.

Suffix -gram

Record.

Suffix -ectomy

Excision or removal.

Suffix -osis

Condition, usually abnormal.

Suffix -pathy

Disease condition.

Suffix -scope

Instrument to visually examine.

Suffix -scopy

Process of visually examining.

Suffix -sis

State of, condition.

Suffix -tomy

Process of cutting.

Suffix -y

Process, condition.