MedTerm Ch.1

prefix

added before root to modify its meaning

followed by a dash (hypo-)

root

establishes basic meaning

suffix

added at the end of root to modify meaning

often determines how definition begins

indicated by a dash BEFORE (-itis)

combining vowel

often "o" to link roots and suffixes for ease of pronunciation

inserted when suffix starts with a consonant

ex: neur/o + -logy = neurology

drop if suffix starts with vowel

ex. neur + -itis = neuritis

combining form

root word combined with a vowel to link the root with suffix

shown with a slash between root and vowel

ex: neur/o

compound word

word that contains more than one root

combining form

root + vowel shown with a slash

ex: neur/o

words ending in x

when you add a suffix to word ending in X, it is changed to a g or c

if preceded by a consonant, change x to g

ex: pharynx -> pharyngeal

if preceded by a vowel, change x to c

ex: thorax -> thoracotomy

suffix beginning with rh

double the r when attached to a root

ex: hem/o + -rhage = hemorrhage

soft c

racer = RA-ser

hard c

candy = KAN-de

soft g

page = paj (written with a j)

hard g

grow = gro

acronym

abbreviation formed from first letter of word in a phase

Ex: ASAP, FDA

PREFIXES FOR COLORS

erythr/o-

red

leuk/o-

white/colorless

cyan/o-

blue

xanth/o-

yellow

melan/o-

black/dark

PREFIXES FOR (DEGREE & QUANTITY)

hyper-

over, excessive, abnormally high

hypo-

under, below, abnormally low

olig/o-

few, scanty

pan-

all

pandemic

NEGATIVE PREFIXES

a- / an-

not, without, absence of

anti-

against

contra-

opposite

de-

down, removal, without, loss

PREFIXES FOR NUMBERS

prim/i-

first

mon/o- , uni-

one

bi- , di-

two

tri-

three

quadr/i- , terta-

four

multi- , poly-

many

dipl/o-

double

hemi- , semi-

half

PREFIXES FOR DIRECTION

ab-

abduct (away from)

move away from midline

ad-

adduct (toward, near)

toward midline

dia- , per- , trans-

through

- discharge of fluids

- through the skin

- transfusion of blood into bloodstream

PREFIXES FOR SIZE & COMPARISON

equi-

same

eu-

true, good, easy, normal

hetero-

different, other, unequal

homo , homeo-

same, unchanging

iso-

equal, same

macro- , mega- , megalo-

large, abnormally large

micro-

small

neo-

new

poikilo-

varried, irregular

pseudo-

false

PREFIXES FOR TIME/POSITION

ante-

before

pre- , pro-

before, in front of

post-

after, behind

PREFIXES FOR POISITON

dextr/o-

right

sinistr/o

left

ec- , ecto-

out, outside

ex/o-

away from, outside

endo-

within

mes/o-

middle

syn- , sym-

together

tel/o- , tel/e-

end

telephase

(last stage of cell division [mitosis] )

ROOTS FOR CELLS & TISSUES

cyt/o , cyte-

cell

nucle/o , kary/o

nucleus

hist/o

tissue

aden/o

gland

fibr/o

fiber

reticul/o

network

ex: reticulum

somat/o- , -some

body, small body

chromosome

myx/o , muc/o

mucus

papill/o

nipple

SUFFIXES THAT MEAN "CONDITION OF"

-ia

-ism

-y

-sis

SUFFIXES MEDICAL SPECIALITIES

-ian

-ist

specialist in a field of study

- pediatrician

-podiatrist

-logy

the study of

- physiology

-iatrics , -iatry

medical specialty

- pediatrics

- psychiatry

SUFFIXES THAT MEAN "PERTAINING TO" "LIKE"

-ac

-al

-ar

-ary

-ic

-ous

-oid

-ory

FORMING PLURALS

-a

-ae

vertebra

vertebrae

-is

-es

disgnosis

diagnoses

-um

-a

serum

sera

-us

-i

thrombus

thrombi

-nx

-nges

phalynx

phalanges

exceptions:

sinus

virus

sinus

sinuses

virus

viruses