Med Terms Chapter 1

Identify and define the four elements used to build medical words. • Apply the basic rules to define and build medical terms. • Define and provide examples of surgical, diagnostic, pathological, and related suffixes. • Define and provide examples of adjective and noun endings that form medical words. • Apply rules learned in this chapter to write singular and plural forms of medical words. • Practice pronouncing the medical terms presented in this chapter. • Demonstrate your knowledge by successfully completing the activities in this chapter.

Word Root

Foundation of a medical term and contains its primary meaning.

Combining Form

Created when a word root is combined with a vowel.

Linking Suffix

A CF links with a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Suffixes

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. **HOWEVER- not all medical terms have a prefix**

A prefix usually indicates a number, time, position, direction, or negation. They do not require a connecting vowel.

Pre- means

before

combining vowel examples

“o” and “I”

Post- Means

after

Gastr means

stomach

The suffix -itis means

inflammation

Word Root examples:

Cardi and Arthr

Nephritis

inflammation of the kidneys

arthrodesis

fixation of a joint

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

arthrocentesis

surgical puncture of a joint

gastrectomy

excision of the stomach

Nephr-

kidney

hepat/o

liver

arthr-

joint

oste/o/arthr

bone, joint

cholangi/o

bile vessel

What are the three steps for defining and building medical words?

1. Define the suffix

2. Define the first part of the word (word root or combing form or prefix)

3. Define the middle part (word root or combining form)

Osteoarthritis

bone joint inflammation

append/o

appendix

col/o, colon/o

colon

enter/o

intestine (usually small)

mast/o

breast

-centesis

surgical puncture

-pathy

disease

-scope

instrument to view or examine

pre-

before

post-

after

mastectomy

excision of a breast

tonsilitis

inflammation of the tonsils

colonoscope

an instrument to examine the colon

osteomalacia

softening of a bone

postnatal

pertaining to the period after birth

Arthrocentesis

a surgical puncture of a joint

gastr/o

stomach

gastroenteritis

inflammation of the stomach and intestine (usually small)

Rule #1 building medical words

A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel

Rule #2 building medical words

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

Rule #3

A combining form (root + o) links a root to another root to form a compound word.

What is this diacritical mark ¯ called and what does it indicate?

it is called a macron and indicates the long sound of vowels

What is this diacritical mark ˘ called and what does it indicate?

it is called a breve and indicates the short sound of vowels

The combination ch is sometimes pronounced like _____?

K

When pn is at the beginning of a word, it is pronounced only with the sound of ______?

n

When pn is in middle of a word, the p ______ pronounced.

IS

When i is at the end of a word, it is pronounced like ______

eye

For ae and oe, only the ________ vowel is pronounced.

second

When e and es form the final letter or letters of a word, they are commonly pronounced as ________ syllables.

separate

What is the plural form of the suffix -a?

retain a and add e (pleura → pleurae)

What is the plural form of the suffix -ax?

drop x and add ces (thorax → thoraces)

What is the plural form of the suffix -en?

drop en and add ina (lumen → lumina)

What is the plural form of the suffix -is?

drop is and add es (diagnosis → diagnoses)

What is the plural form of the suffix -ix?

drop ix and add ices (appendix → appendices)

What is the plural form of the suffix -ex?

drop ex and add ices (apex → apices)

What is the plural form of the suffix -ma?

retain ma and add ta (carcinoma → carcinomata)

What is the plural form of the suffix -on?

drop on and add a (ganglion → ganglia)

What is the plural form of the suffix -um?

drop um and add a (bacterium → bacteria)

What is the plural form of the suffix -us?

drop us and add I (bronchus → bronchi)

What is the plural form of the suffix -y?

drop y and add ies (deformity → deformities)