Medical Terminology: Basic Elements of a Medical Word

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental building blocks of medical terminology, including roots, suffixes, prefixes, and the three primary rules for building and defining medical words.

Language of Medicine

Specialized vocabulary used by health-care providers consisting of word elements such as roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes.

Word root (WR)

The foundation of the word that contains its main meaning, usually derived from Latin or Greek.

Combining form (CF)

Created when a word root is combined with a vowel, known as a combining vowel, which enables two or more word elements to be connected.

Combining vowel

A vowel (usually an o, but sometimes an i or an e) that has no meaning of its own but is used to ease pronunciation when connecting word elements.

Suffix

A word element placed at the end of a word that changes its meaning and usually indicates a pathology, condition, symptom, or procedure.

Prefix

A word element placed at the beginning of a word that usually indicates number, time, position, measurement, direction, or negation.

Rule 1 of Building Medical Words

A word root (WR) links a suffix that begins with a vowel.

Rule 2 of Building Medical Words

A combining form (CF) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Rule 3 of Building Medical Words

A combining form (CF) links a root to another root to form a compound word, even if the next root begins with a vowel.

Defining Step 1

The first step in defining a medical word is to define the suffix first.

Defining Step 2

The second step in defining a medical word is to define the first part of the word (WR, CF, or prefix).

Defining Step 3

The third step in defining a medical word is to define the middle part of the word (WR or CF).

gastr/itis

Inflammation of the stomach.

oste/o/arthr/itis

Inflammation of the bone and joint.

poly/neur/itis

Inflammation of many nerves.

hepat/o/megaly

An example of a medical word using a combining form (CF) meaning enlargement of the liver.

-ectomy

A suffix indicating surgical removal, as seen in append/ectomy.

hyper-

A prefix used in the word hyper/tension to indicate an elevation or excess.

diacritical marks

Marks used along with capitalization to assist in the pronunciation of medical terms.

heart and blood

Examples of medical words derived from early versions of French or English that do not have a word root.

arthr/itis

A term that demonstrates Rule 1: A word root (arthr) links a suffix (-itis) that begins with a vowel.

hepat/o/cyte

A term that demonstrates Rule 2: A combining form (hepat/o) links a suffix (-cyte) that begins with a consonant.

gastr/o/intestin/al

A term that demonstrates Rule 3: A combining form (gastr/o) links a root (intestin) to form a compound word.