full chapter 1: basic word structure (pg17)

Suffix

The end of a term (word)

Root

Beginning of a term (word)

Prefix

A word part attached to the beginning of a term

Combining vowel

Help divide terms into parts

Combining form

The combining vow plus the root.

HEMAT

(Root) Blood

–LOGY

(Suffix) Study of

Hematology

Study of blood

–GRAM

(Suffix) A record

ELECTR

(Root) Electricity

CARDI

(Root) Heart

Electrocardiogram

Record of the electricity in the heart

GASTR

(Root) Stomach

ENTER

(Root) Intestines

SCOPE

(Suffix) Instrument to visually examine

-IC

(Suffix) Pertaining to

–AC

(Suffix) Pertaining to

Gastroenterology

Study of the stomach and the intestines

Gastroscope

Instrument to visually examine the stomach. It is passed down the throat and esophagus into the stomach.

Gastric

Pertaining to the stomach

Cardiac

Pertaining to the heart

–ITIS

(Suffix) Inflammation

Enteritis

Inflammation of the intestines

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestines

SUB

(Prefix) below

TRANS

(prefix) across

RETRO

(prefix) behind

Subgastric

Pertaining to below the stomach

Transgastric

Pertaining to across (through) the stomach

Retrogastric

Pertaining to behind the stomach

ADEN/O

(Root) gland

–OMA

(suffix) tumor or mass

Adenoma

Tumor (benign) of a gland. Benign means not cancerous.

Adenitis

Inflammation in the gland

ARTHR/O

(Root) joint

Arthritis

Inflammation in the joint

BI/O

(Root) life

Biology

Study of life

-OPSY

(Suffix) [Process of] viewing

Biopsy

living tissue is removed and viewed under a microscope

CARCIN/O

(Root) cancer, cancerous

Carcinoma

Cancerous tumor. Form from epithelial cells that line the internal organs and cover the outside of the body.

Cardiology

Study of the heart

CEPHAL/O

(Root) head

Cephalic

Pertaining to the head. Cephalic presentation refers to a fetal position in which the head of the fetus appears at the uterine cervix as the infant is born.

CEREBR/O

(Root) cerebrum, largest part of the brain

–AL

(suffix) pertaining to

Cerebral

Pertaining to the cerebrum

-VASCULAR

(suffix) pertaining to blood vessels

Cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

Blood is prevented from reaching areas of the cerebrum, and brain cells die; also called a stroke.

CYST/O

(Root) urinary bladder

Cystoscope

Instrument (endoscope) used to view the urinary bladder.

ENDO-

(Prefix) within, in, inner

Endoscope

Instrument used to view a hollow organ or body cavity; a tube fitted with a lens system that allows viewing in different directions.

CYT/O

(Root) cell

Cytology

Study of cells

DERM/O

(Root) skin

Dermal

Pertaining to the skin

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin

ENCEPHAL/O

(Root) brain

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Record of the electricity in the brain.

ERYTHR/O

(Root) Red

-CYTE

(Suffix) cell

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell.

–SCOPY

(suffix) process of visual examination.

Gastroscopy

Visual examination of the stomach

GNOS/O

(Root) knowledge

-SIS

(Suffix) State of

DIA

(Prefix) complete

Diagnosis

The complete knowledge gained after testing and examining the patient. The plural of diagnosis is diagnoses.

PRO-

(Prefix) before, forward

Prognosis

A prediction (before knowledge) that is made after the diagnosis. It forecasts the outcome of treatment.

GYNEC/O

(Root) Woman, female

Gynecology

Study of female disorders.

HEM/O

(Root) blood

HEMAT/O

(Root) blood

–GLOBIN

(Suffix) protein

Hemoglobin

The protein in red blood cells (erythrocytes) that helps carry oxygen in the blood.

Hematoma

A mass of blood trapped in tissues of the skin or in an organ. It often results from trauma and is commonly called a bruise, or “black-and-blue mark”.

HEPAT/O

(Root) liver

Hepatitis

Inflammation in the liver. This condition is often caused by different types of viruses: hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus.

LAPAR/O

(Root) abdomen [area between the chest and hip]

–TOMY

(suffix) cutting into

Laparotomy

Incision of the abdomen. A surgeon makes a large incision across the abdomen to examine and operate on its organs.

Laparoscopy

Visual examination of the abdomen. Small incisions are made near the naval, and an instrument (endoscope or laparoscope) is inserted to view abdominal organs.

Laparoscope

Instrument to visually examine the abdomen. An endoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdominal wall.

LEUK/O

(Root) white

Leukocyte

White blood cell.

NEPHR/O

(Root) kidney [REN-]

-ECTOMY

(suffix) cutting out – an excision or resection of an organ or other part of the body.

Nephrectomy

Removal (excision) of a kidney

NEUR/O

(Root) Nerve

Neurology

Study of nerves

ONC/O

(Root) Tumor [cancerous]

-IST

(Suffix) Specialist

Oncologist

Physician specializing in the study and treatment of cancerous tumors.

OPTHALM/O

(Root) eye

ophthalmoscope

Instrument used to visually examine the eyes

OSTE/O

(Root) bone

Osteoarthritis

Inflammation in the bone and joints. A disease of older people and is marked by stiffness, pain, and degeneration of joints.