Medical Terminology: Chapter 1 - Simplified Medical Language

Foundational vocabulary and word-building rules for medical terminology, covering word parts, origins, plurals, and naming conventions.

Word Root

The core foundation of a medical term that contains its primary meaning.

Combining Vowel

A letter (usually an 'o') used to connect word roots or to connect a word root to a suffix to ease pronunciation.

Combining Form

A word root paired with a combining vowel, often written with a slash (e.g., gastr/o).

Prefix

A word part attached to the beginning of a term to modify its meaning; written with a hyphen following it when listed alone.

Suffix

A word part attached to the end of a term to modify its meaning; written with a hyphen preceding it when listed alone.

Medical Language Origins

More than 90% of medical terms are derived from Latin and Greek languages.

Naming Convention: Latin vs. Greek

Generally, Latin roots describe body structures, while Greek roots describe diseases, conditions, or treatments.

Combining Vowel Rule for Suffixes

Keep the combining vowel if the suffix starts with a consonant; drop the vowel if the suffix starts with a vowel.

Eponyms

Medical terms derived from the name of a person, such as Parkinson disease or Alzheimer disease.

Acronyms

Pronounceable names formed from the initial letters of a phrase, such as CABG.

Pharmacology

The scientific study of the properties, uses, and actions of drugs.

Plural Rule: -is to -es

Singular terms ending in -is (e.g., diagnosis) are made plural by changing the ending to -es (e.g., diagnoses).

Plural Rule: -um to -a

Singular terms ending in -um (e.g., atrium) are made plural by changing the ending to -a (e.g., atria).

Plural Rule: -us to -i

Singular terms ending in -us (e.g., alveolus) typically become plural by changing the suffix to -i (e.g., alveoli).

Plural Rule: -a to -ae

Singular terms ending in -a (e.g., vertebra) are made plural by adding an 'e' to the end (e.g., vertebrae).

Plural Rule: -ix/-ex to -ices

Singular terms ending in -ix or -ex (e.g., appendix, cortex) become plural by changing the ending to -ices (e.g., appendices, cortices).

Plural Rule: -nx to -nges

Singular terms ending in -nx (e.g., larynx) become plural by changing the ending to -nges (e.g., larynges).

Primary Accent

In medical pronunciation guides, the syllable that receives the most emphasis is indicated by bold type.