medical terminology - module 1

word root

determines general meaning of a word, indicates a body part or system - can also be an action 
occasionally, medical terms may have more than one word root

combining vowel

links a word root to word root/suffix. usually an “o” but doesn’t have to be

combining form

when a word root and a combining vowel are put together, they are shown with a slash ( / ) : such as gastr/o

prefix

beginning of a word and indicates location, number, color, or time. it will have a hyphen after the prefix such as intra-

suffix

end of a word and indicates condition, disease, or procedure.  It will have a hyphen before the suffix such as -itis

when combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a consonant..

keep combining vowel: such as cardi/o and -gram = cardiogram

when combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a vowel

drop the combining vowel such as gastr/o and -itis = gastritis.
you would not say gastroitis

when combining two combining forms

keep the combining vowel such as electr/o combined with the suffix -gram = electrocardiogram