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Medical Terminology Foundations and Word Parts

Language origins of Medical Terminology

  • Medical terminology was derived primarily from Greek & Latin — these were the languages of scholarly people in ancient times.

Multiple terms for the same concept

  • Because of the use of two languages, you might see different terms & acronyms that mean the same thing (e.g., EKG vs ECG).
  • The letter "K" stands for kardia (Greek) and relates to heart; the letter "C" stands for cardia (Latin) and also relates to heart.
  • Examples: electro/kardio/gram and electro/cardio/gram illustrate how roots from different languages can form the same meaning.

The meaning of learning terms by parts

  • It is impossible to memorize all medical words individually, so determine the meaning of words by breaking them into parts.
  • These word parts are used repeatedly in different combinations.
  • If the word parts are known, then the word can be broken down and interpreted.

The Amazon etymology (illustrative example)

  • Take the word Amazon. They were excellent in archery & fighting; they fought oppression of men.
  • Greek mythology describes them as beautiful, fierce woman warriors.
  • What does the Greek word amazon mean?
    • Amazon comes from the Greek word: amazos.
    • The prefix "a-" means "without".
    • The root "mazos" means "breast".
    • Translated, Amazon refers to "without a breast".
    • Mythically, these women cut off their right breast to better handle their bows and arrows.

Basics: word parts overview

  • Medical words are like individual jigsaw puzzles — each piece is a word part that comes together to form a medical term.

Word formation example

  • Example: dermat/ + o/ + logist
    • Dermatologist = specialist in the study of skin

The four word parts (4 parts of a medical term)

  • Word Root
  • Prefix
  • Suffix
  • Combining form

Word Root (1)

  • Gives the basic meaning of the term.
  • Each medical term contains one or more roots.
  • Unlike English roots, which can stand alone, most medical roots are meant to be used in combinations.
  • Example: heart → cardi/

Roots usually indicate a body part (2)

  • Common body-part roots include:
    • dent
    • pulmon
    • cardi
    • enter

Prefix (2)

  • A word part added before a root to modify its meaning.
  • Many medical terms do not have a prefix.
  • Example: pretest

Prefix: what prefixes usually indicate

  • A prefix usually indicates one of the following:
    • Number
    • Time
    • Position
    • Sense of negation

Prefix examples (numbers, time, position, negation)

  • "Number" prefixes: \text{bi-} (bi/lateral), \text{tri-} (tri/athlon)
  • "Time" prefixes: \text{pre-} (pre/test), \text{post-} (post/test)
  • "Position" prefixes: \text{trans-} (trans/atlantic)
  • "Negation" prefixes: \text{a-} (a/moral), \text{an-} (an/aerobic)

More prefix examples

  • "Position" prefixes: trans- (across/through)
  • Hypo- (hypo/dermic) indicates a low or under condition

Suffix (3)

  • A word part added to the end of the root to modify its meaning.
  • Medical terms MUST have a suffix.
  • Example: root--joint -> arthritis (note: the example here is to illustrate a suffix attached to a root)

Suffixes: what they indicate

  • A suffix often indicates:
    • a procedure: -ectomy (surgical removal of)
    • a condition: -osis (abnormal condition of)
    • a disease/inflammation: -itis (inflammation of)
  • Examples:
    • append/ectomy
    • halit/osis
    • tonsill/itis

Combining Vowel (4)

  • Usually an "o" is used between word parts to ease pronunciation.
  • Example: therm/o/meter
  • Occasionally other vowels are used: pelv/i, chol/e; root = hepat/; combining form = hepat/o.
  • A root word plus a vowel is referred to as a “combining form.” The vowel is typically "i" or "o".

Combining forms and slash notation

  • Roots & combining forms are indicated by a slash "/" between the root and the vowel.
  • Example: cardi/o
  • Important: Learn combining forms rather than word roots because combining forms are easier to pronounce.

Guidelines for using combining vowels (rules)

  • Rule 1: If a suffix begins with a vowel, only use the word root — not the combining form.
    • Example: suffix -itis; hepat/o + -itis would be hepat/itis (drop the combining vowel when the suffix starts with a vowel).
  • Rule 2: If a suffix begins with a consonant, use the combining vowel.
    • Example: therm/ + o + meter (therm/o/meter) when suffix starts with a consonant.
  • Rule 3: To link two root words, always use a combining vowel.
    • Example: splen/ o + hepat/ -itis (splen/o/hepat/ -itis) [root-to-root link uses the combining vowel].
  • Rule 4: Do not use a combining vowel after a prefix, even if the root begins with a consonant.
    • Example: post/ + rhin/o/ + plasty; NO “O” after the prefix here.

Three basic steps to defining & interpreting medical words

  • Step 1: Define the suffix first.
  • Step 2: Define the prefix (if one is used).
  • Step 3: Define the middle part (root) of the word.

Examples for practice

Example 1

  • Structure: sub/gastr/algia
    • Prefix: sub- (under)
    • Root: gastr/ (stomach)
    • Suffix: -algia (pain)
    • Interpretation: under-stomach pain

Example 2

  • Structure: trans/cardi/o/pulmon/itis
    • Prefix: trans- (across)
    • Root 1: cardi/o (heart)
    • Suffix: -itis (inflammation)
    • Root 2: pulmon/ (lungs) [note: in many definitions you would place the second root with its own linkage; this illustrates multiple roots]
    • Interpretation: inflammation across heart and lungs (as a constructed example for practice)

Example 3

  • Structure: peri/oste/o/arthr/o/megaly
    • Prefix: peri- (around)
    • Root 1: oste/o (bone)
    • Suffix: -megaly (enlargement)
    • Root 2: arthr/o (joints)
    • Interpretation: enlargement around bones and joints

Quick note on the heart root

  • The root for heart is cardi/
  • When you attach this root to a suffix beginning with -itis, you drop one "i" to form carditis instead of cardi/itis.
  • Therefore, cardi/ + -itis = carditis (not cardi/itis)

Pronunciation tip and learning approach

  • Difficult to pronounce: gastr; Easier to pronounce: gastr/o (combining form)
  • Try to learn combining forms rather than word roots because combining forms are easier to pronounce.

Summary

  • Medical terminology relies on combining Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
  • Understanding how to break a term into prefix/root/suffix and using the combining vowel rules allows you to deduce meaning even if you haven’t memorized the full term.
  • Practice with the three-step method and with the provided examples to build fluency in decoding terms.