Chapter 1 - Basic Elements Of A Medical Word

Question 1

A medical word consists of some or all of the following elements:

Answer 1

Word root
Combining form
Suffix
Prefix

Question 2

What is a word root?

Answer 2

It’s the foundation of a medical term and contains its primary meaning.
All medical terms must have at least one.

Example:
Word root - dermat
Medical term - dermatitis - inflammation of the skin

Question 3

Combining form

Answer 3

When a word root is combined with a vowel. The combining vowel is usually o, sometimes i.

word root/vowel
gastr/o

Question 4

Suffix

Answer 4

A word element placed at the end of a word that alters it’s meaning. All medical terms have a suffix.

• To link a Suffix that begins with a vowel, use a word root. To link a suffix that begins with a consonant, use a combining form.

Question 5

Prefix

Answer 5

It’s a word element attached to the beginning of a word or word rout.

(Not all medical terms have a prefix.)

They usually indicate a number, time, position, direction, or negation.

Question 6

Describe the steps for defining medical words:

Answer 6

Step 1: Define the suffix (the last part of the word)

Step 2: Define the first part of the word (which may be a word root, combining form or prefix)

Step 3: Define the middle parts of the word.

Example:
gastroenteritis
gastr/o/enter/itis
Inflammation (-itis) of the stomach (gastr/o) and intestine (enter).

Question 7

Three basic rules for building medical words:

Answer 7

1. A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
2. A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
3. Use combining form to link one word root to another word root, and keep the combining vowel even if the second word root begins with a vowel.

Question 8

The word route in a medical term usually indicates a(n):

Answer 8

Anatomical structure - the body structure of an organism or any of its parts

Question 9

Find the word root in splen/o

Answer 9

splen

Question 10

True or false:

A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

T or F:

A combining form links multiple word roots to each other.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

T or F:

To define a medical word, first define the prefix.

Answer 12

False.
First define the suffix (last part of the word), then the first part of the word (prefix, combing form or word root), then the middle (if there is a middle).