Chapter 1. Basic Word Elements

Question 1

Word Elements

Answer 1

have one or more

1. word root (wr)
2. Suffix (SF)
3. Prefix (pre)

and combining form (CF)

Question 2

Word Roots

Answer 2

WR

meaning to medical terms

all terms have at least 1 WR

derived from Greek or Latin

Question 3

Greek WR

Answer 3

describe disease,

condition

treatment

diagnosis

dermatitis - inflammation of the skin (as opposed to cutan)

Question 4

Latin WR

Answer 4

Latin WR

anatomical structures

(cutaneous - pertaining to the skin)

Question 5

Combining Forms

CF

Answer 5

Combining /forms

word root is combined with a vowel

WR/o

usually o, sometimes i

Gastr/o

Question 6

Suffixes

Answer 6

Suffixes

at end of word and altersm meaning

all terms have a suffix

usually pathology, symptom, surgical, procedural or

parts of speech

uses - at beginning

• pathy
• al

Question 7

Prefix

Answer 7

Prefix -

beginning of word or word root

may or may not have one

number, time, position, negation

pre- before

Question 8

Steps to Define Medical Words

Answer 8

Step 1: suffix

Step 2: first part of word either prefix or WR or CF

Step 3: middle part of word

Gastroenteritis -

1. inflammation (itis) of
2. stomach (gastro) and
3. intestine (enter)

Question 9

Building Medical Words -

Rule 1

Answer 9

a word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel

hapat + itis = hepatitis

word root + vowel

Question 10

Building Medical Word - 2nd Rules

Answer 10

Combining Form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant

hepat/o+cyte = hepatocyte

Question 11

Building Medical Word

Rule 3

Answer 11

CF links one Root to another Root to form a compound word

oste/o + chondr + -itis

osteochondritis

IF THE SECOND ROOT BEGINS WITH A VOWEL STILL USE COMBINING FORM

osteoarthritis

Question 12

diacritical mark (-)

Answer 12

(-) Macron

Question 13

diacritical mark (little scoop at top)

Answer 13

breve

short vowel

Question 14

ae/oe

pronounciation

Answer 14

ae/ oe

only second vowel is pronounce

bursae,

Question 15

pronunciation s and j

Answer 15

soft s and j before e, i, and y (cell, gel)

hard before aother letters (cardiac, gastric)

Question 16

pronunciation ch

Answer 16

Ch can be pronounced k

cholesterol, cholera

Question 17

pn at the beginning of a word

Answer 17

pn at beginning of a word

p is silent

Question 18

pn in middle of word

Answer 18

pn in middle of word

both sounds are pronounced hyperpnea (apnea)

Question 19

ps - at the beginning of a word

Answer 19

ps at the beginning of the word p is silent

psychology

Question 20

-e, and -es at end of word

Answer 20

-e, and -es at end of word are seperate syllable and pronounced

syncope

nares

Question 21

i at the end of word is pronounced

Answer 21

i at end of word is pronounced eye

fungi