Chapter 1.1 - Component Parts of Medical Words

Question 1

Word Root

Answer 1

• Foundation of a word
• Usually a noun
• Ex: “gastr” means stomach, ex: gastritis

Question 2

Suffix

Answer 2

• A word ending
• Often indicates procedure or condition
• Ex: “-ectomy” means “removal or excision”

Question 3

Prefix

Answer 3

• “Pre” means before
• A word beginning
• Usually an adjective indicating size, time, position
• Ex: “hemi” means “half”, “hyper” means “excessive” or “above”

Question 4

Combining Vowel and Combining Form

Answer 4

• A vowel, usually (o) or (i), added to the word root
• The combining vowel acts as a linking structure to join the word root to a suffix or to another word root
• The word root with its combining vowel is called the “combining form”

Question 5

Component Combinations

Answer 5

1. A combining form and suffix
2. A prefix and suffix
3. A prefix and combining form and suffix
4. Two or more combining forms and suffix
5. Two or more combining forms