Module A: Basic Elements of Medical Word Building Flashcards
A medical word consists of some or all of the following elements:
~ word root
~ combining form
~ suffix
~ prefix
Word Roots:
A word root is the foundation of a medical term and contains its primary meaning. All medical terms have at least one word root.
(Most word roots are obtained from the Greek or Latin language)
two different roots may have the same meaning
Combining Forms:
A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel. The vowel, known as a combining vowel, is usually an o but is sometimes an i.
(The combining vowel has no meaning of its own but enables the connection of two or more word elements.)
Word root + vowel =combining form
Suffixes:
A suffix is a word element placed at the end of a word that alters its meaning.
(All medical terms have a suffix.)
** To define a medical term, first define the suffix and then the first part of the word.**
(Suffix = Medical Word)
Prefixes:
A prefix is a word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. However, not all medical terms have a prefix.
(Adding or changing a prefix changes the meaning of the word. Prefixes usually indicate a number, time, position, direction, or negation.)
** Prefix + Word Root + Suffix = Medical Word**
How to Define Medical Words:
There are 3 steps for defining medical words:
• Step 1. Define the suffix, or 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.
How to Build Medical Words:
There are three basic rules for building medical words:
Rule 1
A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Rule 2
A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
Rule 3
A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word.
(This rule holds true even if the second root begins with a vowel)
** Combining Form + Word Root + Suffix = Medical Word**
Suffix Linking:
A suffix is added to the end of a word root or combining form to change its meaning.
1) When a suffix begins with a vowel, use the root word for linking the two word elements.
2) When the suffix begins with a consonant, use the combining form for linking the two word elements.
Words that contain more than one word root are known as compound words.
Suffix Types:
- Surgical suffixes describe a type of invasive procedure performed on a body part.
- Diagnostic suffixes describe a procedure performed to identify the cause and nature of an illness.
- Pathological suffixes describe an abnormal condition or disease.
Surgical Suffixes Examples:
Diagnostic, Pathological, and Related Suffixes Examples:
Grammatical Suffixes:
Short grammatical suffixes are attached to word roots to form parts of speech, such as adjectives and nouns.
Adjective and Noun Suffixes Examples:
Plural Suffixes:
Suffixes are also used to denote singular and plural forms of a word.
(When a word changes from a singular to a plural form, the suffix of the word is the part that changes.)
Prefix Linking:
Some medical words also contain prefixes. A prefix is a word element located at the beginning of a word.
** Substituting one prefix for another alters the meaning of the word.**
