Medical terminology
A language of its own
Language: historical
development
 Greek and Latin terms
 Eponyms
 Modern language
LEARNING
MEMORIZE
LEARN WORD PARTS
MEMORIZE
MEMORIZE
FOUR WORD PARTS
1. WORD ROOTS
2. SUFFIXES
3. PREFIXES
4. COMBINING VOWELS
WORD ROOT
CORE OF THE WORD
CONTAINS FUNDAMENTAL
MEANING
EACH MED. TERM
CONTAINS ONE OR MORE
SUFFIX
ATTACHED TO END
MODIFIES MEANING
“usually” procedure,
condition, disorder or disease
PREFIX
ATTACHED TO BEGINNING OF
WORD ROOT
MODIFIES MEANING
“USUALLY” INDICATES
LOCATION, TIME, NUMBER
STATUS
COMBINING
VOWEL
 USED BETWEEN TWO WORD
ROOTS
 USED BETWEEN WORD ROOT AND
SUFFIX TO EASE PRONUNCIATION
 Not USED BETWEEN PREFIX AND
WORD ROOT
GUIDELINES FOR USING
COMBINING VOWEL
1. Not usually used if suffix begins
with a vowel
2. Usually is used if connecting two
word roots (even if vowels
present at junction)
Combining vowel USUALLY “O”
COMBINING FORM
A WORD ROOT WITH
COMBINING VOWEL
ATTACHED, SEPARATED BY
A VERTICAL SLASH
Learning
Memorize
Flash cards
Repetition
Memorize
Practice, practice, practice