KEY
PRACTICE WORD ELEMENTS: ROOTS, PREFIXES, SUFFIXES
If you know the meanings of the common prefixes, suffixes and roots, you are better able to work out the
meanings of words. One writer has estimated that knowledge of only 14 basic Latin and Greek roots can
help us recognize more than 14,000 English words.
Exercise 1: A knowledge of word elements can enable you to determine the meaning of unfamiliar
words. In the first column is a list of words which may be unfamiliar to you. Using your knowledge of
word elements and the reference sheets, match the word with the proper definition without looking
the words up in a dictionary.
Word choices
DEFINITIONS
Locate the Word being defined
a. uteroscopy
1. process of poisoning oneself
g. autointoxication
b. gynecological
2. a record of the heart made by using
returned or reflective sounds
e. echocardiogram
c. antidepressant
3. study of diseases
o. pathology
d. brachycardia
4. examination of the uterus
a. uteroscopy
e. echocardiogram
5. the development of life from
preexisting life
h. biogenesis
f. hepatoma
6. related to the female reproductive
system
b. gynecological
g. autointoxication
7. working against depression
c. antidepressant
h. Biogenesis
8. tumor of the liver
f. hepatoma
i. tracheostomy
9. mass or tumor of clotted blood
k. hematoma
j. tonsillectomy
10. occurs after death
m. postmortem
k. hematoma
11. inflammation in the lining of the
stomach
n. gastritis
l. acrophobia
12. removal or cutting out of the tonsils
j. tonsillectomy
m. Postmortem
13. creating an opening in the trachea
i. tracheostomy
n. gastritis
14. abnormal fear of high places
l. acrophobia
o. pathology
15. slow heartbeat
d. brachycardia
KEY
ALLIED HEALTHCARE READINESS PROGRAM:
VOCABULARY WARM-UP
Exercise 2: Separate the following words into their basic parts. Connect the meaning of
each part of a word to help you discover a literal definition for the medical term.
WORDS
WORD ELEMENTS and THEIR
MEANINGS
ROOT
PREFIX AND/OR SUFFIX
1. biology
bio = life
ology = study of; practice of
2. hypodermic
Under skin
3. tachycardia
LITERAL MEANING
The practice or study of life
Relating to under the skin
Fast
Heart
Stomach
Small intestine
One who studies
Doctor of the stomach and
intestines
Water
Head
Relating to
Relating to water on the head –
Large head
Appendix
To cut out
Nose
To shape
8. nephritis
Kidney
Inflammation
9. psychogenesis
Mind
10. oncologist
Tumor
Study of
One who
11. orthodontist
Straight
Teeth
One who
12. leukemia
White
Cells
13. nephrologist
Kidney
Study of
One who
14. pathologist
Disease
Study of
One who
15. macrophage
Large
Swallow, eat
4. gastroenterologist
5. hydrocephalic
6. appendectomy
7. rhinoplasty
16. phlebotomist
17. myocardial
Fast heartbeat
Cutting out of the appendix
Inflammation of the kidney
Orgin
Originating in the mind
One who studies tumors
A large white blood cell, found
primarily in the bloodstream and
connective tissue, that helps the
body fight off infections by
ingesting the disease-causing
organism. HIV can infect and kill
macrophages.