• Ch is sometimes
pronounced like a k
example: chronic
• Ps is pronounced like s
example: psychiatry
• Pn is pronounced with
only the n sound
example: pneumonia
• C and g are given the
soft sound of s and j
examples: cell, genetics
• Ae and oe are
pronounced ee
examples: fasciae, coelom
• I at the end of a word is
pronounced eye
examples: alveoli, glomeruli
• Es when forming the
final letters of a word, is
often pronounced as a
separate syllable
example: nares (nah’reez)
•
•
Beginning part of a word before the
word root
Often indicates location, time, or
number
-peri means around
-post means after
-brady means slow
• Central part and
determines the meaning of
a word
-cardi- root for heart
-carcin- root for cancer
- lingua- root for tongue
- mamm- root for breast
• Last part of the word that changes its
meaning
- itis means inflammation
-plasty means surgical repair
- sclerosis means hardening
• A root with an added vowel for easier
pronunciation
-rhin + o = rhino
• The combining vowel is not used when the suffix
begins with a vowel. (neuritis)
• The combining vowel is used when the suffix
begins with a consonant. (neuroplasty)
Brady = slow
Cardia = heart
Bradycardia = slow heart rate
Hyster = uterus
Ectomy = surgical
removal
Hysterectomy = surgical
removal or the uterus
Hepato = liver
Megaly = enlargement
Hepatomegaly = enlarged liver