Elements of Medical Words
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Medical Terminology, Adel Ali
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Elements of Medical Words:
• Elements of Medical Words:
1. Word Root
2. Combining vowel
3. Combining Form
4. Suffix
5. Prefix
• These five parts of a word are known as ELEMENTS.
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Elements of Medical Words:
Hemat/o/logy
Suffix (study of)
Root (blood)
Combining vowel
Hematology means the study of blood.
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Word Root:
– Main part or foundation of a word. It gives the essential
meaning of the word.
– All words have at least one word root.
– A word root may be used alone or combined with other
elements to form a complete word.
– The word root usually refers to a body part.
– Some root words are derived from the Latin or Greek
language.
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Word Root:
 Example of word roots:
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
“dent” means tooth

“dermat” means skin

“cardi” means heart

“gastr” means stomach

“pancreat” means pancreas
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Combining Vowel:
 Correct pronunciation of medical words is important.
 In order to make the pronunciation of word roots easier,
sometimes it is necessary to insert a vowel after the root.
 The combining vowel is usually an “o”, but others may be
used.
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Combining Vowel:
gastr / o
Word root
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pronounced GASTRO.
combining vowel
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Combining Vowel:
• When a word has more than one root, a combining vowel
is used to link the root to each other.
IE: Osteoarthritis:
oste/ o / arthr/ itis
root
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combining
vowel
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root
suffix
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Combining Vowel:
 A combining vowel is used between a word root and a
suffix that begins with a consonant (not a vowel). IE:
Word root: scler / (hardening)
Suffix:
/ derma (skin)
Term:
Scler / o / derma
(hardening of the skin)
Combining vowel
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Combining form:
• The combination of a word root and a vowel is known as a
COMBINING FORM.
gastr / o
Word root
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+
pronounced GASTRO.
combining vowel
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=
combining form
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Suffix:
 A suffix is added to the END of a word root or
combining form to modify its meaning.
 By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a
noun or adjective with a different meaning.
 When you analyze a medical term, begin at the end of
the word – start with the suffix.
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Suffix:
•Electrocardiogram:
Electr /o/ cardi /o/ gram
root
Root
Electricity heart
suffix
record
*Read the meaning of medical terms
from the suffix, back to the beginning
of the term, then across, thus it means
Combining vowels
record of the electricity in the heart.
Electro and cardio are combining
forms.
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Suffix:
Gastroenterology:
Gastr /o/ enter /o/ logy
*The entire term (reading
from the suffix, back to the
Root c.v root c.v. suffix
Stomach
study of
intestine
beginning,
and
across)
means the study of stomach
and intestine. Gastro and
entero are combining forms.
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Suffix:
•Gastroscope:
Gastr /o/ scope
Root c.v. suffix
Stomach
instrument
to visually
examine
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*Means instrument to visually
examine the stomach.
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Suffix:
•Gastric:
Gastr / ic
Root
Stomach
suffix
pertaining to
*Means
pertaining
to
stomach. Words ending in
“ic” or “ac” are adjectives
and mean pertaining to.
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Suffix:
*Inflammation
•Gastroenteritis:
the
Gastr /o/ enter / itis
Root
Stomach
c.v. root
intestine
suffix
inflammation of
stomach
intestine.
of
and
The
combining vowel in
entero is dropped
when the suffix itis
begins with a vowel.
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Suffix:
•Cardiac:
*Means pertaining to the heart.
Cardi / ac
The
Root
Heart
suffix
pertaining to
combining
vowel
is
dropped when the suffix begins
with a vowel.
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Prefix:
 A prefix is a syllable or syllables placed BEFORE a
word or word root to alter its meaning or create a
new word.
 Some prefixes:





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Hyper- (excessive)
Pre(before)
Post(after)
Homo- (same)
Hypo(under)
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Prefix:
hypoinsulinemia:
Hypo / insulin / emia
Prefix root
Low insulin
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Suffix
blood
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*Notice that there is no
combining vowel in this word
because the prefix ends with a
vowel and the suffix begins
with a vowel.
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Prefix:
•Subgastric:
*Means
Sub / gastr / ic
Prefix
Below
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root
stomach
suffix
pertaining to
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pertaining
to
below the stomach.
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Prefix:
**Transgastric:
Trans / gastr / ic
* Means pertaining to across the
stomach.
**Retrogastric:
Retro / gastr / ic
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* Means pertaining to behind the
stomach.
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Summary:
 Elements of medical terms:
1. Root: gives the essential meaning of the term.
2. Suffix: is the word ending.
3. Prefix: is a small part added to the beginning of a
term.
4. Combining vowel: connects roots to suffixes, and
roots to other roots.
5. Combining form: is the combination of the root and
the combining vowel.
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Summary:
 Rules:
 Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix to
the beginning of the word and then across.
 Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts
with a vowel.
 Keep the combining vowel between word roots, even if
the root begins with a vowel.
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 Here is a list of combining forms that are commonly found
in medical terms.
Aden/o
gland
Arthr/o
joint
Bi/o
Life
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1. Adenoma
-oma means tumor or mass.
Tumor of gland.
(benign tumor)
2. Adenitis
-itis means inflammation.
Inflammation of a gland
Arthritis.
Inflammation of a joint.
1. Biology.
-logy means study of
Study of life.
2. Biopsy.
-opsy means to view
Process of viewing living
tissues with a microscope
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Cancerous tumor. Carcinomas
form from epithelial cell, which
line the internal organs and cover
the outside of the body.
Carcin/o
Cancer
cancerous
Cardi/o
heart
Cardiology
Study of the heart.
Cephal/o
head
Cephalic
-ic means
pertaining to.
Pertaining to head.
Cerebr/o
Cerebrum
Largest part
of the brain
Cerebral.
-al means
pertaining to.
Pertaining to cerebrum.
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Carcinoma
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Cyct/o
Urinary
bladder
Cystoscope.
-scope means instrument
to visually examin.
Instrument used to view
the urinary bladder.
Cyt/o
cell
Cytology
Study of cells
Dermat/o
Derm/o
skin
1. dermatitis
Inflammation of skin.
2. Dermal
Pertaining to skin.
Electr/o
Electricity
Electrocardiogram.
-gram means record.
Record of the electricity in
the heart.
Encephal/o
Brain.
Electroencephalogram.
Record of the electricity in
the brain.
Enter/o
Intestines
Enteritis.
Inflammation of the small
intestines.
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Erythr/o
Red.
Erythrocyte
-cyte means cell.
Gastr/o
Stomach.
Gastroscopy.
-scopy means process of
visual examination using an
instrument (scope)
Visual examination of
the stomach.
Gnos/o
knowledge
1. Diagnosis.
-sis means state of,
-dia means complete
The
complete
knowledge
gained
after
testing
and
examining the patient.
2. Prognosis.
-pro means before.
A prediction that is
actually made after the
diagnosis.
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Red blood cells.
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Gynec/o
Woman, female
Gynecology
Study of female disorders.
Hemat/o
Hem/o
blood
1. Hematoma.
-oma means mass or tumor.
Mass or welling
containing blood.
2. Hemoglobin.
-globin means protein
The protein in red blood
cells (erythrocytes).
Inflammation of the liver.
Hepat/o
liver
Hepatitis
Lapar/o
abdomen
Laparotomy.
Incision of the abdomen.
-tomy means incision, open
Leuk/o
White.
Leukocyte.
White blood cell.
Nephr/o
kidney
Nephrectomy.
-ectomy means to cut out,
remove.
Removal of the kidney.
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Neur/o
nerve
Neurology.
Onc/o
Tumor.
Study of nervous system, disorders.
Oncologist.
Physician specializing in the study
-ist means a specialist. and treatment of tumors.
Ophthalm/o
Eye.
Ophthalmoscope.
Instrument used to visually examine
the eye.
Oste/o
Bone.
Osteoarthritis.
Inflammation of bones and joints.
Path/o
Disease.
Pathologist.
Psych/o
Mind.
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Psychosis.
-osis
means
abnormal condition.
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Specialist in the study of disease
using microscopic examination of
tissues and cells.
Abnormal condition of the mind.
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Ren/o
kidney
Renal
Pertaining to the kidney.
Rhin/o
Nose.
Rhinitis.
Inflammation of the nose.
Sarc/o
Flesh.
Sarcoma.
Cancerous (malignant) tumor of
connective tissues, such as bone,
muscle, fat, or cartilage.
Thromb/o
Clotting.
1. Thrombocyte.
Small cell that helps blood to clot.
2. Thrombosis.
A condition of forming a clot.
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o Here is a list of suffixes that are commonly found in medical terms.
Suffix
-al
-algia
-cyte
Meaning
Pertaining to
pain
cell
Medical Term
Neural
Arthralagia
Leukocyte
-ectomy
Removal
Gastrectomy
-emia
-globin
Blood condition
protein
Leukemia
Hemoglobin
-gram
record
Arthrogram
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Meaning
Pertaining to nerves
Pain in the joints.
White blood cells
Removal of the
stomach
Cancer of blood
Blood protein
Record of joints (Xray)
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Suffix
Meaning
-ic
Pertaining to
Condition,
-ism
process
Meaning
Pertaining to stomach
Excessive activity of the thyroid
Hyperthyroidism
gland
Inflammation of stomach and
-it is inflammation
Gastroenteritis
intestines
-logist Specialist in the Neurologist
Specialist of the nerves
-logy Study of
Nephrology
Study of the kidney
-oma Tumor, mass
Hepatoma
Tumor of the liver
Process of viewing living tissues
-opsy To view
Biopsy
with a microscope
Abnormal
-osis
Nephrosis
Abnormal condition of the kidney
condition
Instrument to
Instrument used to examine
-scope
Gastroscope
visually examin
stomach
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Medical Term
Gastric
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Suffix
Meaning
Medical Term
Process of
-scopy visual
examination
Labroscopy
-sis
State of
Prognosis
-tomy
Process of
cutting into,
incision
Neurotomy
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Arthroscopy
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Meaning
Process of visual examination
of the abdomen
Process of visual examination
of the joints
Prediction , of outcome of
disease or treatment
Incision of a nerve
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 Prefixes:
Here is a list of prefixes that are commonly found in medical
terms.
Prefixes
Meaning
a-, anNo, not
AutSelf
Medical Term
Meaning
Anemia
Deficiency of hemoglobin
Autopsy
Examination of a dead body
Complete knowledge of patient’s
Diagnosis
condition
Dia-
Complete
Dys-
Difficult,
painful
Dysentery
Within
Endocrine
glands
Glands that produce hormones
-crin/o means to
secrete.
Endocardium
Within the heart
Endo-
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Condition of painful intestines
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Prefixes
ExoHyperHypo-
Meaning
Outside
Medical Term
Exocrine glands
Excessive,
Hyperglycemia
more
Below, less Hypodermic
than normal Hypoglycemia
Pro-
Before
Prognosis
Re-
Back
Resection
Retro-
Behind
Retrogastric
Sub-
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Below,
under
Across,
through
Meaning
Glands that secrete substances
outside the body
High blood sugar
Pertaining to under skin
Low blood sugar
Prediction of outcome of disease
or treatment
Cutting back of an organ
Pertaining to the back of the
stomach
Subhepatic
Pertaining to under the stomach
Transdermal
Transurethral
Pertaining to across the skin
Pertaining to across the urethra
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
Formation of plurals:
1. Words ending in a, retain the a and add e:
Singular
Plural
Meaning
vertebra
vertebrae Backbones
bursa
bursae
Sacs of fluid near a joint
2. Words ending in is, drop the is and add es:
Singular
Singular
Singular
diagnosis
Diagnoses Determining the nature of dioseases.
psychosis psychoses Abnormal condition of the mind
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
Formation of plurals:
3. Words ending in ex or ix, drop the ex or ix, and add ices:
Singular
Singular
Singular
apex
apices
Pointed ends of organs
cortex
cortices
Outer parts of organs
varix
varices
Enlarged, swollen veins
4. Words ending in on, drop the on and add a:
Singular
Singular
Singular
ganglion
ganglia
Groups of nerve cells.
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
Formation of plurals:
5. Words ending in um, drop the um and add a:
Singular
Singular
Singular
bacterium bacteria
Types of one-celled organisms
ovum
ova
Egg cells
6. Words ending in us, drop the us and add i:
Singular
Singular
Singular
Tubes leading from the windpipe
bronchus
bronchi
to the lungs
calculus
calculi
Stones
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
Terms using –logy (study of):
Medical Term
Cardiology
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Gastroenerology
Gynecology
Meaning
Study of the heart
Study of the skin
Study of the endocrine glands
Study of the stomach and intestines
Study of women and women’s disease
Hematology
Study of the blood
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
Terms using –logy (study of):
Medical Term
Neurology
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Pathology
Psychology
Rheumatology
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Meaning
Study of the nerves, and the brain and
spinal cord.
Study of tumors
Study of the eyes
Study of disease
Study of the mind and mental disorders
Study of joint diseases.
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