The Language Of
Medicine
th
9
edition
Davi-Ellen Chabner
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Chapter 1
Basic Word Structure
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
2
Chapter Goals




Identify basic objectives to guide your study
of the medical language.
Divide medical words into their component
parts.
Learn the meanings of basic combining
forms, prefixes, and suffixes of the medical
language.
Use these combining forms, prefixes, and
suffixes to build medical words.
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
3
Chapter 1
Lesson 1.1
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
4
Objectives in Studying
The Medical Language

Analyze words by dividing them into
component parts.

Relate the medical terms to the structure
and function of the human body.

Be aware of spelling and pronunciation
problems.
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
5
QUICK QUIZ:
1. All medical terms have:
A. A combining vowel
B. Two roots
C. A suffix
D. A prefix
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
6
QUICK QUIZ: (cont’d)
2. Which element appears at the
beginning of a medical term?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Suffix
Prefix
Combining vowel
Combining form
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
7
Word Analysis
HEMAT/O/LOGY
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
8
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HEMAT/O/LOGY



root

suffix
combining vowel
hemat means blood
-logy means process of study
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
9
Word Analysis (cont’d)
Important elements:





Root: foundation of the term
Suffix: word ending
Prefix: word beginning
Combining vowel: vowel (usually o) that links
the root to the suffix or the root to another root
and aids pronunciation
Combining form: combination of the root and
the combining vowel
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
10
Word Analysis (cont’d)
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
11
Word Analysis (cont’d)
ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM

root





root  suffix
combining vowels
electr means electricity
cardi means heart
-gram means record
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
12
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/ITIS
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
13
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/ITIS

root

suffix
gastr means stomach
-itis means inflammation
Note: Drop combining vowel when suffix
starts with a vowel (as in “itis”)
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
14
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
15
Word Analysis (cont’d)
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY

root





root
 suffix
combining vowels
gastr means stomach
enter means intestines
-logy means process of study
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
16
Word Analysis (cont’d)
THREE General Rules:
1. Read the meaning of medical terms from
the suffix back to the beginning of the
term and across
2. Drop the combining vowel (usually o)
before a suffix beginning with a vowel:
gastritis not “gastroitis”
3. Keep the combining vowel between two
roots: gastroenterology not
“gastrenterology”
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
17
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HYPO/GASTR/IC
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
18
Word Analysis (cont’d)
HYPO/GASTR/IC

prefix

root

suffix
hypo- means below
gastr means stomach
-ic
means pertaining to
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
19
Word Analysis (cont’d)
EPI/GASTR/IC
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
20
Word Analysis (cont’d)
EPI/GASTR/IC

prefix

root

suffix
epi- means above
gastr means stomach
-ic
means pertaining to
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
21
Combining Forms
Combining Form
Meaning
aden/o
_________
arthr/o
_________
bi/o
_________
carcin/o
_________
cardi/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
22
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
aden/o
gland
arthr/o
joint
bi/o
life
carcin/o
cancerous, cancer
cardi/o
heart
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
23
QUICK QUIZ:
3. Which term means inflammation
of the gland?
A. arthritis
B. adenitis
C. adenoma
D. cephalic
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
24
Combining Forms
Combining Form
Meaning
cephal/o
_________
cerebr/o
_________
cis/o
_________
crin/o
_________
cyst/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
25
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
cephal/o
head
cerebr/o
cerebrum
cis/o
to cut
crin/o
to secrete
cyst/o
urinary bladder
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
26
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
cyt/o
derm/o or dermat/o
_________
_________
electr/o
_________
encephal/o
_________
enter/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
27
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
cyt/o
cell
derm/o or dermat/o
skin
electr/o
electricity
encephal/o
brain
enter/o
intestines
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
28
QUICK QUIZ:
4. Term that means study of cells:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystitis
C. cytology
D. hematology
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
29
Combining Forms
Combining Form
Meaning
erythr/o
_________
gastr/o
_________
gnos/o
_________
glyc/o
_________
gynec/o
_________
hemat/o or hem/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
30
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
erythr/o
red
gastr/o
stomach
gnos/o
knowledge
glyc/o
sugar
gynec/o
woman, female
hemat/o or hem/o
blood
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
31
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
hepat/o
_________
iatr/o
_________
leuk/o
_________
log/o
_________
nephr/o
_________
neur/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
32
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
hepat/o
liver
iatr/o
treatment, physician
leuk/o
white
log/o
study of
nephr/o
kidney
neur/o
nerve
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
33
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
onc/o
_________
ophthalm/o
_________
oste/o
_________
path/o
_________
ped/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
34
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
onc/o
tumor
ophthalm/o
eye
oste/o
bone
path/o
disease
ped/o
child
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
35
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
psych/o
_________
radi/o
_________
ren/o
_________
rhin/o
_________
sarc/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
36
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
psych/o
mind
radi/o
x-rays
ren/o
kidney
rhin/o
nose
sarc/o
flesh
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
37
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
sect/o
_________
thromb/o
_________
ur/o
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
38
Combining Forms (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
sect/o
to cut
thromb/o
clot, clotting
ur/o
urinary tract, urine
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
39
Suffixes
Combining Form
Meaning
-ac
_________
-al
_________
-algia
_________
-cyte
_________
-ectomy
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
40
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-ac
pertaining to
-al
pertaining to
-algia
pain
-cyte
cell
-ectomy
excision, removal
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
41
QUICK QUIZ:
5. Which suffix means to “cut out” or
remove?
A.-ectomy
B.-scopy
C.-itis
D.-opsy
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
42
Suffixes
Combining Form
Meaning
-emia
_________
-genic
_________
-globin
_________
-gram
_________
-ic, ical
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
43
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-emia
blood condition
-genic
produced by or in
-globin
protein
-gram
record
-ic, ical
pertaining to
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
44
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-ion
_________
-ist
_________
-itis
_________
-logy
_________
-oma
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
45
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-ion
process
-ist
specialist
-itis
inflammation
-logy
process of study
-oma
tumor, mass, swelling
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
46
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-opsy
_________
-osis
_________
-pathy
_________
-scope
_________
-scopy
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
47
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-opsy
process of viewing
-osis
condition, usually abnormal
-pathy
disease condition
-scope
instrument to visually examine
-scopy
process of visually examining
(with an endoscope)
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
48
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-sis
_________
-tomy
_________
-y
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
49
Suffixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
-sis
state of; condition
-tomy
process of cutting
-y
process, condition
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
50
Prefixes
Combining Form
Meaning
a-, an_________
aut-, auto
_________
dia-
_________
end-, endo-
_________
epi-
_________
ex-
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
51
Prefixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
a-, anwithout
aut-, auto
self, own
dia-
through, complete
end-, endo-
within
epi-
above, upon
ex-
out
no, not,
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
52
Prefixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
exo-
_________
hyper-
_________
hypo_________
in-
_________
peri-
_________
pro-
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
53
Prefixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
exo-
outside of, outward
hyper-
excessive, above, more
hypo-
deficient, below,
under, less
in-
into, in
peri-
surrounding, around
pro-
before, forward
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
54
Prefixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
re-
_________
retro-
_________
sub-
_________
trans-
_________
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
55
Prefixes (cont’d)
Combining Form
Meaning
re-
back, backward, again
retro-
behind
sub-
below, under
trans-
across, through
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
56
Pronunciation of Terms

When ¯ is above a vowel, the sound is long.
For example:
ā as in āpe
ō as in ōpen

When ˘ is above a vowel, the sound is short.
For example:
ă as in ăpple
ŏ as in pŏt

The capitalized syllable is accented.
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
57
Pronunciation of Terms
(cont’d)
Examples:
adenitis
ăd-ĕ-Nī-tĭs
biology
bī-OL-ō-jē
cephalic
se-FĂL-ik
iatrogenic
i-ăt-rō-JEN-ik
resection
rē-SEK-shŭn
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
58