RECOGNIZING WORD ELEMENTS HEALTHCARE
Sixty percent of English words have been adapted from Latin and Greek. The Latin and
Greek languages use a system of word parts, or word elements, that can be used alone or
in combination in order to form words. As the combinations of the word parts change, so
does the meaning of the words. Many medical terms are made up of these word parts – so
by knowing the meaning of the word part will enhance your understanding of a medical
term. Just think about how many more words you’ll understand by learning roots and
affixes.
IMPORTANT TERMS:
ROOT: is the stem or basic part of the word which carries the main meaning of
the word.
The root -derm- means: skin
The root -ven- means: vein
PREFIX: is a word part or group of letters added on to the beginning of a root
which can change the meaning of that root or word.
The prefix intra-, intro- means within
intravenous = relates to something within the vein
intramuscular = relates to something within the muscle
The prefix hypo- means under, below
hypoderm = relates to something below the skin
SUFFIX: is a word part or group of letters added to the end of a root which can alter the
word’s form or part of speech – such as change from a noun to a verb. Nearly all medical
terms have a suffix.
The suffix –algia,-dynia means pain
The suffix –ectomy means excision (cut out)
neuralgia = relates to nerve pain
appendectomy = relates to removal of the appendix
AFFIX: refers to the word parts that are added to a root; another name for prefix and/or
suffix
Intra + ven + ous + ly = “a drug, solution, or other substance administered into a vein”
Hypo + derm + ic = relating to the “introduction of drugs or medicine under the skin”
DERIVATIVE: a word that is formed using the various word parts
gastro (stomach) = gastroenterology, gastroenterologist
-logy (study) = psychology, cardiology, neurology
EXAMPLES OF WORD PARTS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES:
myocarditis
GYNE
pancreatitis
(female)
Inflammation
Gynecology
gynecologist
gynecological
osteoarthritis
Use with Chapter 10, Introduction to Health Care and Careers, by Roxann DeLaet