Chapter 1 Medical Word Building
Lesson Plans
Objectives:
 Identify and define the four elements that are used to build medical words
 Apply rules learned to pronounce medical words
 Apply rules leaned to write the singular and plural forms of medical words
 Analyze and define the various parts of a medical term
A. Have students read the front cover of the book and take the section review quiz on page
16.
B. Many medical terms are made up of combinations of word parts that are joined.
Learning medical terminology is much easier one you understand how the word parts
work together to form new words.
C. Medical words consist of some or all of the following elements:
1. root word (frames 1-16 – 1-23): is the main part of a word
a. frame 1-16, 1-17
2. combining form (frames 1-24 – 1-40): that usually, but not always, indicate the
involved body part. Combining form is created when a root word is combined with a
vowel. Enables to word elements to be linked. Combining forms are used with
prefixes, other combining forms, and suffixes to create new words
a. pericardiectomy
i. prefix peri (surrounding)
ii. combining form carid/o (heart)
iii. suffix –ectomy (surgical removal)
3. suffixes (frames 1-41 – 1-65) is a word element located at the end of a word.
Suffixes usually, but no always, indicate the procedure, condition, disorder, or
disease. (See handout)
a. tonsillitis
i. tonsill = tonsil
ii. –itis = inflammation indicates a condition
b. tonsillectomy
i. tonsil – tonsil
ii. –ectomy = surgical removal indicates a procedure
D. THREE RULES OF WORD BUILDING (frames 1-54 – 1-65)
Rule 1: A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel. The combining vowel is
NOT used when the suffix begins with a vowel.
1. neur/o is joined with the suffix –itis = neuritis
2. leuk/o is joined with the suffix – emia = leukemia
Rule 2: A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a constant.
1. gastr/o is joined with the suffix –scope = gastroscope
Rule 3: Use of a combining form to link a root to another root to form a compound word.
This holds true even if the next root begins with a vowel.
1. gastr/o + enter/o + itis = gastroenteritis
2. oste/o + arthr/o + itis = osteoarthritis
4. prefix: (frames 1-66 – 1-76) is a word element located at the beginning of a word.
The prefix usually indicates a number, time, position, or negation (opposite). Many
prefixes are “paired” with other prefix that has just the opposite meaning and the
more common ones are:
pre = before or in front of
prenatal
post = after
postnatal
ab = away from
abduction
ad = toward or in the direction of
adduction
dys = difficult, painful, or bad
dyspnea
eu = well, easy, or good
eupnea
hyper = over, above, or increased
hypertension
hypo = below, under, or decrease
hypotension
inter = between or among
intermuscular
intra = means within or inside
intramuscular
poly = many
polyuria
olig/o = few, scant, or little
oliguria
sub = under, less, below
subcostal
super and supra = above, excessive,
supracostal
D. Complete section review 1-2 on pages 17 and 18. Review prefixes, combining forms,
word roots, and suffixes.
E. Adjectives, noun, and diminutive suffixes (page 20 – 21)
F. Plural suffixes: A summary of the rules for changing a singular word into its plural form
is located on the inside back cover of the book.
Suffixes Related to Conditions
-algia
-dynia
-itis
-malacia
-megaly
-necrosis
-osis
-sclerosis
-stenosis
-um
pain and suffering
pain
inflammation
abnormal softening
large, enlargement
death of tissue
disease or abnormal condition
abnormal harding
abnormal tightening or narrowing
structure or tissue
Suffixes Related to Procedures
-centesis
-ectomy
-graphy
-gram
-graph
-graphy
-ology
-ostomy
-otomy
-plasty
-scopy
surgical puncture to remove fluid
surgical removal
process of recording a picture or record
record or picture
record or picture
recording a picture
study of
surgically create an opening
cutting into or surgical incision
surgical repair
see or visual examination
The “Four Rs”
This group of suffixes, which are often referred to as the “four Rs” are particularly confusing.




-rrhagia or rrhage mean bursting forth, abnormal, or excessive flow.
o Helpful hint: rrhage = rage
-rrhaphy means to suture or stitch.
o Helpful hint: rrhaphy = wrap
-rrhea means flow or discharge
o Helpful hint:
-rrhexis means rupture
o “X marks the rupture” (spot)
Chapter 1
Medical Word Building
Quiz 1
Singular
Plural
Singular
-ae
Plural
pleurae
-ax
thorax
-en
lumen
-es
diagnoses
-ices
appendices
-ex
apex
-ma
carcinoma
-a
ganglia
-on
bacteria
-i
-ies
bronchus
deformities
Chapter 1
Medical Word Building
Quiz 2
There is one correct answer for the following questions:
1.
A root word is the _______ part of a word:
a. first
b. last
c. main
2.
The ____________ that usually, but not always, indicate the involved body part.
_______________ is created when a root word is combined with a vowel. Enables to
word elements to be linked. Combining forms are used with prefixes, other combining
forms, and suffixes to create new words
a. root word
c. combining form
b. prefix
d. suffix
3.
A __________ is a word element located at the end of a word. Suffixes usually, but no
always, indicate the procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.
a. root word
c. combining form
b. prefix
d. suffix
4.
A _____________ is a word element located at the beginning of a word. The _________
usually indicates a number, time, position, or negation (opposite). Many __________ are
“paired” with other __________ that has just the opposite meaning and the more
common ones are:
a. root word
c. combining form
b. prefix
d. suffix
d. prefix
5. THREE RULES OF WORD BUILDING brief example and give one example of each.
Rule 1:
Rule 2:
Rule 3:
6. List all the suffixes for Chapter 1 that indicate the medical term in a noun. (Hint: 5 suffixes)
7. List all the suffixes for Chapter 1 that indicate the medical term is a diminutive. (Hint: 4 suffix)
8. Which ending is not an adjective ending?
a. –tic
b. –ia
c. –ary
d. –eal
e. ous
Chapter 1
Medical Word Building
Quiz 1
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
-a
-ae
pleura
pleurae
-ax
-aces
thorax
thoraces
-en
-ina
lumen
lumina
-is
-es
diagnosis
diagnoses
-ix
-ices
appendix
appendices
-ex
-ices
apex
apices
-ma
-mata
carcinoma
carcinomata
on
-a
ganglion
ganglia
-um
-a
bacterium
bacteria
-us
-i
bronchus
bronchi
-y
-ies
deformity
deformities
Chapter 1
Medical Word Building
Quiz 2
1.
A root word is the _______ part of a word: C
b. first
2.
b. last
c. main
The ___________ that usually, but not always, indicate the involved body part.
______________ is created when a root word is combined with a vowel. Enables to word
elements to be linked. _______________ are used with prefixes, other combining forms,
and suffixes to create new words. C
c. root word
d. prefix
3.
c. combining form
d. suffix
A __________ is a word element located at the end of a word. ___________ usually,
but no always, indicate the procedure, condition, disorder, or disease. D
a.root word
e. prefix
4.
d. prefix
c. combining form
d. suffix
A _____________ is a word element located at the beginning of a word. The _________
usually indicates a number, time, position, or negation (opposite). Many __________ are
“paired” with other __________ that has just the opposite meaning and the more
common ones are: B
a. root word
b.prefix
c. combining form
d. suffix
5. THREE RULES OF WORD BUILDING brief example and give one example of each.
Rule 1: A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
Rule 2: A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a constant.
Rule 3: A combining form (root + o) ling a root to another form a compound word.
This holds true even if the next root begins with a vowel.
6. List all the suffixes for Chapter 1 that indicate the medical term in a noun. (Hint: 5 suffixes)
-esis, -ia, -ism, -iatry, -ist
7. List all the suffixes for Chapter 1 that indicate the medical term is a diminutive. (Hint: 4 suffix)
-y, -icle, - -ole, -ule
8. Which ending is not an adjective ending? -eal
a. –tic
b. –ia
c. –ary
d. –eal
e. ous