Tip
Root
List of Component Parts
Combining Form
Prefix
Methodology
Suffix
Examples
• bi
al
biceps
• binary
bin
al
bin
al
bin
al
Prefix
Root (R)
Suffix
Combining
Form (CF)
peri- around
heart
-al pertaining to
pericardial = pertaining to around the (sac of the) heart
green
• Changes the meaning OR makes it more specific
poly- many
cell
blood
-ia condition
polycythemia = condition that has many (increased number
of) red blood cells (RBCs)
• May be >1 roots in a term
• Refers to the subject or main topic
• Frequently a body part
hidr- sweat
gland
-itis inflammation
hidradenitis = inflammation of the sweat glands
• Links root to the suffix or a root to another root
joint
-pathy
pathology
arthropathy = pathology of the joint(s)
cerebrum
cerebrospinal
spine
-al pertaining to
= pertaining to the cerebrum
and the spinal (cord)
“o” “e”
/derma
/dynia
/pathy
“u”
consonant
--becomes---
--becomes---
--becomes---
scleroderma
mastodynia
myopathy
vowel.
/itis
/ion
/osis
--becomes---
--becomes---
--becomes---
tonsillitis
torsion
sclerosis
• When a combining vowel ends with the same vowel that begins a
suffix, one of the vowels is dropped.
endo- (within)
(heart)
-itis (inflammation)
--becomes---
endocarditis
[(inflammation of the
inner portion of the heart
(the endocardium)]
• When a word has >1 root, a combining vowel is used to link the roots
to each other.
(white)
(cell)
-penia (lack of)
--becomes---
leukocytopenia
(lack of white blood cells)
• When 2 or >2 combining forms are used in a term, the combining
vowel stays regardless of whether the second combining form begins
with a vowel or a consonant.
-itis
(gastro)
--becomes---
(small intestine)
(lack of)
gastroenteritis
(inflammation of the
stomach & small intestine)
blue
• Describes a condition of a body part OR action to a body part
nose
-plasty surgical repair
rhinoplasty = surgical repair of the nose
ex- out
breast, chest
-ion process
expectoration = process of (coughing up and spitting) out
material (sputum) from the chest (lungs, bronchi, and trachea)
meaning
Regarding the root element
/al = pertaining to the teeth
/ist = dental specialist
/algia = tooth pain (ache)
:
grouped
Pathological conditions
Surgical & Diagnostic Procedures
purpose
Example: papill/edema
Example: ophthalm/o/scope
Word: endotracheal
Prefix (P):
Combining Form (CF):
Suffix (S):
endo-
-al
within
trachea
pertaining to
Definition: _________________________________
Word: dermatology
Prefix (P):
Combining Form (CF):
Suffix (S):
N/A
-logy
skin
study of
Definition: _________________________________
Flickr
http://cf.ltkcdn.net/dogs/images/std/154271-435x260-Giving-the-staycommand.jpg
http://bobchoat.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/meaning_of_life_17632451.jpg?w=540
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Endotracheal_tube_colored.p
ng
http://www.uwhealth.org/files/uwhealth/images/bnr/bnr_dermatology_blue.jpg