Dr. Tarek El Sewedy
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology
Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences
Lecture 4
Combining forms
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, students will learn:
 Basic common combining forms
Lecture content
• 1- Combining forms.
Review
• Word parts that make up medical terminology are
prefixes, suffixes and roots.
• The most typical sequence is prefix, root, suffix, with
the word root being central but this is not always the
case.
 Some medical terms contain a combining vowel (O)
after the root and this is called combining form.
 Some terms contain two or more roots and therefore
called compound word (ex. osteoarthritis )
Combining form
• It is a root with an added “combining vowel” which connects
the root with the suffix or with another root .
o Root + ( o , i , e ) + suffix = Combining form
o Root + ( o , i , e ) + root = Combining form
• The most common combining vowel is “ o “
Each element is essential to understand the
meaning of the medical term
Prefix
Combining
Root REVIEW Vowel
Suffix
or
root
Rules for using the combining vowels
• 1 . To join a root to another root.
• Example :
• Oste + arthr + itis = osteoarthritis
(root)+(root) +( suffix )
Bone + joint + inflammation
Rules for using the combining vowels
• 2 . to connect a root with a suffix that begins with a consonant.
Ex :
Cardi + megaly = cardiomegaly
(root)+ (suffix)
Heart + enlargement
• 3 . combining vowel is not used when suffix begins with a vowel.
Ex :
Hyster + ectomy = hysterectomy
( root )+ ( suffix )
Uterus + excision
Rules for the combining vowels
• 4 . if a root ends in a vowel and the suffix starts with the
same vowel , the second vowel is dropped .
Ex :
Cardi + itis = carditis
(root)+ (suffix)
Heart + inflammation
• 5 . when a prefix ends in a vowel and the root starts with
another vowel the vowel from the prefix is dropped .
Ex :
Para + enter + al = parenteral
(prefix)+ ( root )+ ( suffix )
Beyond + intestine + connected with
How to read medical terms
Start with the suffix…
• When you analyze a medical term, begin at the
end of the word. The ending is called a suffix.
• The suffix in HEMATOLOGY is –LOGY, which means
“study of ”.
Cont …………….
Next, read the beginning of the word..
• Now look at the beginning of the term. HEMAT is the
word root.
• The root gives the essential meaning of the term.
• The root HEMAT-means “blood.”
Combining vowel (s)…
• The third part of this term, which is the letter O, has
no meaning of its own but is an important
connector between the root (HEMAT) and the suffix
(LOGY).
• The O is the ??.
Start at the end of the word and work to the left
Prefix
Root
Combining
Vowel
Suffix
Examples of combining vowels
• 1 . cardi = heart
Pathy = disease
Cardiopathy = disease of the heart
• 2 . psych = mind
Logy = study of
Psychology = study of the mind
Exercise
Nephroangiosclerosis
REVIEW
• Root: gives the essential meaning of the term
• Suffix: is the word ending
• Prefix: is a small part added to the beginning of a term
• Combining vowel: connects roots to suffixes and roots to
other roots
• Combining form: is the combination of the root and
combining vowel
Students selected for assignments
‫عال حازم بدر‬
Assignments
• Students on next slide are requested to prepare a presentation
(minimum of 7 slides) on any the following topics:
1.
Respiratory system terminology (including disease)
2.
Circulatory system terminology (including disease)
3.
Cancer terminology
4.
Digestive system Terminology
5.
Combining forms and vowels
Assignments should be delivered by next week
Study questions
• Give 2 examples of words with:
• One root and one suffix
• Two roots and one suffix
• One prefix and one root
Reference books
1 – Medical Terminology an illustrated Guide by Barbara Jonson
Cohen 2003
2 – “Medical Terminology Simplified” F. A David 2009
3 – “Medical Terminology system : Approach Fifth Edition” Barbara A
Gylys 2004