Basic Word Structure
Learning a new language-
Medicine
Medical Terminology
Objectives
 1.Analyze words
 2.Relate with structure and function of Human body
 3.Be aware of spellings and pronounciation
1.Analyze words
 Divide them into component parts
 Do not simply memorize terms
 Component parts can be used in different
combinations
2.Relate with structure and
function of Human body
 Memorization of term, although essential for retention
of language, but should not become primary objective
of your study
 Example
 Hepatitis-inflammation of liver
 Hepat + itis
 Hepat -liver
 Itis - inflammation
Mode of transmission
3.Be aware of spellings and
pronounciation
 Some medical terms are pronounced alike but are
spelled differently
 ILIUM and ILEUM
 GYNECOLOGIST and GYNECOLOGY
 URETHRA and URETER
ILIUM
ILEUM
How to divide words into
component parts
Word
Root
Combining
vowel
Suffix
Hematology
Hematology
Heme/Hemat
Heme-Hemat – Blood (Root)
Logy- Study of (Suffix)
O – (combining vowel)
O
Logy
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Electr / o / cardi /o/ gram
Electr – electricity Cardi- Heart (Root)
Gram – record (Suffix)
O – (combining vowel)
Record of electricity of heart or
Recording of electrical activity of Heart
Summary
 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 suffix
and roots to other roots.
 COMBINING FORM---is the combination of the
root and the combining vowel.
IMPORTANT RULES TO REMEMBER
1. READ the meaning of medical words from the
suffix to the beginning of the word and then
across.
2. DROP the combining vowel before a suffix that
starts with a vowel.
3. KEEP the combining vowel between word
roots,even if the second root begins with a
vowel.
COMBINING FORMS
COMBININ
G FORM
Aden/o
Arthr/o
Bi/o
Carcin/o
Cephal/o
Cerebr/o
Cyst/o
Thromb/o
MEANING
gland
joint
life
cancer
head
cerebrum
Urinary
bladder
clotting
MEDICAL
TERM
adenoma
arthritis
biology
carcinoma
Cephalic
cerebral
Cystoscope
thrombocyte
CYSTOSCOPE
What is the meaning of these
words
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Aden/oma
Arthritis
Biopsy
Cardiology
Dermal
Cytology
Cystoscope
Cerebral
Cephalic
adenitis