Anatomy of medical terms• Anatomy of a Medical Term• Many medical terms are composed of word part combinations.• Recognizing these word parts and their meanings simplifies learning medical

terminology. These word parts are as follows:• ■ prefix: word part found at the beginning of a word. Usually

indicates number, location, time, or status.• ■ root: word part that gives the essential meaning of the

word.• ■ combining vowel: single vowel, usually an o, that is added

to the end of a root to make the word easier to pronounce.• ■ combining form: combination of the root and combining

vowel.• ■ suffix: word part found at the end of a word. Usually

indicates procedure, condition, disease, or disorder.

The combining form• The combining form is a word root plus a combining vowel.• Combining forms usually describe a part of the body. New

words are created when combining forms are added to prefi xes,other combining forms, and suffixes. For example, the termpanleukopenia is composed of the following word parts:

■ pan- (pahn), a prefix meaning all ■ leuk/o (loo-kō), a combining form meaning white ■ -penia (pē-nē-ah), a suffix meaning deficiency or reduction

in numberPanleukopenia is a deficiency of all types of white bloodcells.

suffixes• Suffixes are attached to the end of a word part to modify its

meaning. For example, the combining form gastr/o means• stomach and can be modified using various suffixes.• ■ The suffix -tomy means cutting into or incision.• Gastrotomy is incision into the stomach.• ■ The suffix -stomy means a surgically created opening.• Gastrostomy is a surgically created opening between

the stomach and the body surface.• ■ The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal or excision.• Gastrectomy is surgical removal of the stomach.

Suffixes• “Pertaining To” Suffixes• ■ -ac (ahck), as in cardiac (pertaining to the heart).• ■ -al (ahl), as in renal (pertaining to the kidney).• ■ -an (ahn), as in ovarian (pertaining to the ovary).• ■ -ar (ahr), as in lumbar (pertaining to the loin, lower back).• ■ -ary (ahr-ē), as in alimentary (pertaining to the• gastrointestinal tract).• ■ -eal (ē-ahl), as in laryngeal (pertaining to the larynx).• ■ -ic (ihck), as in enteric (pertaining to the intestines).• ■ -ine (ihn), as in uterine (pertaining to the uterus).• ■ -ous (uhs), as in cutaneous (pertaining to the skin).• ■ -tic (tihck), as in nephrotic (pertaining to the• kidneys).

Suffixes• Surgical Suffixes• ■ -ectomy (ehck-tō-mē) = surgical removal, as in• mastectomy, surgical removal of the breast or mammary glands.• ■ -pexy (pehck-sē) = suture to stabilize, as in gastropexy,• surgically stabilizing the stomach to the abdominal wall.• ■ -plasty (plahs-tē) = surgical repair, as in rhinoplasty,• surgical repair of the nose.• ■ -stomy (stō-mē) = surgically created opening, as in• colostomy, a surgically created opening between the• colon and body surface.• ■ -tomy (tō-mē) = cutting into, as in laparotomy, an• incision into the abdomen.

Suffixes• Procedural Suffi xes• ■ -centesis (sehn-tē-sihs) = surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas (for diagnosis or for

treatment to remove excess fluid or gas), as in cystocentesis, a surgical puncture of the urinary bladder with a needle to remove fluid (urine).

• ■ -gram (grahm) = record of, as in electrocardiogram, the electrocardiographic hard copy record.

• ■ -graph (grahf) = instrument that records (or used as a record), as in electrocardiograph, the machine that records the electrical activity of the heart.

• ■ -graphy (grahf-ē) = procedure that records, as in electrocardiography, the procedure used to record the electrical activity of the heart.

• ■ -lysis (lī-sihs) = separation or breakdown, as in urinalysis, separation of the urine into its constituents.

• ■ -scope (skōp) = instrument to visually examine, as in endoscope, an instrument used to visually examine inside the body.

• ■ -scopy (skōp-ē) = procedure to visually examine, as in endoscopy, the procedure of visually examining insidethe body.

• ■ -therapy (thehr-ah-pē) = treatment, as in chemotherapy, treatment with chemical substances or drugs.

Suffixes• Double R Suffixes• ■ -rrhagia or -rrhage (rā-jē-ah or rihdj) = bursting forth,

as in hemorrhage, bursting forth of blood from the vessels.

• ■ -rrhaphy (rahf-ē) = to suture, as in enterorrhaphy,• suturing of the intestines.• ■ -rrhea (rē-ah) = flow, discharge, as in diarrhea,• complete discharge of the bowels.• ■ -rrhexis (rehck-sihs) = rupture, as in myorrhexis,• rupture of the muscle.

Conditional and Structural Suffixes

• ■ -algia and -dynia (ahl-jē-ah and dihn-ē-ah) = pain, as in arthralgia and arthrodynia, or joint pain.

• ■ -itis (ī-tihs) = inflammation, as in hepatitis, inflammation of the liver.

• ■ -malacia (mah-lā-shē-ah) = abnormal softening, as in osteomalacia, abnormal softening of bone.

• ■ -megaly (mehg-ah-lē) = enlargement, as in cardiomegaly, enlargement of the heart.

Conditional and Structural Suffixes

• ■ -osis (ō-sihs) = abnormal condition, as in cardiosis, anabnormal condition of the heart.

• ■ -pathy (pahth-ē) = disease, as in enteropathy, a diseaseof the small intestine.

• ■ -sclerosis (skleh-rō-sihs) = abnormal hardening, as inarteriosclerosis, abnormal hardening of the arteries.

• ■ -um (uhm) = structure, as in pericardium, the structuresurrounding the heart.

Suffixes• Suffixes may change a word’s part of speech. Different suffixes

may change the word from a noun (naming people, places, orthings) to an adjective (descriptor).

• ■ Cyanosis is a noun meaning condition of blue discoloration,whereas cyanotic is an adjective meaning pertainingto blue discoloration.

• ■ Anemia is a noun meaning a blood condition of deficientred blood cells and/or hemoglobin, whereas anemic isan adjective meaning pertaining to a blood condition ofdeficient red blood cells and/or hemoglobin.

Suffixes• ■ Mucus is a noun meaning a slimelike substance that is composed

of glandular secretion, salts, cells, and leukocytes, whereas mucous is an adjective meaning pertaining to mucus.

• ■ Ilium is a noun meaning a part of the hip, whereas iliac is an adjective meaning pertaining to the hip.

• ■ Condyle is a noun meaning a rounded projection on a bone, whereas condylar is an adjective meaning pertaining to a rounded projection on a bone.

• ■ Carpus is a noun meaning the joint between the radiusand ulna and metacarpal bones, whereas carpal is anadjective meaning pertaining to the joint between theradius and ulna and metacarpal bones.

Pronunciation Guide

• Vowel Sound Example• “a” at the end of a word ah idea• “ae” followed by r or s ah aerobic• “i” at the end of a word ī bronchi• “oe” eh oestrogen “oi” oy sarcoid• “eu” - u euthanasia• “ei” ī Einstein• “ai” ay air• “au” aw auditory

Consonant pronunciation

• Consonant Sound Example• “c” before e, i, and y s cecum• “c” before a, o, and u k cancer• “g” before e, i, and y j genetic• “g” before a, o, and u g gall• “ps” at beginning of word s psychology• “pn” at beginning of word n pneumonia• “c” at end of word k anemic• “cc” followed by i or y first c = k, accident

secondc = s

Consonant pronunciation• “ch” at beginning of word k chemistry• “cn” in middle of word both c (pronounce k

and n (pronounce ehn) gastrocnemius

• “mn” in middle of word both m and n amnesia• “pt” at beginning of word t pterodactyl• “pt” in middle of word both p and t optical• “rh” r rhinoceros• “x” at beginning of word z xylophone

xenograph

Multiple Choice• 1. The prefix __________ means away from.

a. Adb. abc. exd. endo-

• 2. The suffix __________ means an instrument to visually examine.a. -ectomyb. -scopec. -scopyd. -graphy

• 3. The prefix _________ means elevated, while the prefix__________ means depressed.a. pre-, postb.endo-, exoc.hyper-, hypod.inter-, intra-

Multiple Choice• 4. The suffix __________ means pertaining to.

a. -alb. -ary or -arc. -icd. all of the above

• 5. The suffix __________ means incision.a. -exb. -tomyc. -ectomyd. -graphy

• 6. The suffix __________ means abnormal condition.a. -osisb. -rrheac. -rrhagiad. -uria

• 17. Which word association is incorrect?a. inter- means betweenb. sub- means below, under, or lessc. an- means without or nod. ad- means away from

• 8. The prefix __________ means below.a. Suprab.superc.inter

d.sub-

• 9. The prefix(es) __________ mean(s) many.a. oligb. a-, anc.polyd.eu-

• 10. The prefix(es) __________ mean(s) without or no.a. a-, anb. oligc. Dysd. hyper-

• 11. Th e suffix -algia meansa. painb. excessivec. liverd. abnormal condition

• 12. The prefix pre- meansa. afterb. aroundc. befored. during

• 13. Which suffix may be part of the term meaning a procedureto visually examine?a. -lysisb. -scopyc. -rrhexisd. -scope

• 14. Which type of word part is always placed at the end of a term?a. combining formb. prefixc. suffixd. root

• Matching• Match the word parts in Column I with the definition in Column II.• Column I Column II• 1. _____________ -itis a. incision or cutting into• 2. _____________ -gram b. before• 3. _____________ post- c. surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas• 4. _____________ -tomy d. difficult, painful, or bad• 5. _____________ pre- e. enlargement• 6. _____________ -centesis f. excision or surgical removal• 7. _____________ -therapy g. liver• 8. _____________ dys- h. kidney• 9. _____________ peri- i. infl ammation• 10. _____________ ren/o j. record• 11. _____________ hepat/o k. after• 12. _____________ -megaly l. treatment• 13. _____________ -ectomy m. around

• Fill in the Blanks• Write the medical terms that represent the following defi nitions.• 1. Pertaining to the stomach __________________• 2. Inflammation of the liver __________________• 3. Abnormal softening of bone __________________• 4. Joint pain __________________• 5. Procedure to visually examine inside the body __________________• 6. Heart enlargement __________________• 7. Pertaining to the kidney __________________• 8. Bursting forth of blood from vessels __________________• 9. Suturing of stomach to body wall __________________• 10. Treatment with chemicals or drugs __________________

• Spell Check• Cross out any misspelled words in the following sentences and replace them with

the proper spelling.• 1. Thick mucous was evident in the cat with upper respiratory disease.

__________________________________• 2. Urine was collected via cistocentesis so that the urinanalysis could be performed

to determine whether the dog had a urinary tract• infection.

____________________________________________________________________• 3. The horse’s diarhea was caused by intestinal parasites.

____________________________________________• 4. The cutaneus lesion was not cancerous.

____________________________________________________• 5. A local anestetic was used so that the surgery could be performed on the cow.

_____________________________

• Underline the root in following terms• 1. hepat/itis• 2. gastr/o/intestin/al• 3. cardi/o/logy• 4. intra/ven/ous• 5. nephr/osis

• Underline the suffix in following terms• 6. hepat/itis• 7. gastr/o/intestin/al• 8. cardi/o/logy• 9. intra/ven/ous• 10. nephr/osis

• Underline the prefix in the following terms.• 11. hyper/secretion• 12. peri/card/itis• 13. endo/cardi/um• 14. poly/uria• 15. ur/o/lith