Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction

1. 1 Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction

2. Learning Objectives • Use the technique of programmed learning and frames. • Apply the phonetic pronunciation guides that are used in frames. • Recognize that medical terminology has both constructed and nonconstructed terms.

3. Learning Objectives (cont.) • Identify each of the three word parts (word roots, prefixes, and suffixes) used to construct medical terms. • Identify the function of a combining vowel that is added to a word root to form a combining form. • Recognize that many medical terms are constructed from word parts and can be deconstructed into their word parts.

4. The Programmed Learning Approach • Programmed learning • Missing word is provided in the frame in the left margin. • Each frame consists of a block of information, with the blank in the box on the right side of the page.

5. The Programmed Learning Approach (cont.) • Write the missing word in the blank as you proceed from frame to frame. • Work without looking at the answer first, to make each frame a challenge. • Always check your answer before moving to the next frame, making sure the spelling is correct.

6. The Programmed Learning Approach (cont.) • Pronunciation • Syllable Emphasis • Use the website for pronunciation

7. Constructed andNonconstructed Terms • Constructed medical terms • Learning constructed medical terms • Deciphering constructed words

8. Constructed andNonconstructed Terms (cont.) • Examples of constructed terms: • Pathology (path/o – disease) + (-logy – study of) • Tonsillectomy (tonsill/o – tonsil) + (-ectomy – surgical excision, removal) • Neonatologist (neo – new) + (nat/o – birth) + (-logist – one who studies)

9. Terms (cont.) • Nonconstructed terms • Include eponyms, terms derived from other languages, acronyms, and abbreviations. • Nonconstructed words must be memorized.

10. Constructed andNonconstructed Terms • Examples of nonconstructed terms: • Impetigo • Coma • Cushing syndrome

11. Figure 1.1Medical terms are either constructed words or words you must memorize.

12. The Word Parts • There are three primary types of word parts: prefixes, word roots, and suffixes. • Prefix • Word root • Suffix

13. Figure 1.2 Most medical terms are formed by assembling word parts.

14. The Word Parts (cont.) • Not every medical term has all three word parts. • Many medical terms have more than one word root. • Some medical terms are made simply of a prefix and a suffix. • A fourth word element is the combining vowel.

15. Figure 1.3The human body, with many of the common combining forms.

16. The Word Parts (cont.) • Combining form • The most common combining vowel is the letter o. • Use the combining vowel properly. • Combining vowel connects word root with a suffix that begins with a consonant. • Some constructed medical terms use combining vowels to unite two word roots.

17. Forming Words from Word Parts (cont.) • A prefix usually requires no change when another word part unites with it to form a new term.

18. Origin of Medical Terms • Most medical terms come from Latin and Greek. • The ancient Greeks are considered the fathers of modern medicine. • The Romans advanced medicine with their own experiments and observations and added Latin terms to the growing body of medical language.

19. Origin of Medical Terms (cont.) • Sometimes the origins of medical terms relate to history, poetry, mythology, geography, physical objects, and ideas. Figure 1.4 The Greek father of medicine, Hippocrates, who originated many medical terms. Source: Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.

20. Word Parts: Prefixes • anti- • brady- • endo- • epi- • neo- • pre-

21. Word Parts: Word Root / Combining Vowel • append/o, appendic/o • bi/o • cardi/o • cerebr/o • dermat/o dermat/o = skin -logy = study of dermatology

22. Word Parts: Word Root / Combining Vowel (cont.) • electr/o • encephal/o • gastr/o • hem/o • hepat/o

23. Word Parts: Word Root / Combining Vowel (cont.) • hyster/o • laryng/o • leuk/o • mamm/o • mast/o

24. Word Parts: Word Root / Combining Vowel (cont.) • ment/o • nat/o • neur/o • path/o • proct/o neur/o = nerve -itis = inflammation neuritis

25. Word Parts: Word Root / Combining Vowel (cont.) • psych/o • rhin/o • tonsill/o • vas/o

26. Word Parts: Suffixes • -al • -ectomy • -emia • -gram • -ia

27. Word Parts: Suffixes (cont.) • -iatry • -ic • -itis • -logist • -logy

28. Word Parts: Suffixes (cont.) • -pathy • -philia • -plasty • -scope • -tic proct/o = rectum or anus -scope = instrument used for viewing proctoscope

29. Summary • Medical terms are deciphered by breaking them into word parts, then defining first the suffix, then the prefix, then the word root(s) or combining forms.

30. Summary (cont.) • Prefix • Word root or combining form • Suffix

31. Summary (cont.) • Most common combining vowel • Infrequently used combining vowels • Retaining the combining vowel • Dropping the combining vowel

32. Combining Form Quiz • bi/o a. breast • gastr/o b. liver • mast/o c. vessel • hepat/o d. life • vas/o e. stomach