Medical Terminology: Basic Word Structure

Medical Terminology: Basic Word Structure This tutorial has some nice use of audio, and the assessment is done well. The screen design is not so good, and the font is too large throughout. The use of cheesy clip art cost points. Overall it looks too much like a presentation. Designed by xxxxxxxxx Click here to move to the next screen

Directions for Using This Tutorial Use your mouse to click on the buttons at the bottom of each screen to perform the following actions:

Objectives After completion of this tutorial, the learner will be able to: • relate the study of medical terms to the study of a foreign language • list all the possible component parts of a medical term, including the root, combining vowel, prefix, and suffix. • build medical terms with a variety of component parts by following the rules for forming and spelling medical terms. • define medical terms by analyzing their component parts.

The Language of Medicine Studying medical terminology is very similar to learning a new language. This is because most medical terms stem from Greek or Latin origins. Other languages, such as German and French, have also influenced medical terminology. caries (bone or tooth decay) = Latin for "rottenness" cardiogram (tracing of the heart's activity) = Greek for "heart drawing" curettage (removal of growths) = French for "scraping"

The Components of Medical Terms Medical terms are like individual jigsaw puzzles. They are constructed from small pieces (prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes) that make each term unique. Once you understand the basic medical term structure and how these components fit together, you will be able to “build” almost any medical term.

Start with the ROOT of the term The root is the foundation of the medical term. All medical terms have one or more roots. Examples of medical term roots are: lipwhich means “fat” hematwhich means “blood” cardiwhich means “heart” gastrwhich means “stomach”

…Add the combining VOWEL The combining vowel (usually o) is used to link the root to the suffix or the root to another root. The combining vowel has no meaning of its own. When a vowel is linked to a root, this combination is called a combining form. lip + o = lipo= the combining form of “fat” When the suffix begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is dropped. lip + f + oid= lipoid (“resembling fat”)

…Now add the SUFFIX The suffix is the term ending. All medical terms have a suffix. Examples of medical term suffixes are: –emiawhich means “blood condition” –itiswhich means “inflammation” –logywhich means “study of” –icwhich means “pertaining to”

…And sometimes a PREFIX The prefix is a small part that is attached to the beginning of a term. Not all medical terms contain prefixes, but if present, the prefix can have an important influence on the meaning of the term. Examples of medical term prefixes are: hyper-which means “above or excessive” peri-which means “around or surrounding” epi-which means “upon, above, or beside” endo-which means “within”

Put all the pieces together and…. You’ve got a medical term!

Test Your Knowledge Studying medical terminology is like learning a new ____ language dance step math skill sport Which of the following is not a medical term component? root suffix consonant combining vowel a a b b c c d d

Test Your Knowledge (again) The ___ is the foundation of the medical term. suffix root prefix vowel The root plus vowel combination is called the ___ prefix suffix medical term combining form a a b b c c d d

Summary of Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms a. A combining vowel is used to join root to root as well as root to any suffix beginning with a consonant: electr + o + cardi + o + gram = root + vowel + root + vowel + suffix electrocardiogram (electrical record of the heart) b. A combining vowel is not used before a suffix that begins with a vowel: vas + f + ectomy = root + no vowel + suffix beginning with a vowel vasectomy (excision of a vessel)

Summary of Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms (continued) c. If the root ends in a vowel and the suffix begins with the same vowel, drop the final vowel from the root and do not use a combining vowel: carditis (inflammation of the heart) cardi + f + itis = root ending in i + no vowel + suffix beginning with i d. Usually, a combining vowel is inserted between two roots even when the second root begins with a vowel: cardioesophageal(pertaining to the heart and esophagus) cardi + o + esophag + f + eal = root ending with i + vowel + root beginning with e + no vowel + suffix beginning with e

Summary of Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms (continued) e. Occasionally, when a prefix ends in a vowel and the root begins with a vowel, the final vowel is dropped from the prefix: parenteral(pertaining to alongside of the intestine) para + enter + f + al = prefix ending in a + root beginning with e + no vowel + suffix beginning with a

Quiz: Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms A ___ is not used before a suffix that begins with a vowel. prefix combining vowel root consonant If the root ends in a vowel and the suffix begins with the same vowel, ___ the final vowel from the root change add drop double a a b b c c d d

Quiz 2: Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms A combining vowel is almost always inserted between two ___ roots prefixes suffixes combining forms Occasionally, when a ___ ends in a vowel and the root begins with a vowel, the final vowel is dropped. suffix root combining form prefix a a b b c c d d

Defining Medical Terms You can usually define a term by interpreting the suffix first, then the prefix (if present), then the succeeding root or roots. For example: = hyperlipemia medical term blood condition of excessive fat

You Gotta Have Heart… The following are examples and definitions of the various medical terms that can be formed using the root “cardi” (heart):

Medical Term/Definition Matching See if you can pick the correct definition for the following terms: pericarditis epigastric hematology endoabdominal the study of blood pertaining to the interior of the abdomen inflammation surrounding the heart pertaining to the area above the stomach

How did you do? Here are the correct term-definition matches: inflammation surrounding the heart pertaining to the area above the stomach the study of blood pertaining to the interior of the abdomen pericarditis epigastric hematology endoabdominal

Summary • The important components of medical terms are: • Root: foundation of the term • Suffix: word ending • Prefix: word beginning • Combining vowel: vowel that links the root to the suffix of the root to another root. • Combining form: combination of the root and the combining vowel. • Remember these three rules for forming and defining medical terms: • Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning and then across. • Drop the combining vowel before a suffix beginning with a vowel (ex. gastritis, not gastroitis). • Keep the combining vowel between two roots (ex. gastroenterology). End Show

Medical Terminology: Basic Word Structure