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Basic Word Building

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IDENTIFY the three types of medical terms. EXPLAIN the differences between prefixes,

suffixes, word roots, and combining vowels. FORM combining forms. EXPLAIN how to analyze (building and

interpreting) medical terms. DESCRIBE how to pluralize medical terms. UNDERSTAND how to pronounce medical

terms.

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Surrounds us in our daily lives

Doctor's office

Talking with friends

Reading the newspaper

Listening to television

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Healthcare professions use it because:

It is an efficient method of conveying specific

and important information.

Each term has a precise meaning.

Detailed information can be shared with just a

few words.

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Built from Latin and Greek word parts

Cardiology and tonsillectomy

Eponyms - based on a person's name

Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease

Modern English words

Irritable bowel syndrome

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Gain ability and confidence through using

terms over and over.

Become a permanent part of your

professional vocabulary.

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Word Roots

Suffixes

Prefixes

Combining Vowels

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Are the foundation of most medical terms

and gives the essential of the term.

Typically refers to a body structure, organ, or

system.

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Root Meaning

Cardi- heart

Electr- electricity

Carcin- cancer

Gastr- stomach

Hepat- liver

Rhin- nose

Cephal- head

Arthr- joint

Myo- muscle

Oste- bone

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Found at the end of the medical term and supports the “root” by adding specific meaning to the term.

All medical terms must have a suffix.

They indicate conditions, diseases, surgical procedures, and diagnostic procedures.

As well as medical specialities/personnel, and converting word roots into adjectives.

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Suffix Meaning Term

-ectomy surgical removal of Gastrectomy

-itis inflammation of Arthritis

-megaly enlarged Hepatomegaly

-logy study of Cardiology

-gram a record or picture of Electrocardiogram

-pathy disease of Myopathy

See Page 13 – 19 for the different suffixes

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Found at the beginning of the term.

Help to indicate diseases, abnormal conditions directions, body positions,numbers, or times.

Modifies word root or suffix

Hypertrophy = excessive development

Dystrophy = abnormal development

Atrophy = lack of development

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Prefix Meaning Term Meaning

inter- between Intervertebral between the vertebrae

a- without Apnea without breathing

dys- abnormal, difficult, or painful

Dysuria painful urination

sub- below, underneath Subcutaneous below the skin

bi- two Bilateral two sides

post- after Postsurgical after surgery

See pg 28 - 31

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Almost always an “o” that has no meaning.

Reasons for usage To connect word parts and make medical terms

easier to spell and pronounce.

Placement Between a word root and suffix

Between two roots

Never between a prefix and word root

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Between Word Root & Suffix

If suffix begins with a vowel, combining vowel is

not necessary.

▪ Arthr + -itis = arthritis

▪ Arthroitis is not correct

If suffix begins with a consonant, use combining

vowel

▪ Rhin + -plasty = rhinoplasty

▪ Hepat + -megaly = hepatomegaly

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Between Two Word Roots

Use a combining vowel, even if the second word

root begins with a vowel

▪ Gastr + enter + -logy = gastroenterology

▪ Gastrenterology is not correct

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Consist of word root and its combining vowel.

Its not another category of word part because

it consists of two other word parts.

Standard way to write word roots because it

makes them easier to pronounce

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Don't panic when you see a new medical

term.

The meaning of individual word parts will

give you information necessary to

understand at least the basic meaning of the

term.

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Step 1 Divide the word into its

word parts

Step 2 Define each word part

Step 3 Put the meaning

together to see what the term is describing.

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Term: dysmenorrhea

Use slashes to divide the term into its word parts.

dys / men / o / rrhea

Meaning parts:

dys- = prefix meaning abnormal, painful

men = word root meaning menstruation

o = combining vowel, no meaning

-rrhea = suffix meaning flow

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How to interpret the information:

Start from the end of the word (suffix) back to the beginning (prefix) and then to your root word.

dys / men / o / rrhea

▪ abnormal or painful menstrual flow

Remember the idea is to not memorize but figuring the term out from its component parts.

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Select word parts that help convey the meaning needed.

Remember that not all possible combinations of word parts will build actual medical terms.

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