Transcript Basic Elements of Medical Word NMHS

Basic Elements of a
Medical Word
Word Roots


Most word roots are derived from Greek or
Latin
Two different roots can have the same meaning:
ECG/EKG
 Cardia = Heart (Latin)
 Kardio = Heart (Greek)

Word Roots



Impossible to memorize all medical words
Memorize the word parts and the whole word can
be deciphered
Exp: Gastritis = inflammation of the stomach
Gastr/o = stomach
 -itis = inflammation


Exp: Gastrocnemius
Gastr/o = belly (Greek)
 Muscle “bellied out” so gastro was used to describe it

Parts of Medical Word
 Root
 Prefix
 Suffix
 Combining
Form
Gastr +
o
+ -megaly
(root)
(combining form)
(suffix)
 Gastromegaly: enlargement of the stomach

Word Root
 Gives
basic meaning of term
 Each medical term contains one or more
roots
 Usually indicate a body part
 Oste/o
+
arthr
+ -itis
(bone)
(joint)
(inflam)
 Osteoarthritis: inflam of bone & joint
Prefix


A word part added before a root to modify its
meaning
Many medical terms do not have a prefix
 An-
+ esthes + -ia
(without, not)
(feeling)
(condition)
 Anesthesia:
Condition of not feeling
Suffix


A word part added to end of root to modify its
meaning
Most medical terms have a suffix
Hepat +
-itis = Hepatitis - Inflam of liver
(word root)
(suffix) (med word) (meaning)

Combining Vowel
 Usually
an “o” that is used between
word parts to ease pronunciation
 Sometimes ‘e’ or ‘i’ may be used
 Creates
a ‘combining form’:
 Therm/o
 Therm/o/meter
Guidelines for Combining Vowel
If
a suffix begins with a vowel,
only use word root, not the
combining form
Example
Gastr/
+ -itis =
(root) + (suffix)
Not = gastroitis
gastritis
Guidelines for Combining Vowel
If suffix begins with a consonant,
use combining vowel:

Example:
Therm/
+ o + -meter = Therm/o/meter
(root) (comb vowel) (suffix)
Not = Thermmeter
Guidelines for Combining Vowel
 To
link two root words, always use a
combining vowel
 Even
if the 2nd root begins with a vowel
 Example:
Gast/ + o + enter/ + -itis = gastr/o/enter/itis
(stomach)
(intestine) (inflam)

Guidelines for Combining Vowel
 Never
use a combining vowel after a
prefix, even if root begins w/ a
consonant
 Example:
 Post/
+ rhin/ + o + -plasty
(NO ‘o’ here)
Steps to Define Medical Word
1.
2.
3.
Define the suffix
Then, define the prefix (if one is
used)
Last, define the middle part (root)
of word
Sub/gastr/algia
sub- + gastr/ +
(under) (stomach)
-algia
(pain)
prefix
root
suffix
2
3
1
Trans/cardi/o/pulmon/itis
trans- + cardi/o + pulmon/ + -itis
(across) (heart)
(lungs) (inflam.)
prefix
root
root
suffix
2
3
4
1
Peri/oste/o/arthr/o/megaly
peri- + oste/o + arthr/o + -megaly
(around)
prefix
2
(bone)
root
(joints)
root
(enlargement)
suffix
3
4
1