Basic Word Structure
Medical terms can be divided into two to four parts. Even if a word is unfamiliar to, you figure out the meaning by knowing what each part mean.
Important Elements of Medical Terms
Root: Foundation of the Term
Suffix: Word Ending
Prefix: Word Beginning
Combining Vowel: Vowel (Usually O) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root.
How to Read Medical Terms
You should read medical terms starting from the suffix and returning to the beginning of the word.
EPI|GASTR|IC
EPI: Prefix Meaning “Above”
GASTR: Root Meaning “Stomach”
IC: Suffix Meaning “Pertaining To”
Medical Terminology Rules for Combining Vowels
Drop the Combining Vowel before a Suffix that Begins with a Vowel.
Root: GASTR/O
Suffix: ITIS
Keep the Combining Vowel Between two Roots, Even if Second Root Begins with a Vowel.
Root: GASTR/O
Root #2: ENTER/O
Suffix: LOGY
Combining Forms with Medical Terminology
A combining form is the combination of a root with a combining vowel.
Example: ARTHR/O “ARTHR” is the root, and the “O” is the combining vowel. “O” is the most frequently used combining vowel.
Combining Forms
ADEN/O: GLAND
ARTHR/O: JOINT
BI/O: LIFE
CARCIN/O: CANCEROUS, CANCER
CARDI/O: HEART
CEPHAL/O: HEAD
CEREBR/O: CEREBRUM
CIS/O: TO CUT
CRIN/O: TO SECRETE, TO FORM, TO GIVE OFF
CYT/O: CELL
ADEN/O: GLAND
DERM/O: SKIN
DERMAT/O: SKIN
ENCEPHAL/O: BRAIN
ENTER/O: INTESTINES (USUALLY THE SMALL INTESTINE)
ERYTHR/O: RED
GASTR/O: STOMACH
GNOS/O: KNOWLEDGE
GYNEC/O: WOMAN, FEMALE
HEMAT/O: BLOOD
HEPAT/O: LIVER
LATR/O: TREATMENT< PHYSICIAN
LEUK/O: WHITE
LOG/O: STUDY OF
NEPHR/O: KIDNEY
NEUR/O: NERVE
ONC/O: TUMOR
OPHTHALM/O: EYE
OSTE/O: BONE
PATH/O: DISEASE
PED/O: CHILD
PSYCHO/O: MIND
RADI/O: X-RAYS
REN/O: KIDNEY
RHIN/O: NOSE
SARC/O: FLESH
SECT/O: TO CUT
THROMBO/O: CLOT, CLOTTING
UR/O: URNINARY TRACT, URINE
This was a Basic Medial Terminology Introductory Lesson
This was a quick glimpse into helping you identify roots, suffixes, prefixes, combining vowels, and combining forms that make up medical terms.