Medical Terminology: Understanding Word Roots, Combining Forms, Suffixes, and Prefixes - P, Study notes of Biology

Download Medical Terminology: Understanding Word Roots, Combining Forms, Suffixes, and Prefixes - P and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! HUEC 2110 Medical Terminology: Terms and Rules 1. Word root: the foundation of a word. Example: trans/port, ex/port, im/port all have port as their word root a. Word roots can be words themselves. Example: chicken + pox = chickenpox Chicken = word root Pox = word root Chickenpox = compound word (2 word roots used) 2. Combining form: is a word root plus a vowel Example: micr + o = micr/o (combining form) Micr is the word root a. Purpose of the vowel (a, e, i, o, u, or y): 1. Allows two or more word roots to be joined to form a compound word. Compound words: formed when 2 or more word roots are used to build the word. 2. Allows a word root to be joined with a suffix (ending of a word) to form a word. 3. Assists by making the term easier to pronounce b. Usually use a combining form when joining a word root to a suffix (ending) or to the word root that begins with a consonant. Example: gastr/o + duoden/o + scopy = gastroduodenoscopy Gastr/o = combining form Duoden/o = combining form -scopy = suffix gastroduodenscopy = compound word (2 word roots used) Example: dermat + itis = dermatitis Dermat = word root (not in combining form because of suffix) -itis = suffix (begins with a vowel) dermatitis = word 3. Compound Words: formed when 2 or more word roots are used to build the word. a. Can also be formed from a combining form and a whole word. Example: therm/o/meter Therm/o= combining form Meter= whole word 4. Suffix: the word part that comes last, follows the word root Example: micr/o/scop/ic Micr/o = combining form Scop = word root -ic = suffix a. When defining a term, the suffix is usually described first in the definition. Example: -ic= pertaining to Electric= pertaining to electricity -itis= inflammation cystitis= inflammation of the bladder -er= one who one which Porter= one who carries A medical practioner is _________________ practices medicine. b. Suffixes also may change the part of speech of a word. Nouns can be changed to adjectives. Nouns (examples) Suffix (nouns) Adjective (examples) Suffix (adjectives) Cyanosis -osis Cyanotic -otic Anemia -ia Anemic -ic Mucus -us Mucous -ous Ilium -um Iliac -ac Carpus -us Carpal -al Other Suffixes Noun Suffixes and meanings Examples -ism = condition, state, or theory Hyperthyroidism: condition or state of too much secretion by the thyroid gland -tion = condition Contraction, relaxation -ist = specialist Psychiatrist -er= one who Photographer -ity= quality Sensitivity: the quality of nervous tissue excitability related to receiving stimuli Adjective Suffixes Examples -ous= possessing, having, full of Nervous, mucous -able -ible = ability Injectable edible 5. Prefix: a word part that goes in front of a word root and can change the meaning its meaning. Example: im + plant Im- = prefix Plant = word root 3 Rules for Medical Terminology and defining words. See handout. Rule I: definitions usually indicate the last part of the word first. Rule II: words are usually built according to the order that the organs are studied. Rule III: the body part usually comes first and the condition or procedure is the ending. Hypo- Below or less than normal Tachy- Fast or rapid Dys- Difficult or poor a- and an- Without or lack of Peri Around or near Dys- Painful, diseased, bad or difficult Supra above Micro- Small Ad Toward Macro- Large Hydro Water or fluid or watery fluid Neo- New Hidro- Sweat Poly- Many, too much or frequent Suffix Meaning Suffix Meaning -ism State, condition -tic Condition of, status (adjective) -tion Condition -tome Cutting instrument -ist Specialist -tomy To cut into -er One who -ectomy To cut out -ity Quality -ostomy To form a new opening (surgical) -ous Possessing, having, full of -pathy Disease -able -ible Ability -cyte Cell -logy Study of -blast Embryonic or immature cell -itis Inflammation -emia Blood condition -megaly Enlarged -penia Deficiency in number -osis Condition, status or characterizes a condition by increase in number -algia Pain Note: begins with a vowel so do not need the combining form -trophy Nourishment or development -uria Urine or urination -oma Tumor -lysis Breakdown or destruction -plasty Surgical repair -bic Life -plasia Development or formation -plegia Paralysis -ectasia Stretching or dilation -scopy Examination or inspection -rrhagia Hemorrhage or “bursting forth” of blood -pnea Breathing -lysis destruction -ic Pertaining to -ia Noun suffix for “condition” bradyphagia Abbreviations GI= gastrointestinal RBC= red blood cell (count) WBC= White blood cell (count) CV= cardiovascular BP= blood pressure mmHg= millimeters of mercury (pressure) CXR= chest x-ray Fx= fracture DM= Diabetes Mellitus FAS= Fetal Alcohol Syndrome SOB= short of breath T, temp = temperature Mg= milligram M= male F= female BM= bowel movement PO= by mouth (Latin: per os) NPO= nothing by mouth GERD= gastroesophageal reflux disease MI= myocardial infarction PT= physical therapy BK= below the knee AK= above the knee AE= above the elbow ADL= activities of daily living Dx= diagnosis Hx= history Rx= prescription, prescribe Tx= treatment 2 h pp= 2 hours postprandial (after meal) FBS= fasting blood sugar HTN= hypertension CHD= Coronary Heart Disease WNL= Within normal limits