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1 1st Semester 17-18 Bader A. EL Safadi BSN , MSc Medical Terminology

Islamic University of Gaza Faculty of Nursing

Analyzing the structure of words


ROOT: The root of a word can stand alone and have meaning.

Root Meaning Example

aden gland Adenitis

cardi heart Cardiology

cephal head Encephalogram

derm Skin Dermatosis

flex bending Anteflexion

gastr Stomach Gastroscopy

hydr Water Hydrophobia

my Muscle Myalgia

neur Nerve Neuritis

pnea Breath Dyspnea


Prefix: A letter or group of letters placed before a word to

Change (modify) its meaning, For example:

Prefix Meaning Example

a- without, not Apnea

Ante- before (in time or place) Ante flexion

Ante natal

Dys- bad, painful, difficult Dysfunction

Endo- Within Endocrine

Retro- behind, backward Retrograde


Suffix: • A letter or group of letters placed after a word to modify its

meaning.

• A suffix, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning.

• The element that comes before a suffix can either be a word root

or combining form , for example:

Suffix Meaning Example

-algia Pain, painful condition Neuralgia

-cele Herniation or bulging Hydrocele

-itis Inflammation Gastritis

-ology Study or science of Cardiology

-pathy Disease Myopathy


COMBINING VOWELS

• A combining form vowel is added to the end of a word

root to make resulting medical term easier to pronounce.

• The letter “o” is the most commonly used combining

vowel.

• When a word root is shown alone as a combining form, it

includes a slash (/) and the combining vowel.

• For example, in the word Adenopathy , the root is Aden, and the suffix is –pathy.

We join the root and the suffix with the combining vowel

“o” to make a complete word that can be easily

pronounced.


Rules for using combining form vowels 1. Acombining vowel “o” is used when the suffix begins with a

consonant.

For example:

• Neuroplasty (surgical repair of the nerve), the combining vowel

“o” is used because -plasty begins with a consonant.

2. Combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a vowel .

For example:

• Neuroitis (inflammation), no combining vowel is used because -

itis begins with a vowel.

3. A combining vowel is used when two or more word roots are joined.

For example:

• Gastroenteritis combines two word roots

• gastr/o (stomach) is joined with enter/o (small intestine),

• When the combining vowel is used with gastr/o. A combining vowel

is not used with enter/o because it is joining the suffix -itis, which

begins with a vowel.


COMBINING VOWELS

Prefix Root Suffix Meaning

A/pnea a -pnea Lack of breathing

Cephalalgia

Dermatology

Gastrocele

Adenopathy

Endocardium

Retroflexion


COMBINING VOWELS

Prefix Root Suffix Meaning

Cephalalgia Cephal -algia Head pain

Dermatology Dermat -ology

Study or science

of the skin

Gastrocele Gastr/o -cele

Hernia of the

stomach

Adenopathy Aden/o -pathy

Any glandular

disease

Endocardium Endo- Cardi Within the heart

Retroflexion Retro- Flex

Bending

backward


Adjective Endings

• Adjectives are words that describe nouns by

specifying size, color, number, or some quality such

as hard, soft, and so on.

• Several adjective endings occur over and over in

medical terms.

• When you see them combined with a root, you know

that the word means "having to do with" or

"pertaining to" or "resembling“ the root meaning.


Adjective Endings examples

1.-ac combined with cardi means pertaining to the heart:

Example : Cardiac arrest means a stopping of the heartbeat.

2. -al combined with oro means pertaining to the mouth;

Example : Oral hygiene means cleansing of the mouth.

3.-ary combined with pulmon means pertaining to the lungs;

Example :Pulmonary obstruction means blockage of the lungs.

4.Hypochondriac refers to the region of the

hypochondrium.


Adjective Endings examples

5. Peptic signifies that the word it modifies is related to

digestion or the digestive organs: peptic ulcer.

6. Morbid means pertaining to disease.

7. Adipose means pertaining to fat.

8. Glucose means pertaining to a specific kind of sugar.

9. Mucous means pertaining to mucus: the mucous membranes.

10.Optic means pertaining to sight or to the eye.


A guide line for word formation

When new medical terms are formed, usually, the ending of

the medical term is the first word of its meaning.

Example:

1. Appendicitis

Appendix Appendic/

Inflammation /itis

Definition: inflammation/of the appendix

2. Hysterectomy

Uterus hyster/

Excision /ectomy

Definition: excision of the uterus

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