Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unit 1 Word-Building System: Introduction to Word Parts

Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Unit 1

Word-Building System: Introduction to Word Parts


Word Parts

1. Word root– Foundation of medical terms

– Provides basic meaning

– Examples:• gastr = stomach

• therm = heat

• micr = small


Word Parts

2. Combining form– Word root + a vowel

– Use when next part of word starts with consonant

– Examples:• gastr/o = gastr/o/scope

• therm/o = therm/o/meter

• micr/o = micr/o/film


Word Parts

• Building words from word parts:


Word Parts

3. Suffix– Word ending that adds to meaning of word root or

combining form

– Examples:• -ic

– gastr/ic = pertaining to stomach

• -ectomy– gastr/ectomy = surgical removal of stomach

• -scope– gastr/o/scope = instrument for viewing interior of stomach


Word Parts

• Building words from word parts:


Word Parts

4. Prefix– Word part in front of word root or combining form that

changes meaning of word

– Examples:• epi-

– epi/gastric = on or over stomach

• endo-– endo/gastric = within stomach

• sub-– sub/gastric = under stomach


Word-Building Rules

• Word root rule– Use when joining word root to another word root or suffix

that begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u, or y)

– Examples:• ot = ear and -algia = pain

– ot/algia = ear pain

• arthr = joint and -itis = inflammation– arthr/itis = inflammation of joint


Word-Building Rules

• Combining form rule– Use when joining word root to another word root or suffix

that begins with a consonant

– Examples:• -megaly = large

– gastr/o/megaly = large stomach

• -scope = instrument for viewing– micr/o/scope = instrument for viewing small objects


Combining Forms


Compound Words

• Combination of whole words or combining form + whole word– Examples:

• therm/o + meter = therm/o/meter

• neur/o + spasm = neur/o/spasm

• micr/o + surgery = micr/o/surgery

• chicken + pox = chicken/pox


Compound Words


Compound Words

• Compound words with hydro-– Examples:

• hydr/o = water

• hydr/o/phobia = fear of water

• hydr/o/cele = water-filled saclike cavity

• hydr/o/therapy = treatment using water


Noun Suffixes

• Using suffixes to indicate nouns– Noun

• Names a person, place, thing, body part, instrument, or procedure

• E.g., doctor, hospital, liver, stethoscope, surgery


Noun Suffixes

• -ism = condition, state or theory– E.g., Darwin/ism

• -tion = condition– E.g., contrac/tion

• -ist = specialist– E.g., psychiatr/ist


Noun Suffixes

• -er = one who– E.g., radiograph/er

• -ity = quality– E.g., sensitiv/ity

• -osis = condition– E.g., cyan/osis


Adjectival Suffixes

• Adjective– Describes or modifies noun

• E.g., chronic cough, reddened skin, triple bypass


Adjectival Suffixes

• -ous = possessing, having, or full– E.g., nerv/ous

• -able = ability– E.g., inject/able

• -ible = ability– E.g., ed/ible


Suffixes that Change Part of Speech

Noun Adjectiveanem/ia = condition of lacking blood

anem/ic = having anemia

eme/sis = action of vomiting eme/tic = causing vomiting

arthr/itis = inflammation of joint

arthr/itic = having arthritis





• Noun– muc/us = water secretion

• Adjective– muc/ous = refers to nature of mucus


Suffixes that Change Verb Tense

• Verb– Represents action or state of being

– Examples:• Present tense = help, treat, or operate

• Present participle = helping, treating, or operating

• Past tense = helped, treated, or operated

• Future tense = will help, will treat, or will operate


Suffixes that Indicate Singular and Plural

Singular Plural-on -a

-ma -mata

-sis -ses

-nx -ges

-a -ae

-us -i



Singular Plural-um -a

-is -es

-ex -ices

-ix -ices

-ax -aces



Singular Pluralvertebra vertebrae

bacterium bacteria

bronchus bronchi

appendix appendices

carcinoma carcinomata

spermatozoon spermatozoa


Word-Order Rules

• Rule 1– Definitions indicate last part of word first

– E.g., gastr/itis = inflammation of stomach• -itis = inflammation

• gastr = (of the) stomach


Word-Order Rules

• Rule 2– When body systems involved, build words in order organs

are studied


Word-Order Rules

• Rule 2– E.g., gastr/o/enter/itis = inflammation of stomach and

small intestine• -itis = inflammation

• gastr/o = stomach

• enter = small intestine


Word-Order Rules

• Rule 3– Body parts come first with condition or procedure as

ending

– Examples:• dermat/o/mycosis = fungal condition of skin

• cyst/o/scopy = process of examining urinary bladder with scope


Enlarged

• megal/o = combining form

• -megaly = suffix

• acr/o = extremities– Arms and legs


Enlarged

• Examples:– megal/o/cardia = enlarged heart

– acr/o/megaly = enlargement of extremities


Skin

• dermat/o = skin

• dermat/o/logy = study of skin

• dermat/o/logist = one who studies and treats skin


Skin

• dermat/osis = any skin condition

• dermat/itis = inflammation of skin

• acr/o/dermat/itis = inflammation of skin of extremities


Animation

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Documents

Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unit 1 Word-Building System: Introduction to Word Parts