Medical Terminology: Chapter 1

The rule to help you decide to use the combining vowel

The combining vowel is used before suffixes that begin with a consonant and before another word root. In other words, drop the combining vowel if the suffix also begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o or u)

a combining form =

a word root + a combining vowel

aden/o

combining form

Watch for this clue to tell you the origin of the words

(D) German (Deutsch) (G) Greek (I) Italian (L) Latin

Why is correct spelling of medical terminology words essential?

Because a misspelled word may have a totally different meaning.

note

Occasionally a word is composed of only a prefix and suffix

Quick Tip

Prefixes precede (come before) combining form

Word Building Rules

The combining vowel is usually retained between two combining forms. The combining vowel is usually retained when a combining form is joined with a suffix that begins with a consonant. The combining vowel is usually omitted when a combining form is joined with a suffix that begins with a vowel. Most prefixes require no change when they are joined with other word parts.

Plurals

are formed using rules you may already know such as adding an S to the singular term S,CH, or SH add -es

Eponyms

are names for diseases, organs, procedures, or body functions that are derived from the name of a person are usually capitalized

Acronyms

are pronounceable names made up of a series of letters or parts of words (CABG)

Abbreviations

are shortened forms of written words or phrases that are used in place of the whole word Include the following: letters shortened words and acronyms (CABG)

word parts

are word roots, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes

carcin/o

combining form

chol/e

combining form

or/o

combining form

combining vowel

is a vowel, usually O, is often inserted between word roots to make the word easier to pronounce

suffix

is placed at the end of a word or word root to modify it's meaning joined to combining forms to write nouns, adjectives, and verbs is usually preceded by a hyphen (-cyte)

prefix

is placed before a word to modify it's meaning; usually followed by a hyphen (anti-)

word root

is the main body of a word: are the building blocks for most medical terms

Pharmacology

is the study of the preparation, properties, uses, and actions of drugs.

Pronunciation

of most medical terms follows the same rules that govern the pronunciation of all English words

Medicines

pharmaceuticals

lith

word root

psych

word root

Be careful with these

Drop combining vowels if the suffix begins with a vowel. Singular words that end in UM or ON become A when plural. Words that have the plural ending AE use A for the singular form.