• ……/…/……
means: “ process to visually exam ine a joint”
Root combining vowel (joint))
suffix
process to visually examine)
• arthr/o/scopy
means: “ process to visually exam ine a joint”
Root combining vowel (joint))
suffix
process to visually examine)
• ………../…….. means “benign tumor of cartilage”
root “cartilage ”
suffix ”tumor ”
• chondr/oma means “benign tumor of cartilage”
root “cartilage ”
suffix ”tumor ”
• ……../o/………/…… means: “ inflammation of a rib and its cartilage”
root (rib)
root Suffix (cartilage) (inflammation of)
• Cost/o/chondr/itis means: “ inflammation of a rib and its cartilage”
root (rib)
root Suffix (cartilage) (inflammation of)
• ……./o/…… means: “ incision of the skull ”
root (skull)
Suffix (incision of)
• crani/o/tomy means: “ incision of the skull ”
root (skull)
Suffix (incision of)
• …………/……… means: “pertaining to a ligament”
root (ligament)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• ligament/ous means: “pertaining to a ligament”
root (ligament)
Suffix (pertaining to)
My/o
Myos/o
Muscul/o
muscle
muscle
muscle
myosarcoma
myositis
muscular
• ……../o/……./oma means: “ tumor (malignant) of a muscle”
root (muscle)
root Suffix (flesh) (tumor)
• my/o/sarc/oma means: “ tumor (malignant) of a muscle”
root (muscle)
root Suffix (flesh) (tumor)
• ………/……. means: “inflammation of a muscle”
root (muscle)
Suffix (inflammation of)
• myos/itis means: “inflammation of a muscle”
root (muscle)
Suffix (inflammation of)
• ………./….. means: “inflammation of a muscle”
Root Suffix (muscle) (pertaining to)
• muscul/ar means: “inflammation of a muscle”
Root Suffix (muscle) (pertaining to)
• ……/o/……/plasia means: “ abnormal function of bone marrow”
root
root
Suffix
(bone marrow) (disease, abnormal) (formation)
• myel/o/dys/plasia means: “ abnormal function of bone marrow”
root
root (bone marrow) (abnormal)
Suffix (formation)
• ……/o/myel/……. means: “ inflammation of bone and bone marrow”
root (bone)
root (bone marrow)
Suffix (inflammation)
• oste/o/myel/itis means: “ inflammation of bone and bone marrow”
root (bone)
root (bone marrow)
Suffix (inflammation)
• ……./… means: “ pertaining to the pelvis”
Root (pelvis,hipbone)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• pelv/ic means: “ pertaining to the pelvis”
Root (pelvis,hipbone)
Suffix (pertaining to)
….……../…… means: “ abnormal condition of a vertebra or vertebrae”
Root
Suffix
(vertebra) (abnormal condition)
spondyl/osis means: “ abnormal condition of a vertebra or vertebrae”
Root
Suffix
(vertebra) (abnormal condition)
• ……/……../……. means: “ pertaining to between two backbones”
prefix
root
(between)
(vertebra)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• inter/vertebr/al means: “ pertaining to between two backbones”
prefix
root
(between)
(vertebra)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• …./o/…..... means: “ suture of a tendon”
Root CV (tendon)
Suffix
(suture of)
• Ten/o/rraphy means: “ suture of a tendon”
Root CV (tendon)
Suffix
(suture of)
• …./O/…….. means “opening of the colon”
c.form “colon”
suffix ‘opening of”
• col/O/Stomy means “opening of the colon”
c.form “colon”
suffix ‘opening of”
• ……../…….. means “inflammation of a tendon”
root “tendon”
suffix ‘inflammation of”
• tendin/itis means “inflammation of a tendon”
root “tendon”
suffix ‘inflammation of”
……./…. means “opening of the colon”
Root Suffix (duodenum) (pertaining to)
duoden/al means “opening of the colon”
Root Suffix (duodenum) (pertaining to)
……../e/…. means “opening of the colon”
c. form (esophagus)
Suffix (pertaining to)
Esopheg/e/al means “opening of the colon”
c. form (esophagus)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• …../O/……. means “opening of the ileum”
c.form “ileum”
suffix ‘opening of”
• ile/O/Stomy means “opening of the ileum”
c.form “ileum”
suffix ‘opening of”
……../……./……… surgical opening between the stomach and the jejunum
Gastro/jejun/ostomy surgical opening between the stomach and the jejunum
• …./….. Means: “Pertaining to the mouth”
root (mouth)
Suffix (pertaining to)
• or/al Means: “Pertaining to the mouth”
root (mouth)
Suffix (pertaining to)
……./….. Means: “inflammation of the mouth”
root (mouth)
Suffix (inflammation of)
stomat/itis Means: “inflammation of the mouth”
root (mouth)
Suffix (inflammation of)
• …../o/…… means: “process to visually examine the anus and the rectum”
root
suffix
(Anus, rectum) (process to visually examine)
• Proct/o/scopy means: “process to visually examine the anus and the rectum”
root
suffix
(Anus, rectum) (process to visually examine)
• ………./…. Means: “inflammation of the pancreas”
root Suffix (pancreas) (inflammation of)
• pancreat/itis Means: “inflammation of the pancreas”
root Suffix (pancreas) (inflammation of)
………/…… means: “Inflammation in the bronchioles”
Root “bronchioles ”
suffix “inflammation”
brochiol/itis means: “Inflammation in the bronchioles”
Root “bronchioles ”
suffix “inflammation”
• ………/…….. means “bluish discoloration of the skin”
root “blue ”
suffix ‘abnormal condition ”
• cyan/osis means “bluish discoloration of the skin”
root “blue ”
suffix ‘abnormal condition ”
………./……. Means: “Inflammation in the epiglottis”
Root “ epiglottis”
suffix “inflammation of”
epiglott/itis Means: “Inflammation in the epiglottis”
Root “ epiglottis”
suffix “inflammation of”
……../e/…… means: “pertaining to the larynx”
c.form “larynx”
suffix ‘ pertaining to”
Laryng/e/al means: “pertaining to the larynx”
c.form “larynx”
suffix ‘ pertaining to”
• ……/….. means: “pertaining
root “nose”
to the nose”
suffix ‘pertaining to”
• nas/al means: “pertaining
root “nose”
to the nose”
suffix ‘pertaining to”
……./o/…… means: “discharge from the nose”
root “nose”
suffix ‘flow, discharge ”
Rhin/o/rrhea means: “discharge from the nose”
root “nose”
suffix ‘flow, discharge ”
………./…… Means: “Inflammation in the pharynx”
Root “ pharynx”
suffix “inflammation of”
pharyng/itis Means: “Inflammation in the pharynx”
Root “ pharynx”
suffix “inflammation of”
• ……./….. means: “pertaining to the diaphragm”
root “diaphragm”
suffix ‘pertaining to ”
• phren/ic means: “pertaining to the diaphragm”
root “diaphragm”
suffix ‘pertaining to ”
…………./……….. means: “Removal of a lung”
Root
“lung”
suffix “removal of”
pneumon/ectomy means: “Removal of a lung”
Root
“lung”
suffix “removal of”
• ………../…….. means: “pertaining to the lungs”
root “lung”
suffix “pertaining to ”
• pulmon/ary means: “pertaining to the lungs”
root “lung”
suffix “pertaining to ”
• ………/o/…….. means: “opening of the trachea”
root “lung”
suffix ‘ opening ”
• Trache/o/stomy means: “opening of the trachea”
root “lung”
suffix ‘ opening ”
• ……../…….. means: “tumor (benign) of a gland”
root “gland”
suffix “tumor ”
• aden/oma means: “tumor (benign) of a gland”
root “gland”
suffix “tumor ”
……../…… Means: “Inflammation of a joint”
Root
“joint”
suffix “inflammation of”
arthr/itis Means: “Inflammation of a joint”
Root
“joint”
suffix “inflammation of”
• Looking for the “O” in the medical terms will help you divide the term into its parts. • The combining vowel + root called combining form. • E.g. ELECTR/O
CARDI/O
……….../O/…….../O/…….. root
root
“stomach”
suffix
“ intestines”
c.vowel
“study of”
c.vowel
GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGY root
root
“stomach”
suffix
“ intestines”
c.vowel
“study of”
c.vowel
• The entire word (reading from the suffix, back to the beginning of the term, and across) means;
study of the stomach& intestines
………./O/……… means “instrument to visually examine the stomach”
c.form “stomach”
suffix ‘instrument to visually examine”
GASTR/O/SCOPE means “instrument to visually examine the stomach”
c.form “stomach”
suffix ‘instrument to visually examine”
• ……../…. Root (stomach)
means pertaining to the stomach
suffix (pertaining to)
**Notice; the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix (-ic) begins with a vowel. Words ending in- ic are adjectives and mean “pertaining”
• Gastr/ic Root (stomach)
means pertaining to the stomach
suffix (pertaining to)
**Notice; the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix (-ic) begins with a vowel. Words ending in- ic are adjectives and mean “pertaining”
• ………/……. means: “Pertaining to the heart” Root (heart)
suffix (pertaining to)
Notice; Again, the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix(-AC) begins with a vowel. Words ending in –AC are adjectives and mean (pertaining)
• CARDI/AC means: “Pertaining to the heart” Root (heart)
suffix (pertaining to)
Notice; Again, the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix(-AC) begins with a vowel. Words ending in –AC are adjectives and mean (pertaining)
• ………/…… means: “Inflammation of the Intestine” Root (Intestine)
suffix (Inflammation of)
Notice; Again that the combining vowel is dropped because the suffix (-IT IS) begins with a vowel.
• ENTER/ITIS means: “Inflammation of the Intestine” Root (Intestine)
suffix (Inflammation of)
Notice; Again that the combining vowel is dropped because the suffix (-IT IS) begins with a vowel.
PREFIX • Is a word part attached to the beginning of the term.
• It can change the meaning
…../………/…… means: “pertaining to below the stomach” PREFIX “BELOW”
ROOT suffix “STOMACH” “pertaining to”
SUB/GASTR/IC means: “pertaining to below the stomach” PREFIX “BELOW”
ROOT “STOMACH”
SUBGASTRIC
……../………/….. mean “pertaining to across the stomach”
Prefix “ACROSS”
TRANS/GASTR/IC mean ‘pertaining to across the stomach”
Prefix “ACROSS”
TRANSGASTRIC
• ……../………./…… means: “pertaining to behind the stomach”
prefix “behind”
• RETRO/GASTR/IC means: “pertaining to behind the stomach”
prefix “behind”
RETROGASTRIC
Important Word Parts 1.Root-gives the essential meaning of the term. 2. Suffix-is the word ending. 3. Prefix-is a small part added to the beginning of the term. 4. Combining Vowel-connects suffixs& roots. 5. Combining Form+root+ c.vowel.
Important rules 1. Read the meaning of medical terms from suffix to the beginning of the word and then across. 2. Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that starts with a vowel. 3. Keep the combining vowel between word roots, even if the root begins with a vowel.