1. Word-Building System: Introduction to Word Parts
Unit 1
Word-Building System: Introduction to Word Parts

2. Word Parts Word root Foundation of medical terms
Provides basic meaning
Examples:
gastr = stomach
therm = heat
micr = small

3. Word Parts 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

4. Word Parts
Building words from word parts:

5. Word Parts
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

6. Word Parts
Building words from word parts:

7. Word Parts
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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Combining Forms

11. 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

12. Compound Words

13. 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

14. 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

15. Noun Suffixes -ism = condition, state or theory -tion = condition
E.g., Darwin/ism
-tion = condition
E.g., contrac/tion
-ist = specialist
E.g., psychiatr/ist

16. Noun Suffixes -er = one who -ity = quality -osis = condition
E.g., radiograph/er
-ity = quality
E.g., sensitiv/ity
-osis = condition
E.g., cyan/osis

17. Adjectival Suffixes Adjective Describes or modifies noun
E.g., chronic cough, reddened skin, triple bypass

18. Adjectival Suffixes -ous = possessing, having, or full -able = ability
E.g., nerv/ous
-able = ability
E.g., inject/able
-ible = ability
E.g., ed/ible

19. Suffixes that Change Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective
anem/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

20. Suffixes that Change Part of Speech

21. Suffixes that Change Part of Speech
Noun
muc/us = water secretion
Adjective
muc/ous = refers to nature of mucus

22. Suffixes that Change Verb Tense
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

23. Suffixes that Indicate Singular and Plural
-on -a
-ma
-mata
-sis
-ses
-nx
-ges
-ae
-us -i

24. Suffixes that Indicate Singular and Plural
-um -a
-is
-es
-ex
-ices
-ix
-ax
-aces

25. Suffixes that Indicate Singular and Plural
vertebra
vertebrae
bacterium
bacteria
bronchus
bronchi
appendix
appendices
carcinoma
carcinomata
spermatozoon
spermatozoa

26. 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

27. Word-Order Rules
Rule 2
When body systems involved, build words in order organs are studied

28. 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

29. 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

30. Enlarged megal/o = combining form -megaly = suffix acr/o = extremities
Arms and legs

31. Enlarged Examples: megal/o/cardia = enlarged heart
acr/o/megaly = enlargement of extremities

32. Skin dermat/o = skin dermat/o/logy = study of skin
dermat/o/logist = one who studies and treats skin

33. Skin dermat/osis = any skin condition
dermat/itis = inflammation of skin
acr/o/dermat/itis = inflammation of skin of extremities