1. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
WORD PARTS ARE THE KEY

2. PREFIX - ROOT - SUFFIX
All medical terms can be broken down into word parts. The three word parts that you will be concerned with are the PREFIX, the ROOT, and the SUFFIX.
Usually, only two of these parts are present in a medical term.

3. KEY PART #1
The main body or basic component of a word is called the ______ or _______ word.
ROOT – (STEM)

4. ROOTS
All words have a ROOT. Even everyday words have ROOTs. In medical terms such as hepatomone, gastrotome, and arthrotome, the hepat (meaning liver), gastr (meaning stomach), and arthr (meaning joint) are the _________.
ROOTS

5. COMBINING FORM
The part of the word which gives the basic meaning to the word is called the ___________.
ROOT
Words with a back slash/ and a combining vowel are called _________ _________.
COMBINING FORM

6. COMBINING VOWELS
Certain combinations of stems are hard to pronounce. This awkwardness of pronunciation makes it necessary to insert a vowel called a combining vowel.
Usually the combining vowel is an ‘o,’ but occasionally it may be ‘a,’ ‘e,’ ‘i,’ ‘u,’ or ‘y.’

7. COMBINING VOWEL RULES ALWAYS USED BETWEEN ROOT WORDS
USED WHEN SUFFIX HAS CONSONANT FIRST
NOT USED BETWEEN PREFIX + ROOT
NOT USED WHEN SUFFIX HAS VOWEL FIRST

8. The ______ is the part of the word which comes _________ the root.
Key Part #2 - PREFIX
The ______ is the part of the word which comes _________ the root.
PREFIX
BEFORE

9. PREFIX CATEGORIES
Location
Time
Amount
Color
Negation
Size
Position

10. LOCATION PREFIXES intra-/endo- __________ within/inside
em-/en __________ within/inside
inter __________ between/among
peri __________ surrounding
ec-/ecto- __________ outside
retro __________ behind, back of
post __________ after, behind
supra/hyper _________ above/excessive
sub-/hypo __________ below/less/under

11. TIME PREFIXES ante- ________ before, in front of
pre- ________ before, in front of
intra ________ within, inside
post _________ after, behind

12. NUMBER, AMOUNT OR COMPARISON PREFIXES
Mono
Bi/Bis Di/Diplo
Tri Quadri
Multi-/Poly Hemi-/Semi

13. NUMBER, AMOUNT OR COMPARISON PREFIXES
Hypo- Hyper-
Tachy- Brady-
Oligo-

14. COLOR PREFIXES RHYME An Invitation to Your Love
Oh! Beauty rare with eyes cyano,
Shimmering, shining hair melano,
Pearly teeth, and lips erythro,
Cheeks where only peaches will grow,
Warm and lovely skin so leuko,
Come sit with me and read a book-oh?

15. SIZE AND POSITION PREFIXES
Micro
Macro
Mega

16. PREFIXES AT WORK
Emesis is a stem which means vomit.
Hyper is a prefix which means excessive
Excessive vomiting = __________.
Hyperemesis (hi'per-em'e-sis)

17. The prefix intra- means inside or within.
PREFIXES AT WORK
The prefix intra- means inside or within.
Within the abdomen = _____________
intra-abdominal (in'trah-ab-dom'i-nal)

18. Em- and en- are also prefixes which mean within or inside
PREFIXES AT WORK
Em- and en- are also prefixes which mean within or inside
Pus inside a body cavity = ________________________.
Empyema (em'pi-e'mah)

19. PREFIXES AT WORK
Endo- is also a prefix meaning within or inside.
Metro is the root meaning uterus.
Inflammation inside the uterus = ___________
Endometritis (en'do-me-tri'tis)

20. Inter- is a prefix meaning between. The root, costal, means ribs.
PREFIXES AT WORK
Inter- is a prefix meaning between.
The root, costal, means ribs.
muscles within the ribs = ___________.
intercostal (in'ter-kos'tal

21. PREFIXES AT WORK
Peri- is a prefix which means around or surrounding.
Cardio is the stem for heart. inflammation around the heart = __________.
Pericarditis,per'i-kar-di'tis

22. PREFIXES AT WORK
Ec- and ecto- are prefixes which mean out and outside
Pertaining to a pregnancy which occurs outside the uterine cavity = __________.
ectopic ek-top'ik

23. PREFIXES AT WORK
Retro- and post- are prefixes which mean behind.
located behind the heart
situated behind the nose.
Retrocardial ret'ro-kar'de-al
Postnasalpost-na'zal

24. PREFIXES AT WORK
Let’s play
BINGO!

25. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "sub" in the word subcutaneous means: Joint Rib
Under
Over

26. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "brady" in the word bradycardia means: Fast Low
Slow
Few

27. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "hydro" in the word hydrophobia means: Gas
Water
Air
Liquid

28. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "a" in the word afebrile means: Without Within
Around In

29. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "tachy" in the word tachycardia means: Low
Moderate
Fast
Slow

30. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "erythro" in the word erythrocyte means: Red
Black
Blue
White

31. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "an" in the word anesthesia means: Without In
Within
With

32. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "em" in the word empyema means: Out In Between
Under

33. PREFIX QUIZ The prefix "oligo" in the word oliguria means: Many/much
Small
Large
Few/scanty

34. The ______ is the part of the word which comes _________ the root.
KEY WORD PART #3 - SUFFIX
The ______ is the part of the word which comes _________ the root.
SUFFIX
AFTER

35. PATHOLOGY SUFFIXES itis – inflammation oma, cele - tumor
osis, ago, esis, ia, iasis – condition/disease
malacia – abnormal softening
mega(ly) – abnormal enlargement
scler/o – abnormal hardening
sten/o – abnormal narrowing
necr/o – dead

36. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES Gastrocele - gas'tro-sel
Hernia or protrusion of the stomach
                                   

37. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES EMIA = BLOOD LEUKEMIA = ANEMIA =
HYPO/HYPERGLYCEMIA =

38. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Ectasis, ectasia = dilation, dilatation, or expansion

39. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES Is, iasis = condition, formation or presence of
Nephrolithiasis =
nef'ro-li-thi'ah-sis

40. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Itis = inflammation
Encephalitis =

41. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Chondr/o = cartilage
Chondromalacia =

42. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Hepatosplenomegaly =
hep'ah-to-sple'no-meg'ah-le

43. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Arteriosclerosis =

44. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
Lipo = fat
Lipoma =

45. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
disease is - pathy
nu-rop'ah-the
                      

46. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
The suffix for prolapse or downward displacement is ptosis.
blef'ah-ro-to'sis
                                    

47. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES The suffix for rupture is -rrhexis.
Cardiiiorrhexis =
kar'de-o-rek'sis
                      

48. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES trophy - Growth or nourishment Hypertrophy =
hi-per'tro-fe

49. DIAGNOSIS SUFFIXES
fear – phobia
Hydrophobia =

50. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES ectomy - removal or excision salpingo = tube
oophoro = ovary
salpingo-oophorectomy =

51. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES -stomy = surgical creation of an artificial opening
colostomy =
ko-los'to-me

52. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES binding or fixation is -desis
Arthrodesis= ar'thro-de'sis

53. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES suspension or fixation = -pexy.
orchiopexy = or'ke-o-pek'se

54. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES plastic repair = -plasty. Tympano = eardrum
Tympanoplasty = tim'pah-no-plas'te

55. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES
-centesis = puncture
Arthrocentesis =

56. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES
tomy - incision or cutting into
Laparotomy =

57. PROCEDURE SUFFIXES
-rrhaphy = suture

58. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES algia = pain. Dentalgia
-genic = producing or originating. Pyogenic
-lysis = destruction or breakdown Hemolysis
rrhagia = excessive flow or discharge. Hemorrhage
excessive discharge or flow = -rrhea. Diarrhea

59. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Algia = pain

60. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Lysis = destruction or breakdown

61. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Rrhagia = bursting forth with excessive flow or discharge

62. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Rrhea = flow or discharge

63. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Penia = deficiency or decrease

64. SYMPTOMATIC SUFFIXES
Spasm = involuntary contraction

65. PERTAINING TO SUFFIXES
-ic = pertaining to
-ac = pertaining to
-al = pertaining to
-ar = pertaining to
Examples – intercostal, cardiac, vascular,
dermatotrophic

66. SUFFIXES QUIZ Drooping Condition Dilation Growing
The suffix "-osis" in the word dermatophytosis means:
Drooping
Condition
Dilation
Growing

67. SUFFIXES QUIZ Softening Enlargement Swelling Hardening
The suffix "-megaly" in the word hepatosplenomegaly means:
Softening
Enlargement
Swelling
Hardening

68. SUFFIXES QUIZ Suspension/fixation Protrusion/swelling
The suffix "-iasis" in the word nephrolithiasis means:
Suspension/fixation
Protrusion/swelling
Growth/nourishment
Condition/presence of

69. SUFFIXES QUIZ Opening of Excision of Inspection of Suspension of
The suffix "-ectomy" in the word salpingo-oophorectomy means:
Opening of
Excision of
Inspection of
Suspension of

70. SUFFIXES QUIZ pertaining to softening of condition of repair of
The suffix "-ic" in the word otoscopic means:
pertaining to
softening of
condition of
repair of

71. SUFFIXES QUIZ Originating in Pertaining to Puncture of Destruction of
The suffix "-centesis" in the word arthrocentesis means:
Originating in
Pertaining to
Puncture of
Destruction of

72. SUFFIXES QUIZ Hardening Producing Flowing Softening
The suffix "-malacia" in the word chondromalacia means:
Hardening
Producing
Flowing
Softening

73. SUFFIXES QUIZ Puncture Fixation Dilation Enlargement
The suffix "-desis" in the word arthrodesis means:
Puncture
Fixation
Dilation
Enlargement

74. SUFFIXES QUIZ Nourishment of Inspection of Pertaining to Softening of
The suffix "-ar" in the word cardiovascular means:
Nourishment of
Inspection of
Pertaining to
Softening of

75. SUFFIXES QUIZ Disease of Fear of Like of Opening of
The suffix "-phobia" in the word hydrophobia means:
Disease of
Fear of
Like of
Opening of

76. MED TERM CONFUSION??? EPONYM OR ACRONYM ILEUM OR ILIUM
ARTERI/O, ATHER/O OR ARTHR/O
INFECTION OR INFLAMMATION
SIGN OR SYMPTOM
DIAGNOSIS OR PROGNOSIS
MUCOUS OR MUCUS
LACERATION OR LESION

77. MED TERM CONFUSION??? MYC/O, MYEL/O OR MY/O OLOGIST OR OLOGY
OSTOMY OR OTOMY
PALPATION OR PALPITATION
PROSTATE OR PROSTRATE
PYEL/O, PY/O OR PYR/O
SUPINATION OR SUPPURATION
VIRAL OR VIRILE

78. LET’S FIND OUT WHAT WE KNOW
WORD PARTS – MED TERM
LET’S FIND OUT WHAT WE KNOW
Group Test!