1. Chapter 2
Basic Term Components

2. Origins of Medical Terms
Most medical terms have Greek or Latin origins
Most diagnostic and surgical terms have Greek origins
Most anatomical terms have Latin origins
Medical terms have also been influenced by German and French languages
Many new terms are derived from English

3. Analysis of Term Components
Most medical terms have three components:
Root — foundation or subject of the term
Suffix — ending that gives essential meaning to the term
Prefix — added to the beginning of a term when needed to further modify the root

4. Combining Vowels and Combining Forms
A vowel, usually an “o”, is used to join root to another root or a suffix
The letter “i” is the second most common combining vowel

5. Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms
A combining vowel is used to join root to root as well as to any suffix beginning with a consonant
A combining vowel is not used before a suffix that begins with a vowel
If the root ends in a vowel and the suffix beings with the same vowel, drop the final vowel from the root and do not use a combining vowel

6. Rules for Forming and Spelling Medical Terms
(continued)
Most often, a combining vowel is inserted between two roots even when the second root begins with a vowel.
Occasionally, when a prefix ends in a vowel and the root begins with a vowel, the final vowel is dropped from the prefix

7. Defining Medical Terms through Word Structure Analysis
You can usually define a term by interpreting the suffix first, then the prefix (if present), then the succeeding root or roots

8. Note
It is difficult to know the difference between prefixes and roots (or combining forms) because the root is placed first in a medical term when a prefix is not needed
Memorize the most common prefixes so that you can recognize them when used in a term

9. Formation of Medical Terms
Most medical terms build from the root
Prefixes and suffixes are attached to modify its meaning
Often two or more roots are linked before being modified
Occasionally, terms are formed by a root alone or a combination of roots
Sometimes, a term is formed from the combination of a prefix and suffix

10. Spelling Medical Terms
Sometimes words sound exactly the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings:
Context is the clue to spelling
Some words sound similar but are spelled differently and have different meanings
When letters are silent in a term, they risk being omitted when spelling the word

11. Spelling Medical Terms
(continued)
Some words have more than one acceptable spelling
Some combining forms have the same meaning but different origins that compete for usage

12. Types of Suffixes Simple: form basic terms For example:
-ic (pertaining to)
-ium (structure or tissue)
-y (condition or process of)

13. Types of Suffixes
(continued)
Compound: uses a combination of basic term components to modify a term
For example:
-tomy
-y + tom (root meaning to cut), refers to a process of cutting (incision)
-ectomy
-ec (prefix meaning out) + tom (to cut) + -y refers to a process of cutting out (excision or removal)

14. Four Categories of Suffixes
Symptomatic suffixes: describe the evidence of disease
Diagnostic suffixes: provide the name of a medical condition
Operative suffixes: describe a surgical treatment
General suffixes: have a general application

15. (pertaining to the heart)
Root/Suffix
cardi / ac heart / pertaining to
(pertaining to the heart)

16. (tissue upon the heart, i.e., external lining of the heart)
Prefix/Root/Suffix
epi / card / ium upon / heart / tissue
(tissue upon the heart, i.e., external lining of the heart)

17. Prefix/Root/Suffix
(continued)
sub / endo / cardia / al beneath / within / heart / pertaining to
(pertaining to beneath and within the heart)

18. Root/Combining Vowel/Suffix
cardi / o / logy heart / / study
(study of the heart)

19. Root/Combining Vowel/Root/Suffix
cardi / o / pulmon / ary heart / / lung / pertaining to
(pertaining to the heart and lungs)

20. Root/Combining Vowel/Suffix (symptomatic)
cardi / o / dynia heart / / pain
(pain in the heart)

21. Root/Combining Vowel/Suffix (diagnostic)
cardi / o / rrhexis heart / / rupture
(a rupture of the heart)

22. Root/Combining Vowel/Suffix (operative)
cardi / o / rrhaphy heart / / suture
(a suture of the heart)

23. Exceptions: Root Alone
duct root
(to lead)

24. Exceptions: Combination of Roots
ovi / duct root / root egg / to lead
(Oviduct refers to the uterine tube)

25. Exceptions: Prefix and Suffix
meta / stasis prefix / suffix beyond, after, / stop or stand or change
(Metastasis refers to the spread of a disease, such as cancer, from one location to another)