1. Medical terminology A language of its own

2. Language: historical development  Greek and Latin terms  Eponyms  Modern language

3. LEARNING  MEMORIZE  LEARN WORD PARTS  MEMORIZE

4. FOUR WORD PARTS 1. WORD ROOTS 2. SUFFIXES 3. PREFIXES 4. COMBINING VOWELS

5. WORD ROOT  CORE OF THE WORD  CONTAINS FUNDAMENTAL MEANING  EACH MED. TERM CONTAINS ONE OR MORE

6. SUFFIX  ATTACHED TO END  MODIFIES MEANING  “usually” procedure, condition, disorder or disease

7. PREFIX  ATTACHED TO BEGINNING OF WORD ROOT  MODIFIES MEANING  “USUALLY” INDICATES LOCATION, TIME, NUMBER STATUS

8. COMBINING VOWEL  USED BETWEEN TWO WORD ROOTS  USED BETWEEN WORD ROOT AND SUFFIX TO EASE PRONUNCIATION  Not USED BETWEEN PREFIX AND WORD ROOT

9. GUIDELINES FOR USING COMBINING VOWEL 1. Not usually used if suffix begins with a vowel 2. Usually is used if connecting two word roots (even if vowels present at junction) Combining vowel USUALLY “O”

10. COMBINING FORM  A WORD ROOT WITH COMBINING VOWEL ATTACHED, SEPARATED BY A VERTICAL SLASH

11. Learning  Memorize  Flash cards  Repetition  Memorize  Practice, practice, practice