Chapter 1 Basic word structureI. Objectives in Studying the Medical LanguageThere are three objectives to keep in mind as you study medical terminology:1.Analyze words by dividing them into component parts. Your goal is to learn the tools of wordanalysis that will make understanding complex terminology easier. Do not simply memorize terms; think about dividing terms into component parts. This text will show you how to separate both complicated and simple terms into understandable word elements. Medical terms are very much like individual jigsaw puzzles. They are constructed of small pieces that make each word unique, but the pieces can be used in different combinations in order words as well. As you become familiar with word parts and learn what each means, you will be able to recognize those word parts in totally new combinations in other terms.2.Relate the medical terms to the structure and function of the human body. Memorization ofterms, although essential to retention of the language, should not become the primary objective of your study. A major focus of this text is to explain terms in the context of how the body works in healthy and disease. Medical terms explained in their proper context will also be easier to remember. Thus, the term hepatitis, meaning inflammation (-itis) of the liver (hepat), is better understood when you know where the liver is and how it functions. No previous knowledge of biology, anatomy, or physiology is needed for this study. Explanations in the text are straightforward and basic.3. Be aware of spelling and pronunciation problems. Some medical terms are pronounced alike but are spelled differently, which accounts for their different meanings. For example, ilium and ileum have identical pronunciations, but the first term, ilium means a part of the pelvis (hip bone), whereas the second term, ileum, means a part of the small intestine. Even when terms are spelled correctly, they can be misunderstood because of incorrect pronunciation. For example, the urethra [jʊə'ri:θrə] is the tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body, whereas a ureter ['juəri:tə] is one of two tubes each leading from a single kidney and inserting into the urinary bladder. Figure 1-1 illustrates the difference between the urethra and the ureters.II. Word AnalysisStudying medical terminology is very similar to learning a new language. At first, the words sound strange and complicated, although they may stand for commonly known English terms. For example, the term otalgia means ―ear ache,‖ and an ophthalmologist is an ―eye doctor.‖Your first job in learning the language is to understand how to divide words into their component parts. Logically, most terms, whether complex or simple, can be broken down into basic parts and then understood. For example, consider the following term:HEMATOLOGY HEMA T/O/LOGYRoot suffixcombining vowelThe root is the foundation of the word. All medical terms have one or more roots. For example, the root hemat means blood.The suffix is the word ending. All medical terms have a suffix. The suffix-logy means study of. The combining vowel (usually o) links the root to the suffix or the root to another root. A combining vowel has no meaning of its own; it only joins one word part to another.It is useful to read the meaning of medical terms starting from the suffix and moving back to the beginning of the term. Thus, the term hematology means study of blood.Here is another familiar medical term:ELECTROCARDIOGRAMELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAMroot root suffixcombining vowel The root electr means electricity.The root cardi means heart.The suffix-gram means rocord.The entire word means record of the electricity in the heart.Notice that there are two combining vowels in this term. They link the two roots (electr and cardi) as well as the root (cardi) and suffix (-gram).Try another term:GASTRITIS CASTR/IT ISroot suffixThe root gastr means stomach.The suffix –it is means inflammation.The entire word, reading from the end of the term (suffix) to the beginning, means inflammation of the stomach.Note that the combining vowel,o,is missing in this term. This is because the suffix, -it is, begins with a vowel. The combining vowel is dropped before a suffix that begins with a vowel. It is retained, however, between two roots, even if the second root begins with a vowel. Consider the following term:GASTROENTEROLOGY GASTR/O/ENTER/O/LOGYroot root suffixcombining vowelThe root gastr means stomach.The root enter means intestines.The suffix –logy means study of.The entire term means study of the stomach and intestines.Notice that the combining vowel is used between gastr and enter, even though the second root, enter, begins with a vowel. When a term contains two or more roots related to parts of the body, anatomical position often determines which root goes before the other. For example, the stomach reveives food first, before the small intestine, thus gastroenteritis, not enterogastritis.In summary, remember three general rules:1.Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term andacross.2.Drop the combining bowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel: gastritis notgastroitis3.Keep the combining vowel between two roots: gastroenterology not gastrenterology.In addition to the root, suffix, and combining vowel, two other word parts are commonly found in medical terms. These are the combining form and prefix. The combining form is simply the root plus the combining vowel. For example, you are already familiar with following combining forms and their meaning:HEMAT/O means bloodroot+combining vowel=COMBINING FORMGASTR/O means stomachroot+combining vowel=COMBINING FORMCARDI/O means heartion.root+combining vowel=COMBINING FORMCombining forms are used with many different suffixs. Remembering the exact meaning of a combining form will help you understand different medical terms.The prefix is a small part that is attached to the beginning of a term. Not all medical terms contain prefixes, but the prefix can have an important influence on meaning. Consider the following examples:SUB/GASTR/IC means pertaining to under the stomachPrefix root suffix(under) (stomach) (pertaining to)EPI/GASTR/IC means pertaining to above the stomachPrefix root suffix(above) (stomach) (pertaining to)In summary, the important elements of medical terms are the following:Root + combining vowel = combining form. Suffix, prefix.Root: foundation of the term.Suffix: word ending.Prefix: word beginningCombining wovel: vowel (ususally o) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root. Combining form: combination of the root and the combining vowel.III. Combining Forms, Suffix, and PrefixesIn previous examples you are been introduced to the combining forms gastr/o (stomach), hemat/o (blood), and cardi/o (heart). The following list contains new combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes with examples of medical words using those word parts. Your job is to write the meaning of the medical term in the space provided. As you do this, you may wish to divide the term its component parts by using slashes (e.g.,aden/oma).If you have a question about the correct pronunciation of a term, consult the Pronunciation of Terms section at the end of each chapter. In addition, the CD-ROM that accompanies this text contains the pronunciations of most terms on the Pronuncition of Terms lists. Although most medical terms can be divided into component parts and understood, others defy simple explanation. This text provides additional information when those terms are introduced, but you may wish to consult a medical dictionary as well.To test your understanding of word parts and terminology in this chapter, complete the exercises on pages 14 to 22 and check your answers on page 23 to 25. Then, as a final review, give the meanings for the combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes on the Review Sheet, pages 29 and 30. Write the manings of the medical terms that follow in the spaces provided. The notes in italics below the terms will help you define them. Simple definitions are best. The first one has been filled in as an example.Combining FormsCombining form meaning terminology meaningaden/o gland adenoma tumor of a glandThe suffix –oma tumor or massadenitis ____________________The suffix –itis means inflammationarthr/o joint arthritis_____________________bi/o life biology____________________biopsy______________________The suffix –opsy means process of viewing.Living tissue is removed from the body andviewed under a microscope.carcin/o cancerous, cancer carcinoma ______________________A carinoma is a cancerous tumor. Carcinomasgrowfrom epithelial cells that cover the outside ofthe body and line organs, cavities, and tubeswithin the bodycardi/o heart cardiology__________________________ cephal/o head cephlic _________________________Tue suffix –ic means pertaining to. If an infant isborn with its head delivered first, it is a cephalicpresentationcerebr/o cerebrum cerebral _________________________The suffix –al means pertaining to. Acerebrovascular accident occurs when damage toblood vessels in the cerebrum causes injury tonerve cells of the brain. This condition is alsocalled a strokecis/o to cut incision_____________________________The prefix in- means into and the suffix –ionmeans processexcision ________________________The prefix ex- means outcrin/o secrete endocrine glands____________________The prefix endo- means within; endocrineglands secrete hormones directly within thebloodstream. Other glands, called exocrineglands, secrete chemicals through tubes to theoutside of the body.cyst/o urinary bladdr; a sac or a cyst cystoscopy _______________________The suffix –scopy means process of visualexaminationcyt/o cell cytology_________________________ derm/o skin dermatitis ____________________ dermat/ohypodermic _____________________The prefix hypo- means under, below electr/o electricity electrocardiogram __________________The suffix –gram means record.Abbreviations are ECG or EKGencephal/o brain electroencephalogram ________________Also called an EEGenter/o intestines enteritis ________________________The small intestine is narrower but muchlonger that the large intestineerythr/o red erythrocyte __________________________The suffix –cyte means cell. Erythrocy tescarry oxygen in the bloodgastr/o stomach gastrectomy__________________________The suffix –ectomy means excision orremovalgastrotomy _________________________The suffix –tomy means incision or cuttingintognos/o knowledge diagnosis _______________________The prefix dia- means complete. The suffix–sis means state of. A diagnosis is madeafter sufficient information has beenobtained about the patient’s condition.Literally, it is a ―state of completeknowledge.‖prognosis ____________________The prefix pro- means before. Literally,―knowledge before,‖ a prognosis is aprediction about the outcome of an illness, butit is always given after the diagnosis has beendeterminedgynec/o woman, female gynecology _______________________ hemat/o blood hematology ______________________ hem/ohematoma _______________________In this term, -oma means a mass orcollection of blood, rather that a growth ofcells. A hematoma occurs when blood escapesfrom blood vessels and collects as a clot in acavity, organ, or under the skin.hemoglobin _________________________The suffix –globin means protein. Hemoglobinhelps carry oxygen in red blood cellshepat/o liver hepatitis _________________________ iatr/o treatment iatrogenic _______________________The suffix –genic means pretaining toproducing, producing, produced by, orproduced in. Iatrogenic conditions are adverseside effects that result from treatment orintervention by a physicianleuk/o white leukocyte _______________________This blood cells helps the body fight disease nephr/o kidney nephritis ______________________nephrology ______________________neur/o nerve neurology __________________________ onc/o tumor oncology __________________________oncologist _________________________The suffix –ist means one who specializes ina field of medicineophthalm/o eye ophthalmoscope ____________________The suffix –scope means an instrument forvisual examinationoste/o bone osteritis ___________________________osteoarthritis ____________________This condition is actually a degeneration ofbones and joints that occurs with aging. It isoften accompanied by inflammation.path/o disease pathology______________________pathologist ________________________A pathologist examine biopsy samplesmicroscopically and examines a dead body todetermine the cause of deathped/o child pediatric _________________________Originally, orthopedists were doctors whostraightened children’s bones and correcteddeformities. Nowadays, orthopedistsspecialize in disorders of bones and musclesof people of all agespsych/o mind psychology _________________________psychiatrist _________________________ radi/o x-rays radiology ___________________________ ren/o kidney renal _____________________________Ren/o and nephr/o both mean kidney. Ren/ois used with –al to discribe the kidney,whereas nephr.o is used with other suffixessuch as –osis, itis, and –ectomy to describeabnormal conditions and operqtiveprocedures.rhin/o nose rhinitis _____________________________ sarc/o flesh sarcoma ___________________________This is a cancerous tumor. A sarcomagrows from cells of ―fleshy‖connectivetissue such as muscle, bone, and fat, whereasa carcinoma grows from epithelial eclls thatline the outside of the body or the inside oforgans in the body.sect/o to cut resection ___________________________The prefix re- means back. A resection is acutting back in the sense of cutting out orremoval. A gastric resection is a gastrectomy,or excision of the stomachthromb/o clot, clotting thrombocyte ________________________Also known as platelets, these cells helpclot blood. A thrombus in the actual clot thatforms, and thrombosis is the condition ofclot formation.ur/o urinary tract, urine urology ___________________________A urologist is a surgeon who operates onthe organs of the urinary tract and the organsof the male reproductive system.SuffixesSuffix Meaning Terminology Meaning-ac pertaining to cardiac ____________________________-al pertaining to neural ____________________________-algia pain arthralgia ________________________neuralgia ________________________-cyte cell erythrocyte _____________________-ectomy excision, removal nephrectomy ______________________-emia blood condition leukemia __________________________Literally, this term means ― a blood conditionof white .‖ Actually, it is a condition of bloodin which cancerous white blood cellsproliferate.-genic pertaining to, producing carcinogenic _______________________produced by, produced in Cigarette smoke is carcinogenicpathogenic ______________________A virus or a bacterium is a pathogenicorganismiatrogenic __________________________An this term, -genic means produced by-gram record electroencephalogram_________________ -ic, -ical pertaining to gastric ___________________________neurological ______________________-ion process excision __________________________ -ist specialist gynecologist _______________________ -itis inflammation cystitis __________________________ -logy study of endocrinology ____________________ -oma tumor, mass, swelling hepatoma _________________________A hepatoma is a malignant tumor of theliver-opsy viewing with a microscope biopsy ___________________________ -osis condition, usuallt abnormal nephrosis _________________________leukocytosis _______________________This condition, a slight increase in normalwhire blood cells, occurs as white bloodcells multiply to fight an infecction-pathy disease condition enteropathy ____________________adenopathy _____________________-scope instrument to visually examine endoscope_________________________ -sis state of prognosis _______________________-tomy process of cutting, incision osteotomy _______________________-y process, condition gastroenterology ___________________ PrefixesPrefix Meaning Terminology Meaninga-, an- no, not, without anemia_________________________Anemia is a decreased number oferythrocytes or an abnormality of thehemoglobin with the red blood cells. Thisresults in decreased delivery of oxygen tocells of the body. Originally, anemicpatients looked so pale that they werethought to be ―without blood‖.auto- self autopsy _________________________This term literally means ―to view byone’s self.‖Hence, an autopsy is theexamination of a dead body with one’sown eyes to determine the cause of deathand nature of diseasedia- theough, complete diagnosis_________________________endo- within endocrinologist _______________________ epi- above, upon epigastric __________________________epidermis ___________________________This outermost layer of skin lies above themiddle layer of skin, known as the dermis ex- out excision ______________________________ exo- out exocrine glands ________________________ hyper- excessive, above, more than normal hyperglycemia _______________________The term glyc/o means sugarhypo- dificient, below, under, less than normal hypogastric ________________________When hypo- is used with a part of the body,it means belowhypoglycemia ______________________In this term, hypo- means deficientin- into, in incision ___________________________ peri- surrounding, around pericardium ________________________The suffix –um means a structure.The pericardium is the membrane thatsurrounds the heartpro- before, forward prognosis ________________________ re- back, backward, again resection _______________________This is an operation in which an organ is―cut back‖ or removedretro- behind retrocardiac ________________________ sub- below, under subhepatic _______________________ trans- across, through transhepatic ____________________IV. practical ApplicationsThis is an opportunity for you to use your skill in understanding medical terms and to increase your knowledge of new terms. Be sure to check your answers with the Answers to Practical Applications on page 24. Your should find helpful explanations there.SpecialistsMatch the abnormal condition in Column I with the physician (specialist) who treats it in Column IICulumn I culumn II1. heart attack A. gastroenterologist2. ovarian cysts --ovum, spermatovum B. hematologist3. bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder C. nephrologist4. breast adenocarcinoma D. cardiologist5. iron-deficiency anemia E. oncologist6. retinopathy F.gynecologist7. cerebrovascular accident G. urologist8. renal failure H. Ophthalmologist9. inflammatory bowel disease I. neurologist10. cystitis J. psychiatristV. ExercisesThe exercises that follow are designed to help youulearn the terms presented in the chapter. Writing terms over and over again is a good way to remember this new language. You will find answers to each exercise in Section VI. This makes it easy to check your work. As you check each answer, you will not only reinforce your understanding of a term, but often gain additional information from the answer. Each exercise is designed not as a test, but rather as an opportunity for you to learn the materialA. complete the following sentences1. word beginnings are called _________2. would endings are called ___________3. the foundation of a word is known as the ____________4. a letter linkings a sufix and a root, or linking two roots, in a term is the _________5. the combination of a root and a combining vowel is known as the _________B. Give the meanings of the following combining forms:1. cardi/o2. aden/o3. bi/o4. cerebr/o5. cephal/o6. arthr/o7. carcin/o8. cyst/o9. cyt/o10. derm/o11. encephal/o12. electr/oC. give the meanings of the following suffixes1. –oma2. – all3. – it is4. – logy5. – scopy6. – ic7. – gram8. – opsyD. Using slashes, divide the follwing terms into parts and give the meaning of the entire term.1. cerebral2. biopsy3. adenitis4. cephalic5. carcinoma6. cystoscopy7. electrocardiogram8. cardiology9. electroencephalogram10. dermatitis11. arthroscopy12. cytologyE. give the meanings of the following combining forms.1. erythr/o2. enter/o3. gastr/o4. gnos/o5. hemat/o6. cis/o7. nephr/o8. leuk/o9. iatr/o10. hepat/o11. neur/o12. gynec/oF. Complete the medical term based on its meaning, as provided.1. white blood cell: ____________________________ cyte2. inflammation of the stomach: gastr __________________3. pertaining to being produced by treatment: ______________ genic4. study of kineys: ____________________ logy5. red blood cell: _________________ cyte6. mass of blood: _____________ oma7. view of living tissue: bi ___________8. pain of nerves: neur _______________9. process of viewing the eye: _______________________ scopy10. inflammation of the small intestine: _______________ it isG. Match the English term in column I with its combining form in column II. Column I -- English term column II – cobining form1. kidney onc/o2. disease ophthalm/o3. eye oste/o4. to cut path/o5. nose psych/o6. flesh radi/o7. mind ren/o8. urinary tract rhin/o9. bone sarc/o10. x-ray sect/o11. cloting thromb/o12. tumor ur/oH. underline the suffix in each term and give the meaning of the entire term.1. ophthalmoscopy2. ophthalmoscope3. oncology4. osteitis5. psychosis6. thrombocyte7. renal8. nephrectomy9. osteotomy10. resection11. carcinogenic12. sarcomaI. match the suffix in column I with its meaning in column II. Write the meaning in the space provided.Colum I --- suffix cloumn II ---meaning1. –algia abnormal condition2. –ion blood condition3. – emia cell4. –gram disease condition5. –scope incision, process of cutting into6. –osis inflammation7. –ectomy instrument to visually examine8. –genic pain9. –pathy pertaining to producing, produced by, or produced in10. –tomy process11. –itis record12. –cyte removal, excision, resectionJ. select from the following terms to complete the sentences below.Arthralgia carcinogenic cystitis endocrine enteropathy exocrinehematoma hepatoma iatrogenic leukemia leukocytosis neuralgia1.When Paul smoked cegarettes, he inhaled a _____________ substance with each pugg.2.sally’s sore throat, fever, and chills made her doctor order a white blood cell count. Results,indicating infection, showed a slight increase in normal cells, a condition called ____________3.Mr. Smith’s liver enlarged, giving him abdominal pain and fullness in his RUQ. Hisradiological tests and biopsy revealed a malignant tumor or _____________4.Mrs. Rosse complained of pain in her hip joints, knees, and shoulders each morning. She wastold that she had painful joints or ________________5.Dr. Black was trained to treat disorders of the pancreas, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, andpituitary gland. Thus, he was an expert in the ______________________ glands.6.Ms. Walsh told her doctor she had pain when urinating, after tests, the doctor’s diagnosis wasinflammation of the urinary bladder, or7.Elizabeth’s overhead tennis shot hit David in the thigh and produced a large ____________.His skin looked bruised and was tender.8.Mr. Bell’s white blood cell count is 10 times higher than normal. Examinationof his bloodshows cancerous white blood cells. His diagnosis is __________________9.Mr. Kay was resuscitated (revised from potential or apparent death) in the emergency roomafter experiencing a heart attack. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken rib as a result of the physician’s chest compressions. This is an example of a (an) ___________________ fracture.10.after coming back from a trip during which he had eaten strange foods, Mr. Cameron haddisease of his intestines called ___________________K. give the meaning of the following prefixes.1. dia-2. pro-3. auto-4. a-, an-5. hyper-6. hypo-7. epi-8. endo-9. retro-10. trans-11. peri-12. ex-13. ex-14. re-L. underline the prefix in the following terms and give the meaning of the entire term.1. diagnosis2. prognosis3. subhepatic4. pericardium5. hyperglycemia6. hypodermic7. epigastric8. resection9. hypoglycemia10. anemiaM. complete the following terms (describing areas of medicine) based on their meanings as given below.1. study of urinary tract: __________________________ logy2. study of women and women’s diseases: ________________ logy3. study of bood: _____________________ logy4. study of tumors: __________________ logy5. study of kidneys:__________________ logy6. study of nerves: _________________ logy7. treatment of children __________________ iatrics8. study of x-rays: _____________________ logy9. study of the eyes: ________________ logy10. study of the stomach and intestines: _________________ logy11. study of glands that secrete hormanes: ________________ logy12. treatment of the mind: ______________________ iatry13. study of disease: _________________________ logy14. study of the heart _______________________ logyN. give the meaning of the underlined word part and then define the term.1. cerebraovascular accident2. encephalitis3. cystoscope4. transhepatic5. iatrogenic6. hypogactric7. endocrine glands8. nephrectomy9. exocrine glands10. neuralgiaO. select from the following terms to complete the sentences below.Anemia oncogenic psychiatrist biopsy oncologist psychologist diagnosis osteoarthritis thrombocyte nephrologist pathogenic thrombosis nephrologistprognosis urologist neuropathy1.seventy-two-year-old Ms. Crick suffers from a degenerative joint disease that is caused bywearing away of tissue around her joints. This condition, which literally menas ―inflammation of bones and joinsts,‖ is _______________________________.2.the ________________ sample was removed during surgery and sent to a pathologist to beexamined under a microscope for a proper diagnosis.3. a (an) ________________ performed surgery to remove Mr. Simon’s cancerous kidney.4.Ms. Rose has suffered from hyperglycemia (diabetes) for many years. This condition can leadto long-term complications, sus as the disease of nerves called diabetic _______________5. A virus or a bacterium produces diseasd and is therefore a (an) _______________ organism.6.Jordan has a disease caused by abnormal hemoglobin in his erythrocytes. The erythrocyteschange shape, collapsing to form sickle-shaped cells that can become clots and stop the flow of blood. His condition is cickle-cell ______________________________.7.Dr. Shelby is a physician who treats carcinomas and sarcomas. He is a (an)_________________.8.Bill had difficulty stopping the bleeding from a cut on his face while shaving. He knew hismedication cased him to have decreased platelets or a low ________________ count and that was probably the reason his blood was not clotting very well.9.Dr. Susan Parker told Paul that his condition would improve with treatment in a few weeks.She said his ___________________________ is excellent and he can expect total recovery. 10.After fleeing the World Trade Center on September 11,2001, Mrs. Jones had many problemswith her job, her boyfriend, and her family relationships. She called a _______________ who prescribed drugs to treat her depression.。
