Term
| A word root cannot stand alone. A suffix must always be added at the end of the word to complete the term. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| is a word root with a combining vowel added at the end. Example gastr/o is the combining form meaning stomach. This form is used when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added. When a combining for appears alone, it is shown with a back slash (/) between the word root and the combining form. |
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Term
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Definition
| Usually, but not always, indicates location, time, number or status. A prefix always comes at the beginning of a word. |
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Term
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Definition
| Usually, but not always indicates the procedure, condition, disorder or disease. A suffix always comes at the end of a word. You'll know a word part is a suffix when it is shown with a hyphen (-) preceding it. Example the suffix -itis means inflammation. |
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Term
| Suffixes Meaning "Abnormal Condition" |
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Definition
In medical terminology, many suffixes, such as -osis, means "abnormal condition or disease." For example, gastrosis means any disease of the stomach (gastr means stomach, and -osis means abnormal condition or disease) Commonly used suffixes meaning "abnormal condition or disease" are as follows:
-ago
-esis
-ia
-iasis
-ion
-ism
-osis |
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Term
| Suffixes Meaning "Pertaining To" |
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Definition
An adjective is a word that defines or describes a thing. In medical terminology, many suffixes meaning "pertaining to" are used to change the meaning of the word root into an an adjective. For example the therm cardiac is an adjective that means pertaining to the heart (cardi means heart, and -ac means pertaining to). Commonly used suffixes meaning "pertaining to" are as follows:
-ac
-al
-an
-ar
-ary
-eal
-ical
-ial
-ic
-ine
-ior
-ory
-ous
-tic |
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Term
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Definition
A noun is a word that is the name of a person, place or thing. In medical terminology, some suffixes change the word root into a noun. Example, the cranium is the portion of the skull that encloses the brain (crani means skull, and -um is a noun ending). Other suffixes complete the term by changing the word root into a noun. Suffixes that are commonly used as noun endings are
-a
-e
-um
-us
-y |
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Term
| The rules for creating a combining form by adding a vowel apply when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added to a word root. |
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Definition
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Term
| When a prefix is added, it is always placed at the beginning of the word. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Contains the basic meaning of the term. In medical terminology, this word part usually, but not always, indicates the involved body part. Example the word root meaning stomach is gastr |
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