Medical Words consist of some or all of the following elements :

1. word root

2. combining form

3. suffix

4. prefix

Word Roots

- are the foundation of a medical term and contains its primary meaning

-all medical terms have at least one root word(derived from Greek or Latin)

-Greek roots are used to build words that describe a disease, condition, treatment or diagnosis

-Latin roots are used to build words that describe anatomical structures

Combining Forms 

-are created when a word root is combined with a vowel (usually o or i)

-the basic foundation to which elements are added to build a complete medical word.

Suffix

-a word element placed at the end of a word that changes the meaning  of the word.

-in medical terminology, a suffix usually describes a pathology(disease or abnormality), sympton, surgical or diagnostic procedure, or part of a speech.

Prefix

- a word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root

-adding or changing a prefix changes the meaning of the word

-usually indicates a number, time, position, direction or negation

How to define Medical Words

1. define the suffix, or the last part of the word

2. define the fist part of the word (may be a root word or combining form, or prefix)

3.define the middle part of the word

Rule #1- a word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel

Rule #2-  a combining form (root =+ i or o) links a suffix that begins with a cononant

Rule #3- a combining form links one root to another to form a compound word

Suffix Linking

-Suffixes are also used to denote singular and plural forms of a word as well of part of a speech.

-contain more than one root word.

-multiple roots within a compound word are joined together with a vowel, regardless of whether the second root begins with a vowel or consonant.

Suffix Types

1. Surgical-describe a type of invasive procedure performed on a body part

2.Diagnostic- describe a procedure performed to identify the cause and nature of an illness

3. Pathological- describe an abnormal condition or disease

1. centisis - surgical puncture

2. clasis- to break, surgical fracture

3. desis- binding, fixaxtion(of a bone or joint)

4. ectomy- excision, removal

5.lysis- separation;destruction; loosening

6. pexy- fixation (of an organ)

7. plasty-surgical procedure

8. rrhaphy-suture

9.stomy- forming an opening (mouth)

10. tome-instrument to cut

11. tomy- incision

12. tripsy-crushing

Diagnostic, Pathological, and Related Suffixes

1. gram-record, writing

2. graph-instrument for recording

3. graphy- process of recording

4. meter- instrument for measuring

5. metry- act of measuring

6. scope- instrument for examing

7. scopy- visual examination

1. algia, dynia- pain

2. cele- hernia, swelling

3. ectasis- dilation, expansion

4. edema- swelling

5. emesis- vomiting

6. emia- blood condition

7. gen, genesis- forming, producing, origin

8. iasis- abnormal condition(produced by something specified)

9. itis- inflammation

10. lith- stone, calculus

11. malacia- softening

12. megaly- enlargment

13. oma-tumor

14. osis- abnormal condition;increase(used primarily with blood cells)

15.pathy-disease

16. penia- decrease, defiency

17. phagia- eating, swallowing

18. phasia-speech

19. phobia- fear

20. plasia-formation, growth

21. plegia- paralysis

22. ptosis- prolapse, downward placement

23.rrhage, rrhagia- bursting forth(of)

24. rrhea-discharge, flow

25. rrhexis-rupture

26. sclerosis- abnormal conditioning of hardening

27. spasm- involuntary contraction, twitching

28.stenosis-narrowing, stricture

29. toxic- poison

30. trophy- nourishment, development

Grammatical Suffixes

(are attached to word roots to form parts of speech, such as adjectives and nouns)

Adjective, Noun, and Diminutive Suffixes

Adjective

Pertaining to - ac, al, ar, ary, eal, ic, ical, ile, ior, ous, tic

Noun

Condition- esis, ia, ism

Medicine;Treatment- iatry

Specialist- ician, ist

Condition- y

Diminutive 

Small, minute-icle, ole, ule