Four Word Parts Word Roots Suffix Prefix Combining

Four Word Parts • • Word Roots Suffix Prefix Combining Vowel

Word Root • Contains the core of the word; functional meaning • Ex. : play/er play is word root • arthr/itis arthr is word root • hepat/itis hepat is word root

Suffix • A word part attached to the end of a word root to modify meaning • Ex. : play/er er is suffix • hepat/ic ic is the suffix • hepat/itis is the suffix • Not all medical terms have a suffix

Prefix • Word part attached to the beginning of the word root to modify it’s meaning. • Ex. : re/play re is the prefix • sub/hepat/ic sub is the prefix • Not all medical terms have a prefix

Combining Vowel • Word part, usually an o • used between two word roots OR between a word root and a suffix to ease pronunciation. • The combining vowel is not used between a prefix and a word root. • Ex. : therm/o/meter • arthr/o/pathy

Combining Vowel Guideline #1 • When connecting a word root and suffix; a combining vowel is not usually used. Even if vowels are present at the junction. • Ex. : hepat/ic • Suffix begins with I; no combining vowel is used

Combining Vowel Guideline #2 • When conntecting two word roots; combining vowel is usually used even if vowels are present at the junction. • Ex. : oste/o/arthr/itis • O is the combining vowel, even though oste ends with an e and word root arthr begins with an a • Combining vowels ease pronunciation; therefore, not all terms have combining vowels

Combining Form • A word root with the combining vowel attached, seperated by a diagonal line. • Ex. : arthr/o • oste/ • ven/o • Combining form is NOT a word part; it is a presentation of two word parts

Analyzing and Defining Medical Terms • To analyze medical terms, divide the medical terms into word parts, label each word part, and label the combining forms. • Osteo/o/arthr/o/pathy • 1. separate by slashes • 2. label with abbreviations • 3. label combining forms

Student Practice • • Analyze the following medical term: Osteopathy Arthritis Hepatitis Subhepatic Intravenous Arthropathy Osteitis

Hints! • Read the meaning from the suffix back to the first part of the word. – Sub/hepat/ic • Drop the combining vowel before a suffix beginning with a vowel – Gastric not gastroic • Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word – Oste/o/arthr/o/pathy

Hints! Spelling… • Many words are pronounced alike but spelled differently AND have different meanings – Ileum – Ilium part of the small intestine part of the pelvis, or hip bone

Hints! Pronunciation… • Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood – Urethra urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface – Ureter one of two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder