1.1 – Introduction – Word Parts in Medical Terms

Learning Objectives

  • Outline the elements used to build medical terms  
  • Analyze, identify, and construct medical words using applicable medical language component parts
  • Explore medical language rules

Word Parts

Medical terms are built from word parts. Those word parts are prefix, word root, suffix, and combining form vowel. When a word root is combined with a combining form vowel, the word part is referred to as a combining form.

Word Parts

Word Parts (Text Version)

Make sure you understand key parts of medical terminology. Fill in the blanks using the following words:

  • Suffix
  • Prefix
  • Combining Form
  • Word Root
  1. _____[Blank 1] word part at the beginning of the term that changes meaning
  2. _____[Blank 2] word part at the end of the term that changes meaning
  3. _____ [Blank 3] foundational meaning of a word
  4. _____ [Blank 4] used to join word parts to ease pronunciation

Check your answers: [1]

Activity Source: Key Terms by PFrench, licensed under CC BY 4.0./Text version added.

Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms

By the end of this resource, you will have identified hundreds of word parts within medical terms.  Let’s start with some common medical terms that many non-medically trained people may be familiar with.

Examples

Osteoarthritis
Oste/o/arthr/itis – Inflammation of bone and joint.

Oste/o is a combining form that means bone
arthr/o is a combining form that means joint
-itis is a suffix that means inflammation

Intravenous
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within a vein.
Intra- is a prefix that means within
ven/o – is a combining form that means vein
-ous is a suffix that means pertaining to

Notice, when breaking down words that you place slashes between word parts and a slash on each side of a combining form vowel.

Language Rules

Language rules are a good place to start when building a medical terminology foundation.  Many medical terms are built from word parts and can be translated literally. At first, literal translations sound awkward. Once you build a medical vocabulary and become proficient at using it, the awkwardness will slip away. For example, suffixes will no longer be stated and will be assumed. The definition of intravenous then becomes within the vein.

Since you are at the beginning of building your medical terminology foundation, stay literal when applicable. It should be noted that, as with all language rules, there are always exceptions and we refer to those as rebels. So, let’s begin by analyzing the language rules for medical terminology.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax).


  1. 1. Prefix, 2. Suffix, 3. Word Root, 4. Combining Form
definition

License

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Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e Copyright © 2024 by Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Connie Stevens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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