Overview
This lecture covers the essential prefixes, roots, and suffixes used in medical terminology, with definitions for common combining forms and word parts.
Common Prefixes
- a-, an-: not, without
- dys-: painful, difficult
- inter-: between, among
- intra-: within, inside
- peri-: around, surrounding
- poly-: many, much
- post-: after, behind
- pre-: before
- sub-, infra-: below, beneath
- supra-, super-: above
Word Roots and Combining Forms
- cardi-: heart
- cerebr-: cerebrum, brain
- colon, colo-: colon (part of large intestine)
- crani-: cranium, skull
- dermat-: skin
- gastr-: stomach
- nephr-, ren-: kidney
- neur-: nerve
- ost-: bone
- pulmon-: lung
- vas-: vessel
Common Suffixes
- -ac, -al, -ary, -ic, -ous: pertaining to
- -algia: pain
- -ectomy: excision, surgical removal
- -gram: record, recording
- -ism, -ia: condition of
- -itis: inflammation
- -ium: pertaining to body region, structure
- -logy: study of
- -oma: tumor
- -tomy: incision
Word Construction Basics
- Combining vowels are usually "o", sometimes "i" or "e".
- Combining form is a word root plus a combining vowel, usually written with a slash.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — word part added to beginning of a root to modify meaning.
- Suffix — word part added to end of a root to modify meaning.
- Word root — main part of a word, usually indicating a body part.
- Combining vowel — vowel used to ease pronunciation between word parts.
- Combining form — root plus combining vowel for easier word construction.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize prefixes, roots, and suffixes from this chapter.
- Practice forming medical terms using the provided word parts.
- Prepare for a quiz on this terminology.