MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Four Word Parts

Root Word

It is the core of the word. It contains the fundamental

meaning of the word.

Root Word

Player…………..play/er

Arthritis………..arthr/itis

Hepatitis……….hepat/itis

Suffix

It is a word part attached to the end of the root word to modify

its meaning.

Player……………………..play/er

Hepatic……………………hepat/ic -ic means pertaining to

Hepatitis…………………hepat/itis -itis means inflammation

Most medical terms have a suffix.

Prefix

It is a word part attached to the beginning of a root word to

modify its meaning.

Replay……………………………………….re/play

Subhepatic………………………………..sub/hepat/ic sub is the prefix for under

Intravenous……………………………….intra/ven/ous intra is the prefix meaning within ven is the root word for vein ous is the suffix meaning pertaining to

Combining VowelBetween two root wordsBetween a root word and a suffix to ease pronunciationNot used between a prefix and a word root

Usually an

Combining FormA root word with the combining vowel attached, separated by a

vertical slash

Arthr/oOste/oVen/o

Osteoarthropathy

Oste/o/arthr/o/pathy

Oste/o/arthr/o/pathy WR CV WR CV S

---------------- -------------------- CF CF

Disease of bone and joint

EpidermalAbove skin

Epi/derm/alPrefix root word suffix

Above skin characterized by

Cerebr/o/spin/al WR CV WR S

Leading from the cerebellum to the spinal cord.