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.
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 acombining form that means bone arthr/o is a combining form that means joint -itis is asuffix 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.
definition
Word part at the beginning of a medical term that changes the meaning of the word root.
A word part added to the end of a word that changes the meaning of the word root.
The combining form vowel is used to join word parts and to ease pronunciation. The most common combining form vowel is an "o" but sometimes it is an "i" or an "e".
A word root with a combining form vowel.
follows the rules exactly
word parts that do not fit within the language rules
Word Root. The word root contains the fundamental meaning of the word. It is the core part of the word. Each medical term contains at least one word root.
Building a Medical Terminology Foundation is an OER that focuses on breaking down medical terms into their word parts, pronouncing medical terms, and learning the meaning of medical terms within the context of introductory anatomy and physiology.
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.
The root is the core part of a medical term that gives it its primary meaning. Sourced from Latin or Greek, it represents the word's broader context. “Cardi-,” for example, means heart.
The word “foundation” comes from the Latin word fundatio or fundare, which means “to lay a base for,” “confirm,” or “establish.” Fundare can also mean bottom or base. Fonder and fondation arose as Old French words, and merged with the English word “found” to create “foundation” in late Middle English.
The foundation of a medical term that provides the basic meaning of the word. In general, the word root will indicate the body system or part of the body that is being discussed. A word may have more than one word root. The word root plus the combining vowel.
Medical terms always consist of at least one "root," although they may contain more—sometimes several more. The root of a word is that part which contains the essential meaning of the word.
Main part or foundation of a word. All words have at least one word root. A word root may be used alone or combined with other elements to form a complete word.
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