Download INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Medical Terminology /
Lecture -1-
INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
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S.L dr.Ghassan Majid
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The basics
ANATOMY OF A MEDICAL TERM
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Medical Terminology /
Lecture -1-
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ANALYZING MEDICAL TERMS
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S.L dr.Ghassan Majid
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TABLE 1.1
WORD PART GUIDELINES
1. A word root cannot stand alone. A suffix must be
added to complete the term.
2. The rules for creating a combining form by adding a
vowel apply when a suffix beginning with a
consonant is added to a word root. These rules are
explained in Table 1.3.
3. When a prefix is necessary, it is always placed at the
beginning of the word.
TABLE 1.3
RULES FOR USING COMBINING FORM VOWELS
1. A combining vowel is used when the suffix begins with a consonant.
For example, when neur/o (nerve) is joined with the suffix -plasty (surgical repair), the combining vowel “o”
is used because -plasty begins with a consonant.
Neuroplasty (NEW-roh-plas-tee) is the surgical repair of a nerve (neur/o means nerve, and -plasty means
surgical repair).
2. A combining vowel is not used when the suffix begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).
For example, when neur/o (nerve) is joined with the suffix -itis (inflammation), no combining vowel is used
because -itis begins with a vowel.
Neuritis (new-RYE-tis) is inflammation of a nerve or nerves (neur means nerve, and -itis means
inflammation).
3. A combining vowel is used when two or more word roots are joined.
For example, gastroenteritis combines two word roots with a suffix. When gastr/o (stomach) is joined with
enter/o (small intestine), the combining vowel is used with gastr/o. A combining vowel is not used with
enter/o because it is joining the suffix -itis, which begins with a vowel.
Gastroenteritis (gas-troh-en-ter-EYE-tis) is an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine (gastr/o
means stomach, enter means small intestine, and -itis means inflammation).
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Word
Meaning
cardiologist
(car-dee-ALL-oh-jist)
One who specializes in the study of diseases and disorders of the heart;
-logist (one who specializes) is a suffix; o is the combining vowel.
cardiology
(car-dee-ALL-oh-gee)
The study of the heart; -logy (the study of) is a suffix; o is the combining vowel.
carditis
(car-DYE-tis)
Inflammation of the heart; -itis (inflammation) is a suffix.
cardiac
(CAR-dee-ak)
Pertaining to the heart; -ac (pertaining to) is a suffix.
dermatologist
(der-mah-TALL-oh-jist)
One who specializes in the study of diseases and disorders of the skin;
-logist (one who specializes) is a suffix; o is the combining vowel.
dermatology
(der-mah-TALL-oh-gee)
The study of the skin; -logy (the study of) is a suffix; o is the combining
vowel.
dermatitis
(der-mah-TYE-tis)
Inflammation of the skin; -itis (inflammation) is a suffix.
dermatosis
(der-mah-TOH-sis)
Any condition of the skin; -osis (condition) is a suffix.
acrodermatitis
(ack-roh-der-mah-TYE-tis)
Inflammation of the skin of the extremities; -itis (inflammation) is a
suffix; dermat is a word root; acr (extremities) is a word root; o is the
combining vowel.
hypodermic
(high-poh-DER-mik)
Pertaining to under the skin; -ic (pertaining to) is a suffix; hypo
(under) is a prefix.
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