Medical terminologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Prefixes and suffixes

Medical Word Parts: Roots, Affixes, and Combining Vowels

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 3 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

A root carries a word’s central meaning, often referring to a body part, substance, or bodily concept. A prefix is placed before a root and modifies its meaning. A suffix is placed after a root and can indicate a condition, process, or other feature of the term.

Many medical terms are formed by combining these elements. The parts provide clues to the word’s meaning, though a term’s full meaning should be checked in context.

All flashcards

What does a medical root contribute to a term?
A root contributes the central meaning, often referring to a body part, substance, or bodily concept.
How do prefixes and suffixes differ in placement?
A prefix appears before a root and modifies its meaning; a suffix appears after a root and may indicate a condition, process, or other feature.
What is a combining form?
A root joined to a combining vowel, commonly -o-, that can connect the root to another word part.
What do arthrology and arthritis demonstrate?
Arthrology retains -o- between arthr- and -logy; arthritis drops it before the vowel-starting suffix -itis.
Name five broad meaning-based categories for medical roots and affixes.
Body, color, description, position, and quantity or amount are five broad categories.

Quiz questions

  1. What is a combining form in medical terminology?Answer: A root joined to a combining vowel.
  2. Which languages are common sources of medical word parts?Answer: Ancient Greek and classical Latin.
  3. What does an alphabetical list of medical word parts help a reader do?Answer: Locate a word part by its form.
  4. What is the role of a prefix in a medical term?Answer: It precedes a root and modifies meaning.
  5. What can a suffix indicate in a medical term?Answer: A condition, process, or other feature.

Based on the Wikipedia article List of medical roots and affixes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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