Medical Terminology

Chapter 1 - Medical Terminology Basics

Analyzing and Defining Medical Terms
Medical terminology is a dynamic, fluid, and ever-evolving discipline in which terms are
created to describe pioneering surgical procedures, cutting-edge technological
innovations, and newly discovered pathological conditions. As a result, new medical
terms are constantly being absorbed into the vast body of knowledge that is medical
terminology.
A large number of medical terms are built from word parts. There are four types of word
parts in medical terminology:
Word Part

Definition

Prefix

A single letter or a group of letters placed before a root word (or series of root
words). The prefix shows a particular relationship, such as prepositional or
adverbial. In general, most prefixes in medical terminology are used in
everyday speech.

Root Word

The word part (or parts) that provides the main meaning of a medical term.

Suffix

A single letter or a group of letters added to the end of a root word (or series of
root words. The suffix indicates the grammatical function of the medical term
(noun, adjective, verb, or adverb).

Combining Vowel

A vowel that links together word parts for ease of pronunciation. Usually, the
combining vowel is o, but it occasionally will be a, e, i, or u.

Together a root word and combining vowel are called a combining form. Word parts
may be combined in any of several different ways to build a medical term.
Lets analyze a medical term and its word parts by following a basic guide line that will
help you develop important skills in mastering the basics of medical terminology. You
will learn how to dissect a medical term into its individual word parts and then
reconstruct those word parts to determine the meaning of the term as a whole.
At this point, dont worry that you dont know the meanings of the word parts; just pay
attention to the process of analyzing the term. You will be able to use this process to
understand a medical term that you have never seen before. We will illustrate the
process using the four medical terms below:

gastrology
gastroenterology
intragastric
gastrectomy

Example 1
The medical term gastrology is defined as the study of the stomach. This term
contains a combining form (root word plus combining vowel) and a suffix.
Follow these steps to analyze the medical term gastrology:
1.

Divide the term into its word parts. Note that a slash is used to separate each
word part.
Medical Term

Dissection

gastrology

2.

gastr / o / logy

Define each word part.

Word Part

Type of Word Part

Meaning of Word Part

gastr / o

root word + combining vowel =

combining form

gastr = stomach
o = combining vowel

logy

suffix

logy = study of

3.
Arrange the word parts in the correct order. To figure out the meaning of a
medical term, begin with the suffix. Then go back to the beginning of the term and work
your way across.
gastr = stomach

logy = study of

gastrology = the study of the stomach

Example 2
The medical term gastroenterology means the study of the stomach and the intestines.
(Typically, the combining form enter/o is used to refer to the small intestine.) This term
contains two root words, two combining vowels, and a suffix.
Follow these steps to analyze the medical term gastroenterology:
1.

Divide the term into its word parts by placing a slash between each word part.
Medical Term

gastroenterology

Dissection
gastr / o / enter / o / logy

2.

Define each word part.

Word Part

Type of Word Part

Meaning of Word Part

gastr / o

root word + combining vowel =

combining form

gastr = stomach
o = combining vowel

enter / o

root word + combining vowel =

combining form

enter = intestines
o = combining vowel

logy

suffix

logy = study of

3.
Arrange the word parts in the correct order. Begin with the suffix; then go back to
the beginning of the term and work your way across.
gastr = stomach

enter = intestines

logy = study of

gastroenterology = the study of the stomach and intestines

Example 3
The medical term intragastric means pertaining to within the stomach. This term
contains a prefix, a root word, and a suffix. It does not require any combining vowels.
Follow these steps to analyze the medical term intragastric:
1.

Divide the term into its word parts by placing a slash between each word part.
Medical Term

Dissection

intragastric

2.

intra / gastr / ic

Define each word part.

Word Part

Type of Word Part

Meaning of Word Part

intra

prefix

intra = within

gastr

root word

gastr = stomach

ic

suffix

ic = pertaining to

3.

Arrange the word parts in the correct order.

intra = within

gastr = stomach

intragastric = pertaining to within the stomach

ic = pertaining to

Example 4
Gastrectomy is defined as the excision (surgical removal) of the stomach. This term
contains a root word and a suffix. It does not require a combining vowel.
Follow these steps to analyze the medical term gastrectomy:
1.

Divide the term into its word parts by placing a slash between each word part.
Medical Term

Dissection

gastrectomy

2.

gastr / ectomy

Define each word part.

Word Part

Type of Word Part

Meaning of Word Part

gastr

root word

gastr = stomach

ectomy

suffix

ectomy = excision or surgical

removal

3.

Arrange the word parts in the correct order.

gastr = stomach

ectomy = excision/surgical removal

gastrectomy = the excision or surgical removal of the stomach

Medical Word Parts

Now that you understand how a medical term is built from prefixes, root words, and
suffixes, we will discuss each of these word parts in more detail.
Prefixes
Medical prefixes often express information about diseases or abnormal conditions;
anatomical position, location, or direction; measurement; time; number; and color.
Adding or changing a prefix changes the meaning of the medical term.
Following are some common prefixes that denote number, quantity, position, location,
and direction in medical terminology.

Prefixes that Indicate Number

Prefix

Meaning

bi-

two

di-

two; double

quad-

four

tri-

three

uni-

one

Prefixes that Indicate Quantity, Size, or Magnitude

Prefix

Meaning

hemi-

half

hyper-

above normal

hypo-

below normal

poly-

many; much

Prefixes that Indicate Position, Direction, or Location

Prefix

Meaning

ab-

away from

ad-

toward

endo-

within

hypo-

below

inter-

between

intra-

within

para-

near; beside

peri-

around

post-

after

pre-

before

sub-

beneath; below

trans-

through; across

Root Words and Combining Forms

A root word is the foundation of most medical terms and gives the essential meaning of
the term. Most medical terms are derived from Greek or Latin.
All medical terms have one or more root words. The root word often indicates a body
part, but it may also denote an anatomical or physiological quality or condition. If a
medical term contains more than one root word, those root words are typically joined by
a combining vowel. Together, a root word and a combining vowel are called a
combining form.
Suffixes
A suffix is a single letter or group of letters added to the end of a prefix, root word, or
combining form. A suffix modifies the meaning of the word part to which it is added.
When written by itself, a suffix is preceded by a hyphen.
Suffixes modify medical terms by denoting information about diseases or abnormal
conditions, surgical procedures, diagnostic procedures, medical specialties, or
healthcare specialties and practitioners.
Suffixes Associated with Diseases and Disorders
Suffix

Meaning

-ac

pertaining to

-al

pertaining to

-algia

pain

-cele

hernia; swelling; protrusion

-ectasis

dilatation; dilation; expansion

-edema

swelling

-emia

blood condition

-ia

condition

-iasis

abnormal condition

-itis

inflammation

-malacia

softening

-megaly

large; enlargement

-oma

tumor; mass

-osis

abnormal condition

Suffix

Meaning

-pathy

disease

-penia

deficiency; abnormal reduction

-rrhexis

rupture

-trophy

development

Suffixes Associated with Diagnostic Procedures

Suffix

Meaning

-gram

record; image

-graph

instrument used to record an image

-graphy

process of recording an image

-meter

instrument used to measure

-metry

process of measuring

-scope

instrument used to observe

-scopy

process of observing

Suffixes Associated with Surgical Procedures

Suffix

Meaning

-centesis

surgical puncture (to remove fluid)

-ectomy

surgical removal; excision

-lysis

breakdown; loosening; dissolving

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhaphy

suture

-stomy

new opening (created surgically)

-tomy

incision; cut into

-tripsy

crushing