𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

Group:

Nguyen Thi Huong Que 20204149

Hoang Thi Tien 20193609

Nguyen Thi Huong Sen 20204154

Nguyen Xuan Gia Phat 20204140

THE PROCESS OF WORD FORMATION THROUGH DERIVATION

IN MEDICAL TERMS

I. Introduction (Tien)
1. Background knowledge (Tien)
- Theory of DERIVATION
 Word formation in medical terminology refers to the process of creating new medical
terms or modifying existing ones to convey specific meanings related to medical
concepts, conditions, treatments, and procedures. This specialized vocabulary plays a
crucial role in the communication and understanding of medical professionals.
 Derivation:

+ Affixation:

This involves adding prefixes or suffixes to a base word to modify its meaning. For example,
adding "hypo-" (meaning "below normal") to "glycemia" (blood sugar) creates
"hypoglycemia" (low blood sugar).

+ Root:

2. Periods of developing medical terms (Tien)

- Periods of developing medical terms:
 In the last century clinical medicine developed into many new branches.
 Internal medicine cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, haematology,
infectology, nephrology, oncology, pulmonology, rheumatology etc.
 New diagnostic devices and methods: computer tomography, sonograph,
mammograph, laparoscope, endoscope, colonoscope, magnetic resonance image
(MRI), etc.
𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

 New diseases: AIDS, BSE (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy or so-called mad cow
disease), avian flu (virus H5N1), swine flu (virus H1N1), etc.
 All these new things and phenomena had to be named, documented, and propagated
among scientists and common people
 New words – medical terms – to be formed
 Most anatomical and clinical terms used in medicine today, are Latin or Latinized
Greek words
- Features of medical terms:
 Anatomical terminology: precisely worked-out, internationally standardized
 Clinical terminology: quickly developing, characterized by certain terminological
chaos
 The quick development of scientific knowledge and a need to name promptly new
devices, diseases, symptoms, etc.
 Medical terms can be basically divided into one-word and multiple-word terms.
 One-word terms can be simple (underived) words, derived words, compounds, or a
combination of derived and compound words
II. Process of Word- formation on medical terms through Affixation (Que + Phat +
Sen)
1. Suffixes (Que)
 Definition: A suffix is a word that is placed in the rear position of a term which is to
modify a root
 Most derivational suffixes in English change the part of speech. The derivational
suffixes that tend to not change speech part are (–ist) (meaning a practitioner of a
medical science), in audiologist and psychosomaticist; (-ology) (a certain science or a
medical specialism) in adenology and cardiology.
 Suffixes play a crucial role in changing or modifying the meaning of medical terms.
They are added to the end of a word, altering its definition or indicating a specific
condition, procedure, or concept. Here are some kinds of suffixes in medical
terminology:
+ Noun Suffixes:
Suffixes can convert a base word into a noun, denoting a condition, disease, or field of
study
 “-stasis”: Process of stopping. Ex: “Hemostasis”
 "-oma": Denotes a tumor or mass. Example: "carcinoma" (a cancerous tumor).
𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

 "-itis": Indicates inflammation of an organ . Example: "dermatitis"

(inflammation of the skin), gastritis (viêm dạ dày)
 -ics (Knolwedge, skill or practices) -> pharmaceutics (dược phẩm)
 -ia (Refers to certain names of diseases) -> malaria (bệnh sốt rét)

 Adjective Suffixes:
Suffixes can transform a word into an adjective, describing a characteristic or quality.
 "-ic": Pertaining to or relating to. Example: "gastric" (relating to the stomach).
 "-ary": Pertaining to or associated with. Example: "pulmonary" (relating to the
lungs).
 ous (Full of, characterized by) -> filamentous (dạng sợi)

 Verb Suffixes:
In medical terminology, verb suffixes are less common compared to noun and adjective
suffixes. However, there are a few suffixes that can be used to form medical terms related to
actions or processes. Here are some examples:
 “ate”: This suffix is often used to form verbs that indicate the action or process of a
specific medical procedure. For instance:
"Radiate" means to emit radiation.

Ex: "Radiate" means to emit radiation.

 "-ize": Indicates the process of making or causing. Example: "sterilize" (to make free
from bacteria or other microorganisms).

2. Prefixes (Sen)

A prefix: a short word part that provides less common compared to noun and adjective
suffixes. However, there are a few suffixes that can be used to form medical terms related to
actions or processes. Here are some examples:
 "-ate": This suffix is often used to form verbs that indicate the action or process of a
specific medical procedure.
 a modification to word roots.
 Prefixs are those bound morphemes occur before the bases.
 It is to be placed before (the initial that position) of the added root.
 Medical prefixes are in most cfses derived from Greek and Latin words (Hutton,
2002: 2)
 Prefixes can be attached to verbs, nouns and adjectives.
 Example:
𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

 Prefixes of degree

Hyper- (high, abnromal, over, increased) -> hypertension (cao huyết áp)

 Nagative of prefixes:

Anti- (againt) -> antibiotic (kháng sinh)

 Prefixes of number:

Quadri- (four) -> quadriplegia (liệt tứ chi)

 Prefixes of color:

Leuko- (white) -> leukocyte (bạch cầu)

 Prefixes do not require any modification to be applied to a word root may assimilate
in a word, where a syn- is altered to sym- (both in the meaning of: together, with, joint
with..etc.)

Symbiosis (sym/bio/sis) – The biologic association of two or more species. (cộng sinh)

3. Root (Phát)

In medical terminology, the root word is the foundational component that provides the core meaning
of a term. It is often derived from Greek or Latin and serves as the base for adding prefixes and
suffixes. The root word gives insight into the described anatomical structure, condition, or action.
For example, in the medical term "cardiomyopathy," the root word is "cardio," derived from the
Greek word "kardia," which means heart. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "pathy" indicates a disease or
disorder. Therefore, "cardiomyopathy" signifies a disease or disorder of the heart muscle.
More example:
Derm-: Pertaining to the skin (e.g., dermatology, dermatitis).
Gastr-: Relating to the stomach (e.g., gastroenterology, gastritis).
Neuro-: Associated with nerves or the nervous system (e.g., neurology, neuropathy).
Osteo-: Concerning bones (e.g., osteology, osteoporosis).
Hepat-: Pertaining to the liver (e.g., hepatology, hepatitis).
Pulmon-: Related to the lungs (e.g., pulmonology, pulmonary).

III. Conclusion (Phát)

References
𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC194697/pdf/mlab00247-0013.pdf

https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/162511#:~:text=Back%20clipping%20is%20the%20most,%2C
%20e.g.%20(uni)versity

https://quizlet.com/52241624/medical-terminology-basic-elements-of-a-medical-word-flash-
cards/

https://www.cipcourses.com/blog/helping-students-understand-medical-terminology/

https://www.ezmedlearning.com/blog/medical-terminology-word-root-list

Medical Root Words
Digestive system
Cardiovascular system
Respiratory system
Skin & Musculoskeletal system
Color
Tests & Procedures

Banay, G., & State. (n.d.). An Introduction to Medical Terminology I. Greek and Latin

Derivations*. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC194697/pdf/mlab00247-0013.pdf

‌Džuganová, B. (2013). English medical terminology -different ways of forming medical

terms. 4(7). Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/162511#:~:text=Back%20clipping

%20is%20the%20most

List:, T. (2021, August 26). EZmed. Retrieved December 19, 2023, from EZmed website:

https://www.ezmedlearning.com/blog/medical-terminology-word-root-list

Team, M. (2021, February 24). Help Your Students Understand Medical Terminology.

Retrieved from Caduceus International Publishing website:

https://www.cipcourses.com/blog/helping-students-understand-medical-terminology/

‌
𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 - 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐄 & 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐋