Word Part Detectives
What do we call a word part placed at the beginning of a medical term?
Prefix
What does the combining form cardi/o mean?
Heart
What vowel is most commonly used to connect word parts in medical terms?
O
What does the prefix hyper- mean?
Excessive, above normal, or high
A patient has inflammation of the skin. What medical term describes this condition?
Dermatitis
Which word part provides the central meaning of a medical term?
Word root
What does the combining form dermat/o mean?
Skin
What is the combining form for the stomach?
gastr/o
What does the prefix brady- mean?
Slow
A provider specializes in the study of the heart. What is this specialty called?
Cardiology
In the word gastritis, identify the suffix.
itis
What does the suffix -itis mean?
What is the difference between a word root and a combining form?
A word root provides the central meaning; a combining form is a root plus a combining vowel
What does the suffix -algia mean?
pain
A patient has blood glucose below the normal range. Which medical term describes this finding?
Hypoglycemia
Break down hyperglycemia into its prefix, root, and suffix.
hyper- / glyc / -emia
What does the suffix -ectomy mean?
Surgical removal
In gastritis, why is the combining vowel o not normally included between gastr- and -itis?
The suffix -itis begins with a vowel, so the combining vowel is usually dropped.
What does the prefix tachy- mean, and give one medical term that uses it.
fast; for example, tachycardia means an abnormally fast heart rate.
A provider performs a visual examination of the stomach using an instrument. What is the procedure called?
Gastroscopy
In cardiology, identify the word root, combining vowel, and suffix.
cardi = heart; o = combining vowel; -logy = study of
What does the combining form hepat/o mean, and where is this organ located?
Liver; located primarily in the upper right abdomen
In the term gastroenterology, identify the two word roots and the combining vowels.
gastr Word root
Enter Word Root
O Combining Vowel
Explain the difference between -scopy and -ectomy.
-scopy means visual examination; -ectomy means surgical removal
A patient is scheduled for surgical removal of the gallbladder. Using your knowledge of word parts, name the procedure.
Cholecystectomy