Module 1 & 2
Combining Vowel
(usually o or i and, less frequently u) used between two elements of a medical term to make the term easier to pronounce
phil
an affinity for, attraction or love
Ex. hemophiliac- a lover of blood
Benign
mild, not cancerous
Ex. benign tumor
Calc
heel; stone/ basically refers to calcium
Ex. calcaneus- name of the heel bone
Glom
ball/ rounded mass
Ex. glomus- a small round anatomical swelling made up of tiny blood vessels
Word Terminal
A suffix or word ending that denotes the part of speech of the medical term (noun, verb, adjective)
trophy
development, growth, nutrition
Ex. atrophy- a wasting away or decrease in size of body part
Onco
mass, tumor, swelling
Ex. oncology- the study of tumors
Furca
fork-shaped
Ex. bifurcate- divided into two like a fork
Strict
to draw tight/ narrowing
Ex. stricture- abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct
-malacia
soft
Intra
within
Ex. intramembraneous- within membranes
Lapar
abdominal wall/ loin/ lower back and sides
Ex. laparotomy- surgical incision in the flank
Plak
a plate, a patch of eruption
Ex. malacoplakia- the formation of soft patches on the mucous membrane of a hollow organ
Cryo
cold
Ex. cryotherapy- the therapeutic use of cold
-penia
deficiency
Peri
around
Ex. pericardium- the membrane sac around the heart
Plasia
development, growth
Ex. hyperplasia- abnormal increase in growth
Radic
root/ origin
Ex. radical- directed to the cause; source of a morbid process
Ameb
change/ parasite that changes shape
Ex. amebaisis- infestation of amoebas
-ostomy
to create an opening
ptosis
falling; sagging; drooping
Ex. blepharoptosis- drooping of upper eyelid
Viscereo
organ; internal organ
Ex. viscera- the name for internal organs taken collectively
Pariet
wall, wall of organ/ cavity
Ex. parietitis- inflammation of the wall of a cavity
Ramus
branch/ branchlike projection
Ex. ramitis- inflammation of a root