Word Building Basics
Which word part gives the essential meaning of a medical term?
The word root
Prefix meaning “fast.”
Tachy
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate
Which term indicates enlargement of the liver?
Hepatomegaly
Term meaning one side of the body.
Unilateral
Which word part usually changes the meaning most dramatically when altered?
The prefix
Which prefix means “not” or “without”?
A or an
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing
Which term indicates nerve disease?
Neuropathy
Plural of vertebra.
Vertabrae
Which rule explains why neurology uses “o” instead of “i”?
The most commonly used combining vowel is “o”
Which prefix would best describe pain before childbirth?
Pre
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach
Which term indicates bone weakening?
Osteoporosis
Plural of ganglion.
Ganglia
In cardiomyopathy, why is the combining vowel retained between roots?
Because two word roots are being joined
Which prefix would correctly describe inflammation between the ribs?
Inter
Endoscopic colostomy
Visual examination related to a surgical opening of the colon
Which term indicates surgical cutting into the abdomen?
Laparotomy
Plural of apex
Apices
Explain why cardiologist does NOT require a combining vowel before the suffix.
Because the suffix begins with a vowel
A patient has pain under the skin but around the muscle. Which prefix applies to skin location?
Sub
Postoperative tachycardia with hypotension
A fast heart rate with low blood pressure occurring after surgery
Which term indicates visual examination of vessels?
Angiography
Explain why bronchus → bronchi, but virus → viruses.
Because medical plural rules apply to Latin-based anatomical terms