Prefixes
This part of the medical word is placed at the beginning to modify the meaning.
What is a prefix?
This word part is always added to the end of a medical term.
What is a suffix?
This part of a medical word usually indicates the body part involved.
What is the word root?
This part of a medical word usually indicates the body part involved.
What is the word root?
The suffix “-oma” indicates this, as in carcinoma or hematoma.
What is a tumor or mass?
The prefix “brady-” means this.
What is slow?
The suffix “-itis” means this.
What is inflammation?
This letter is often added to a word root to make pronunciation easier, especially before a suffix that starts with a consonant.
What is a combining vowel?
The root “cardi” refers to this organ.
What is the heart?
The suffix “-osis” refers to this, often describing an abnormal condition or disease.
What is an abnormal condition?
The prefix “tachy-” is the opposite of brady-, meaning this.
What is fast/rapid?
The suffix “-ectomy” refers to this type of procedure.
What is surgical removal?
The rule states: “Drop the combining vowel if the suffix begins with this type of letter.”
What is a vowel?
The root “neuro” refers to this body system.
What is the nervous system (or nerves)?
The suffix “-emia” means this, as in anemia or leukemia.
What is a blood condition?
The prefix “dys-” means this, often describing something painful, difficult, or abnormal.
What is difficult, painful, or abnormal?
The suffix “-logy” means this, as in cardiology or biology.
What is the study of?
This word part is always placed at the end of a medical term and often describes a condition, disease, or procedure.
What is a suffix?
The root “hepat” refers to this organ.
What is the liver?
The suffix “-gram” refers to this, as in electrocardiogram.
What is a record or picture?
The prefix “poly-” means this, as in polyuria.
What is many or excessive?
The suffix “-algia” means this, as in neuralgia.
What is pain?
When a prefix, root, and suffix are put together, you must follow these rules to ensure this aspect of the word is correct.
What is pronunciation?
The root “oste/o” is used when referring to this body structure.
What is bone?
The suffix “-itis” describes this, as in gastritis or arthritis.
What is inflammation?