the foundation
beginning of a word
Prefix
Towards the tail
Caudal
-ism
meaning condition
Nephro-
meaning kidney
Hypo-
meaning below normal
end of a word
Suffix
Towards the head
Cranial
-itis
meaning inflammation
cardio-
meaning heart
Hyper-
meaning above normal
the root or base of a word
Root
palmar
pad side of the front paw
-pathy
meaning disease
Rhino-
meaning nose
Hemi-
meaning half
linking the root to suffix
Combining Vowel
toward the surface of the body or body part
superficial
softening
meaning stone
Brady-
meaning slow
Root word and combining vowel
Combining Form
Towards the midline
Medial
-megaly
meaning enlargement
Necro-
meaning death/dying
Dys-
meaning difficult