MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | LESSON 1 COMBINING FORMS

 Combining(Linking) forms is formed when a word root is

combined with a vowel.
 usually “o”, but occasionally “e” or “i”.
DEFINITION i.e Combined form= word root + o
 Medical terminology is language that is used to accurately  Most medical terms can be broken down into parts like a
describe the human body and associated components, sentence.
conditions, processes and procedures in a science-based Common word parts/components:
manner. Prefixes / Roots or Words / Suffixes
 The words – or terms – which make up the language of  The medical terms will contain one or more of these
medicine are referred to as the terminology of the medical components.
field…known as medical terminology. • Like every other
language, medical terminology has changed over time and will Word root + vowel
continue to change.  Bronch + i/o/u eg Bronchus/Bronchiectasis
 Most medical terms come from the Greek and Latin languages.  Epiglott + I eg Epiglottitis
 Pharyng + i/o eg Pharyngitis/ pharyngotonsilitis
 Or + a eg oral
IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
 Simplify communication/break down the language barrier. Combining forms(Colors)
 Easy understanding(common language)  Alb/o, Albin/o, Leuk/o – white
 They are specific terminologies, thus makes no need to use  Chlor/o – green
general terminology  Cirrh/o – orange-yellow
 Cyan/o – blue
 Eosin/o, Erythr/o, Rhod/o, Rose/o, Rubr/i/o – red, rosy
WORD ELEMENTS  Flav/o, Jaund/o, Lute/o, Xanth/o – yellow
The medical word contains all or some of these;  Fusc/o – dark brown
1. Word root  Glauc/o – gray, bluish greenan/o – black
2. Combining form  Poli/o, Tephr/o – gray, ashen
3. Suffixes  Purpur/i – purple
4. Prefixes
These four parts of a word is known as ELEMENTS.
PREFIX
 A prefix is a word component placed in front of a root/word to
change or modify its meaning.
WORD ROOT  A prefix can give a root direction or position. It can also give a
 A root is the basic element of a word, and it is the foundation root a specific type/ classification, quality, or quantity.
on which the meaning of a word is built.
 Many roots are real words in their own right and term. Common Prefixes
Although these roots can have other elements, they don't need  Ab- away from midline
other elements to be complete.  Acu- needle
 A root can be a whole word or a part of a word. Roots come  Anti- against
from many different languages, mainly Greek and Latin, and find  Auto- self
their way into English.  Bi- two, both, double
 All medical terms have at least one word root • Most of word  Dys- abnormal, bad, painful
root are either in Greek or Latin language.  Hemi- half
E.g. of Respiratory system word roots and the meaning  Hetero- opposite, different
 Alveol ………. Alveolus(one), Alveoli(many)  Homo- same, similar
Bronch……….Bronchus/bronchi  Hyster- uterus
 Epiglott ………Epiglottis  Men- menstruation
 Lob……………..Lobe  Quadri- four
 Nas …………….Nose  Re- back, again
 Or ………………Mouth  Super- above, beyond
 Tri- three
More Prefixes  -meter – instrument for measuring
 A-, An- without, none  -metery – process of measuring
 Ad- toward/near midline  -opsy – to view
 Acro- extremities  -scope - instrument for examining
 Ambi- on both sides  -scopy – process of examining, examination
 Bio- life • Brady- slow
 Circum- around, encircling SUFFIXES: 5 rrh’s
 Contra- against  -rrhagia – excessive flow, profuse fluid discharge
 Dys- difficult, painful, bad, abnormal  -rrhage – excessive flow, profuse fluid discharge
 Endo- within  -rrhaphy – suture
 Epi- upon, over, above  -rrhea – flow, discharge
 Ex- out, out of  -rrhexis - rupture
 Hyper- excessive, above, too much, over, beyond
 Hypo- less than, under, below, deficient SUFFIXES: pertaining to…
 Hydro- fluid, water  -ac (cardiac)
 Inter- between  -al (dental)
 Intra- within  -ar (tonsilar)
 Iso- equal  -ary (pulmonary)
 Mal- ill, bad  -ia (bradycardia)
 Meta- after, beyond, change  -ic (gastric)
 Multi- many, more than one  -ical (chemical)
 Neo- new or abnormal  -ium (cardium)
 Poly- many, much  -ous (mucous)
 Post- after, behind  -tic (pancreatic)
 Pro- before, in front of, forward  -us (hydrocephalus)
 Retro- behind, backward
 Sub- under, below, beneath More Suffixes
 Supra- above, on the top side  -algia, -algesia – pain
 Tachy- fast  -cele – herniation, swelling
 Trans- across, over  -cide – killing, agent that kills
 -cyte - cell
 -emia – blood condition
SUFFIX  -ism – condition, disease
 A suffix is a word component added to the end of a root/word  -ist – specialist
that changes or modifies its usage, function, or meaning.  -itis – inflammation
 -logist – one who studies, specialist
SUFFIXES: Surgical Procedures  -logia, -logy – the study of
 -centesis – to puncture/tap to draw fluid from  -lysis – destruction, break down
 -desis – surgical fixation, fusion  -megaly – enlarged
 -ectomy – excision, removal, cut out  -oid – resembling, like
 -pexy – fixation  -oma – tumor, mass
 -plasty – surgical repair, correction  -opia, -opsia – vision
 -rrhaphy – suture  -osis – condition of
 -sect – to cut  -pathy – disease
 -stomy – forming a new opening  -plasm – growth/formation of tissue
 -tome – instrument for cutting  -pnea – breath, breathing
 -tomy – incision into, cut into  -porosis – porous, decrease in density
 -tripsy – to crush, break down  -ptosis – drooping, prolapsed
 -puncture – to pierce a surface  -ptysis – spitting, spit up
 -spasm – twitching, involuntary contraction
SUFFIXES: diagnostic procedures  -therapy – treatment
 -assay – examine, analyse
 -gram – written record, recording
 -graph – instrument for recording
 -graphy – process of recording
 -manometer – instrument for measuring pressure
 -manometry – process of measuring pressure
 Rules:  Myel/o – bone marrow, spinal cord
 To define medical terms, divide or slash them into their  Natr/o – sodium
component parts; these word components are called prefixes,  Neutr/o –neutral
suffixes, and roots.  Norm/o – normal, usual
 Use the hyphen ( - ) after the word component to indicate that it  Phleb/o - vein
is a prefix; use it after the combining form to indicate that it  Phosphat/o – phosphate
needs a suffix; use it before the word component to indicate it is  Poikil/o – variation, irregular
a suffix.  Pykn/o, pycn/o – thick, dense
For example: Epi-gastr/o/-cele  Rhod/o – red, rosy
 Use the combining vowel “o” when a suffix begins with a  Sangu/i, sanguin/o – blood
consonant. i.e Termin/o/logy  Sapr/o – rotten, decay
 Use the combining vowel “o” when combining two roots only if  Schist/o – split, cleft
the second root begins with a consonant. i.e. Pneum/o/thorax  Ser/o – serum, serous
 Do not use the combining vowel “o” if you are combining a  Sider/o – iron
second root that begins with a vowel or a suffix that begins with  Spher/o – round, sphere
a vowel (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y). i.e. Pneum/arthr/osis  Strept/o – twisted, curved
 Add –y to a word to indicate a procedure (gastroscopy) or –ly to  Thromb/o – clot, thrombus
indicate an act or process (splenomegaly).  Vas/o, vascul/o – blood vessel
 The suffix –osis always denotes a condition (usually abnormal).  Ven/o – vein
When combined with the color roots erythr/o- (red) and leuk/o-
(white), it represents a condition of abnormally increased blood CARDIOVASCULAR
cells.  Cardium – the heart
 Most of the time, word components denoting color are used as  Cardi/o – heart
prefixes. However, sometimes they are the root of the medical  Angi/o – vessel
term.  Aort/o – aorta
 Arteri/o - artery
THE BODY  Ather/o – fatty substance, plaque
 BLOOD  Atri/o – atrium
 CARDIOVASCULAR  Coron/o – heart
 ENDOCRINE  Embol/o – embolus, clot
 GASTROINTESTINAL  Isch/o – supress, restraint
 INTEGUMENTARY  Mi/o – less, smaller
 LYMPHATIC/IMMUNE  My/o – muscle
 MUSCULAR  Palpit/o, palpitat/o – flutter, throbbing
 NERVOUS  Rhe/o – flow, current, stream
 REPRODUCTIVE – FEMALE  Sphygm/o – pulse
 REPRODUCTIVE – MALE  Tel/e – distant, far, end
 RESPIRATORY  Valv/o, valvul/o – valve
 SENSES (5)  Varic/o – varicose veins
 SKELETAL  Vas/o, vascul/o – vessel
 URINARY  Ven/o – vein
 Ventricul/o – heart/ brain ventricle
BLOOD SYSTEM  Venul/o - venule 37
 Agglutin/o – clumping
 Amyl/o - starch DIRECTIONAL TERMS
 Anis/o – unequal  Medial, Medi/o – midline, toward the center (middle)
 Angi/o – blood/ lymph vessels  Lateral, Later/o – towards the side, away from the midline
 Arteri/o - artery  Superior, Super/o – above, over
 Bas/o, basi/o – base, foundation  Inferior, Infer/o – below, under
 Coagul/o – coagulation, clotting  Proximal, Proxim/o – near, closest to the origin
 Eosin/o – red, rosy, dawn  Distal, Dist/o – away from, farthest from the origin
 Erythr/o – red  Cranial, crani/o – toward the head
 Ferr/i, ferr/o – iron  Caudal, caud/o – toward the back or tail
 Granul/o – granules  Dorsal, dors/o – near upper surface, back
 Haem/a, hem/o, hemat/o – blood  Ventral, ver/o – toward the bottom, front
 Kal/i – potassium  Posterior, poster/o – back, behind, after, toward the rear
 Leuk/o – white  Anterior, anter/o – front, in front of
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
Acr/o – extremities Hormon/o – hormone Asthen/o – weakness Fibul/o – fibula, small calf bone
Aden/o – gland Hidr/o – sweat Aux/o – growth, acceleration Geni/o – chin
Adren/o – adrenal glands Sial/o – saliva Erg/o – work Gnath/o – jaw
Cortic/o – cortex Thym/o – thymus gland Fasci/o –fascia, connective tissue Gnos/o – knowledge
Crin/o – secrete, separate Thyr/o, thyriod/o – thyroid gland Fibr/o – fiber, fibrous Goni/o – angle
Gluc/o, glyc/o – glucose, sugar Tox/o, toxic/o – poison, toxins Flect/o, flex/o – bend Gyr/o – circle, spiral
Hirsut/o – hairy Troph/o – growth, nourishment Kinesi/o – movement Humer/o – humerus, upper arm
bone
GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM Lei/o –smooth Ili/o – ilium, bone in pelvis
Abdomin/o – abdomen Ile/o – ileum Ligament/o – ligament Ischi/o – ischium, lower back hip
Amyl/o – starch Jejun/o - jejunum bone
An/o – anus Lapar/o – abdominal wall Muscul/o, my/o, myos/o – Kyph/o – humpback
Bil/i – bile Lingu/o – tongue muscle
Bucc/o – cheek Odont/o – tooth Pale/o – old Lamin/o – lamina, plate or layer
Cec/o – cecum Or/o – mouth Pyg/o – buttock Lip/o – fat
Celi/o – abdomen Orth/o – straight, normal, correct Rhabd/o - rod Lord/o – curvature, bending
Chol/e – gall, bile Palat/o – palate Rhabdomy/o - skeletal muscle Lox/o – oblique, slanting
Cholecyst/o – gallbladder Peps/o - digestion Rot/o, Rotat/o – turn, rotate, Lumb/o – lower back, loin
revolve
Col/o – colon Peritone/o – peritoneum
Sthen/o – strength Maxill/o – maxilla, upper jaw
Dent/i - tooth Phag/o – eating, ingestion
Syndesm/o – ligament, Mel/o – limb, limbs
Dips/o – thirst Proct/o – rectum, anus
connective tissue
Duoden/o – duodenum Ptyal/o, sial/o – saliva
Ten/o, Tenont/o – tendon Om/o – shoulder
Enter/o – intestines Pyr/o – heat, fever, fire
Therapeut/o – treatment Opisth/o – backward, behind
Esophag/o – esophogus Rect/o – rectum
Ton/o – tone, tension Oste/o – bone
Gastr/o – stomach Sigmoid/o – sigmoid colon
Ankyl/o – stiff, crooked, bent Patell/o – patella, knee cap
Gingiv/o – gums Staphyl/o – uvula
Arthr/o, Articul/o – joint Ped/o, pod/o – foot
Gloss/o – tongue Stomat/o – mouth
Brachi/o – arm Pelv/i – pelvis
Hepat/o – liver Ile/o – ileum
Burs/o – bursa Perone/o – fibula, small calf
bone
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM Calcane/o – heel Petr/o – stone
Acanth/o – thorny, spiny Lepr/o – leprosy Carp/o – wrist Phalang/o – phalanges, finger/
Actin/o – ray, radiation Onych/o, Ungu/o – nail toe bones
Brom/o – odor Papul/o – papule, pimple, acne Centr/o – center Pub/o – pubis
Caus/o, cauter/o – burn Perspir/o – breathe through Cephal/o – head Rachi/o – spine
Chrom/o – color Pil/o, Trich/o – hair Cervic/o – cervix, neck of the Sacr/o – sacrum, triangular
Chrys/o – gold Prurit/o, Psor/o – itching 53 uterus bone @ bottom of spine & back
Cutane/o – skin Py/o – pus of pelvic cavity
Derm/o, dermat/o – skin Rhytid/o – wrinkle Cheir/o, Chir/o – hand Scapul/o – scapula, shoulder
Erythem/o – flushed, redness Seb/o – sebum blade
Eschar/o – scab Steat/o – fat Chondr/o - cartilage Scoli/o – crooked, twisted
Hidr/o, sud/o - sweat 52 Ul/o – scar, scarring Cleid/o – clavicle Skelet/o – skeleton
Lepid/o – flakes, scales Verruc/i – wart Coccyg/o – coccyx, tailbone Spin/o – spinal cord, spine
Cost/o – rib Spondyl/o – vertebrae, spinal
LYMPHATIC/IMMUNE SYSTEM cord
Adenoid/o – adenoids Septic/o –the immune response Cox/o – hip Stern/o – sternum
to a severe infection, putrefaction Crani/o – skull Synov/o – synovia, joint fluid
Splen/o – spleen membrane
Axill/o – armpit Tetan/o – tetanus Cubit/o – elbow, forearm Tal/o – talus, bone connecting
Immun/o – protection, Tonsill/o – tonsils leg to foot
immune Dactyl/o – digit of finger/toe Tars/o – tarsus, foot bone, edge
Lien/o – spleen Top/o – particular place or area of eyelid
Lymph/o – lymph Vaccin/o - vaccine Dent/o – tooth, teeth Tibi/o – tibia, large calf bone
Lymphaden/o – lymph nodes Septic/o –the immune response Faci/o – face Vertebr/o – vertebra
to a severe infection, putrefaction Femor/o – femur Xiph/o – sword-shaped, xiphoid
Splen/o – spleen
Nod/o – knot Tetan/o – tetanus
Ple/o – more Tonsill/o – tonsils
Sarc/o – flesh Top/o – particular place or area
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Astr/o – star
Atel/o – incomplete, imperfect
Cerebell/o – cerebellum
Cerebr/o – cerebrum, brain
Drom/o – running
Encephal/o – brain
Esthesi/o – sensation, feeling
Gangli/o, Ganglion/o – a cyst
on/around joint/tendon
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Narc/o – numbness, stupor
Neur/o – nerve
Phaner/o – visible, apparent
Phob/o – fear, aversion
Phren/o – mind, diaphragm
Picr/o – bitter
Pies/i – pressure
Pleg/o - paralyzed
Poli/o – gray (matter)
Por/o – opening, passageway
Psych/o – mind
Psychr/o – cold
Reproductive System: FEMALE
Amni/o – sac around the
embryo
Cervic/o –neck of the uterus,
cervix
Chor/i – chorion, two layers
that surround the
embryo/amniotic sac and
other membranes
Colp/o, vagin/o – vagina
Culd/o – cul-de-sac
Embry/o – embryo, fetus
Episi/o, vulv/o – vulva
Fet/o – fetus
Galact/o, lact/o – milk
Gravid/o - pregnancy
Gynec/o – woman
Helc/o – ulcer
Hymen/o – hymen, membrane
that surrounds the vaginal
opening Hyster/o, uter/o –
uterus
Lecith/o – yolk, ovum
Mamm/o – mammary glands
in breast
Mast/o – breast
Gli/o – glue, neuroglia
Heli/o – sun
Hydr/o – water, hydrogen
Keraun/o – lightning
Log/o – word, speech, thought
Mening/o – meninges,
membranes
Ment/o – mind
Myel/o – spinal cord, bone
marrow
Radicul/o – nerve root
Rhiz/o – root
Schiz/o – split, division
Somn/i – sleep
Syring/o – tube, fistula
Tax/o – coordination
Tel/o – end
Tephr/o – gray (ashen)
Thanat/o – death
Thec/o – sheath
Vag/o – vagus nerve
Men/o – menses, menstruation
Metr/o – uterus
Nat/o – birth
O/o, ov/i, ov/o – egg, ovum
Obstetr/o – midwife
Omphal/o – navel
Oophor/o, ovari/o – ovary
Perine/o – perineum, surface area
between the pubic arch, the
tailbone, & the legs (male or
female)
Per/o – deformed, maimed
Sacchar/o – sugar
Salping/o – fallopian tubes
Terat/o – monster, wonder
Thel/o – nipple
Toc/o – childbirth, labor
Tub/o – tube
Viv/i – life, alive 72
Reproductive System: MALE
Andr/o – male
Balan/o – glans penis, tip of the
penis
Blenn/o - mucus
Crypt/o – hidden, concealed
Epididym/o – epididymis
Genit/o – reproduction
Gon/o – genitals, semen
Gonad/o – gonads, primary
reproductive organs (testes-
male, ovaries-female)
Inguin/o - groin
Olig/o – scanty, few, little
Orch/o, orchi/o, orchid/o – testis
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Alveol/o – alveolus
Aspir/o, aspirat/o – inhaling,
removal
Blenn/o – mucus
Bronch/o – bronchus, airway
Bronchiol/o – bronchiole
Capn/o – carbon dioxide
Coni/o – dust
Epiglott/o – epiglottis
Lal/o – speech, babble
Lampr/o – clear
Laryng/o – larynx
Lept/o – slender, thin, delicate
Lob/o – lobe
Mediastin/o – mediastinum,
central area of thoracic cavity
Nas/o – nose
Olfact/o, osm/o, osphresi/o –
sense of smell, odor, impulse
Ox/o – oxygen
Pector/o – chest
Phas/o – speech
URINARY SYSTEM
Albumin/o – albumin
Azot/o – nitrogen, urea
Calci/o – calcium
Cali/o – calyx
Cupr/o - copper
Cyst / o – bladder
Fusc/o – dark brown
Glomerul/o - glomerulus
Glyc/o, gluc/o – sugar
Keton/o – ketones
Osche/o – scrotum
Phall/o – penis
Phim/o – muzzle
Prostat/o – prostate glands
Semen/i - semen
Sperm/o, spermat/o – sperm,
spermatozoa
Test/o, testicul/o – testis
Vas/o – vas deferens, vessel
Venere/o – sexual intercourse
Vesicul/o – seminal vesicle,
gland that produces 70% of the
fluid that becomes semen
Phon/o – voice, sound
Phren/o – diaphragm, mind
Pimel/o - fat, fatty
Pleur/o – pleura
Pnea – breathing, breath
Pneum/o, pneumon/o – lung,
air
Pulmon/o – lung
Respir/o, respirat/o – breath,
breathing
Rhin/o – nose
Sept/o – partition
Silic/o – silica, quartz
Sin/o, sinus/o – cavity, sinus
Span/o – scanty, scarce
Spir/o – breath, breathing
Steth/o – chest
Therm/o – heat
Thorac/o, thorax/o – chest
Trache/o – trachea
Lith/o – stone, calculus
Nephr/o – kidney
Py/o – pus
Pyel/o – renal pelvis
Ren/o – kidney
Ur/o, urin/o – urine
Ureter/o – ureter
Urethr/o – urethra
Uric/o – uric acid
Vesic/o – urinary bladder
FIVE SENSES: HEARING
Acous/o, acoust/o - hearing
Audi/o, audit/o – hearing
Aur/o - ear
Aricul/o – ear
Cochle/o – snail-shaped,
auditory portion of inner ear
FIVE SENSES: SMELL
Nas/o – nose
Olfact/o – smell
Osm/o – smell
Ophresi/o - smell
Rhin/o - nose
 Multipara – a woman who has had two or more births
Myring/o - eardrum  Autodiagnosis – self diagnosis
Ot/o – ear  Contraindication – any condition that renders a treatment
Son/o - sound as improper or undesirable
Tympan/o - eardrum  Transposition – displacement of a viscus to the opposite
side
 Acute – having sudden severe symptoms, usually life-
threatening
 Angina – chest pain
 Cellular – pertaining to cells
 Deltoid – resembling a triangle, rotator cuff, muscle in
shoulder

FIVE SENSES: TOUCH

Haph/e – touch
Pselaphes/o – touch
Tact/o – touch
Thigm/o - touch

FIVE SENSES: TASTE

Gloss/o - tongue Lingu/o - tongue
Gustat/o – taste Or/o – mouth
Gust/o – taste Stomat/o – mouth

FIVE SENSES: VISION

Blephar/o, palpebr/o – eyelid Ocul/o – eye
Conjunctiv/o – conjunctiva, Ophry/o – eyebrow
thin membrane that covers the
inside of the eyelid & outside
of eyeball
Cor/o, pupill/o – pupil Ophthalm/o – eye
Corne/o – cornea Opt/o – vision
Dacry/o – tear Phac/o, phak/o – lens
Dipl/o – double Retin/o – retina
Hygr/o – moisture Scler/o – sclera
Ir/o, irid/o – iris Stigmat/o – point
Kerat/o – cornea Uve/o – uvea
Lacrim/o – tear/lacrimal duct Vitre/o - glassy
Logad/o – whites of the eyes Ocul/o – eye

TERMS THAT DON’T FOLLOW THE RULES

 Antispasmodic – drug agent that supresses involuntary
contractions
 Aphagia – difficulty or loss of the ability to swallow or eat
 Sumptomatology – the study of symptoms
 Perianal – pertaining to around the anus
 Thrombus – a solid mass formed in the heart or vessels
(blood clot)
 Lithotomy – incision to remove a stone
 Uremia – pertaining to urea in the blood
 Emphysema – a pathologic accumulation of air in tissues or
organs
 Pyocele – collection of pus in a bodily cavity
 Pneumothorax – air in the chest / thorax
 Diplegia – paralysis of like parts on both sides of the body
 Leukemia – progressive, malignant disease of the blood
forming organs, a type of cancer