Word Components
Medical terms can be defined by breaking down the term into word components and defining each component. These word components include prefixes, word roots, and suffixes.
- The prefix (P) appears at the beginning of the medical term and adds meaning to the word root.
- The word root (WR) is the core of many medical terms and refers to the body part or body system to which the term is referring.
- The suffix (S) is at the end of the medical term and usually indicates a procedure, condition, or disease. When defining a medical term, start the definition with the suffix. For example, consider the common medical condition tonsillitis. The word root “tonsil” refers to the tonsils, an anatomical part of the body found in the throat. The suffix “-itis” refers to inflammation. Therefore, the definition of the medical term tonsillitis is “inflammation of the tonsils.”
- Combining vowel (CV) is typically the letter “o” that helps with pronunciation. A combining vowel can connect a word root and a suffix or two word roots. When a word root is combined with a combining vowel, the word part is referred to as a combining form (CF). See examples of word components in Table 1.2a.
Table 1.2a. Components of Medical Terms
| Component | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word Root (WR) | Core of the word | hepat/itis
hepat = liver |
| Prefix (P) | Attached to the beginning of the word root to alter its meaning | sub/hepatic
sub- = below |
| Suffix (S) | Attached to the end of a word root to alter its meaning | hepat/itis
-itis = inflammation |
| Combining Vowel (CV) | Typically, an “o” is used to assist with pronunciation | hepat/o/megaly |
| Combining Form (CF) | Word root with a combining vowel | hepat/o |
By defining the meaning of each component of a medical term, you can easily construct the full meaning of the term based on the meanings of its components. See an example of defining a medical term by its components in the following box.
Defining a Medical Term by its Components
The medical term arthropathy contains the following word components:
- The word root “arthr-” that refers to a joint
- The combining vowel “o” that creates the combining form arthro-
- The suffix “-pathy” that refers to a disease
When putting the meaning of these components together, the medical term arthropathy means “disease of a joint.”
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The medical term radiography contains the following word components:
- The word root “radi-” that refers to xrays or radiation
- The combining vowel “o” that creates the combining form radi/o-
- The suffix “-graphy” that refers to the process of recording an image
When putting the meaning of these components together, the medical term radiography means “the process of recording an xray image”
POINT OF CONFUSION! – Students historically confuse the suffixes -graphy, -graph, and -gram. Remember that when you see -graphy it is referring to the process itself of taking the image. When you see -gram, it is the