Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms
Learning Objectives
- Outline the elements used to build medical terms
- Analyze, identify, and construct medical words using applicable medical language component parts
- Explore medical language rules
Defining Words
Apply the rules of medical language to pronounce, break into word parts, and define the following words.
- intravenous (in-tră-VĒ-nŭs)
- osteoarthritis (ä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs)
- osteoarthropathy (ä-stē-ō-är-THROP-ă-thē)
Label each word part by using the following abbreviations:
- P = Prefix
- WR = Word Root
- CV = Combining Vowel
- S = Suffix
- CF = Combining Form
Word Parts
Word Parts (Text Version)
Make sure you understand key parts of medical terminology. Fill in the blanks using the following words:
- Suffix
- Prefix
- Combining Form
- Word Root
- _____[Blank 1] word part at the beginning of the term that changes meaning
- _____[Blank 2] word part at the end of the term that changes meaning
- _____ [Blank 3] foundational meaning of a word
- _____ [Blank 4] used to join word parts to ease pronunciation
Check your answers: [1]
Activity Source: Key Terms by Peggy French, licensed under CC BY 4.0./Text version added.
Downloadable Worksheets
Download the Word document of these worksheets: Chapter 1 – Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms, Medical Language Rules, Prefix and Suffix Worksheet [Word]
Attribution
Except where otherwise noted, this book is adapted from Medical Terminology by Grimm et al. (2022), Nicolet College, CC BY 4.0 International. / A derivative of Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Carter & Rutherford (2020), and Anatomy and Physiology by Betts, et al., CC BY 4.0, which can be accessed for free at OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology.
- 1. Prefix, 2. Suffix, 3. Word Root, 4. Combining Form ↵