med100

Main part of a word.

• EXAMPLE:
• Cardi
• Gastr
• Hepat
• Nephr
• Oste

Word Root + Vowel usually an "O"

• EXAMPLE: Word Root + Vowel= Combining Form
• Cardi+O= cardio: heart
• Gastr+O= gastro: stomach
• Hepat+O= hepato: liver
• Nephr+O= nephro: kidney
• Oste+O= osteo: bone

Word ending.

• EXAMPLE: Combining Form + Suffix= Medical Word
• arthro(joint)+centesis(puncture)= arthrocentesis(puncture of a joint)

thoraco(chest)+tomy(incision)= thoracotomy(incision of the chest)

gastro(stomach)+megaly(enlargement)= gastromegaly(enlargement of the stomach)

A word element located at the beginning of a word

EXAMPLE: Prefix+ Word Root+ Suffix= Medical Word

• A(without)+mast(breast)+ia(condition)= amastia(without a breast)
• hyper(excessive)+therm(heat)+ia(condition)= hyperthermia(condition of excessive heat
• intra(in,within)+muscul(muscle)+ar(relating to)=intramuscular(relating to within the muscles
• marcro(large)+gloss(tongue)+ia(condition)= marcroglossia(condition of a large tongue)

micro(small)+card(heart)+ia(condition)= microcardia(condition of a small heart

Rule 1: A word root is used befor a suffix the begins with a vowel.

EXAMPLE: Word root + Suffix = Medical Word

scler(hardening)+osis(abnormal condition)= sclerosis(abnormal condition of hardening)

Rule 2: A combining vowel is used to link a word root to a suffix that begins with a consonant and to link a word root to form a compound word.