Word Structure: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Fundamentals of Word Structure

• A prefix is added to the beginning of a word
• A word root is a word or word element where other words are formed
• The root conveys the central meaning
• Roots form the base to which prefixes and suffixes are attached for word modification.

Combining Form

• A combining form is a word root with an added vowel
• Combining vowels (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y) link the root to the suffix or the word root to another root
• The combining vowel does not have a meaning
• The vowel "o" makes combining forms more often than any other
• Combining forms can be found at the beginning, or within a word

Suffix

• The term suffix means to fasten on, beneath, or under
• A suffix can be a syllable or group of syllables united with or placed at the end of a word
• Suffixes alter or modify the meaning of the word or to create a new word
• When breaking down a word to understand it, usually begin with the meaning of the suffix

Principles of Component Parts

• Some component parts share the same meanings
• This occurs most often with words that relate to the organs of the body and the diseases that affect them
• The existence of more than one component part for a particular meaning can be traced to differences in the Greek or Latin words from which they originated
• Most of the terms for the body’s organs originated from Latin words
• Terms describing diseases have their origins in Greek

Identification of Medical Words

• When identifying medical words, learn differentiate and select the appropriate component parts for the meaning of the word
• Some terms have not been divided into word parts, these are common words or specialized terms that enhance medical vocabulary
• Selected terms are used in medical records/reports, case studies, and in various medical and surgical specialty areas

Spelling

• Medical words of Greek origin are often difficult to spell
• Difficulty arises because many of them begin with a silent letter or have a silent letter within the word

Silent Beginnings

• gn, pronounced n (gnathic (năth´ĭk))
• Kn, pronounced n (knuckle (nŭk´ ěl))
• mn, pronounced n (mnemonic (ni-mŏn´ ĭk))
• pn, pronounced n (pneumonia (nū´ -mō´ nǐ-ă))
• ps, pronounced s (psychiatrist (sī-kī´ ă-trist))
• pt, pronounced t (ptosis (tō´ sĩs))

Medical terms that Contains a Silent Letter within the word

• Pneumonia /nu:'moช.ni.ə/ (new-MOH-nee-uh) - A lung infection that causes inflammation and fluid buildup
• Pterygium /tə'rıdz.i.əm/ (tuh-RIJ-ee-um) - A growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the eye's conjunctiva
• Hemorrhage /'hɛm.8.1d3/ (HEM-uh-rij) - Excessive or severe bleeding from blood vessels
• Gnosis /'ทอช.รıs/ (NOH-sis) - Knowledge or perception, often used in psychology and philosophy
• Gnathology /næ'a:.lə.dzi/ (nah-THOL-uh-ige)- The study of the jaw and its functions

Prefixes That Are Frequently Misspelled

• ante: before, forward
• anti: against
• ecto: out, outside, outer
• endo: within, inner
• hyper: above, beyond, excessive
• hypo: below, under, deficient
• inter: between
• intra: within
• para: beside, alongside abnormal
• per: through
• peri: around
• pre: before, in front of
• pro: before
• super: above, beyond
• supra: above, beyond

Suffixes That Are Frequently Misspelled

• -poiesis: formation
• -ptosis: prolapse, drooping, sagging, falling down
• -ptysis: spitting
• -rrhage: to burst forth, bursting forth
• -rrhagia: to burst forth, bursting forth
• -rrhaphy: suture
• -rrhea: flow discharge
• -rrhexis: rupture
• -scope: instrument for examining
• -scopy: visual examination, to view, examine
• -tome: instrument to cut
• -tomy: incision
• -tripsy: crushing
• -trophy: nourishment, development

Building and Spelling Medical Words

• When a suffix begins with a vowel, drop the combining vowel from the combining form and add the suffix
• For example, necr/o (death) + -osis (condition) becomes necrosis, necro becomes necrosis - the death of body tissue
• When a suffix begins with a consonant, keep the combining vowel and add the suffix to the combining form
• For example, cardi/o (heart) + -logy (study of) becomes cardiology, keep the o on the combining form
• Keep the combining vowel between two or more roots

Formation of Plural Endings

• a like in bursa to ae like in bursae
• ax like in thorax to aces like in thoraces or es like in thoraxes
• en like in foramen to ina like in foramina
• is like in crisis to es like in crises
• is like in iris to ides like in irides
• is like in femoris to a like in femora