1. Medical Terminology 1

2. Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology has developed mainly from Greek and Latin
In order to simplify medical terminology it is important to
review the following basic word parts :
1. Root Words
2. Prefix
3. Suffix
4. Combining form
5. Compound Words
This will allow medical terminology to be decoded and understood

3. Medical Terminology
1. Root Words
Root words are the basic words and
meanings from which a larger groups
of words are formed

4. Root Word Example:
Cycle
Cycle: a sequence of events that recur regularly in the same order

5. 2. Prefix
Bicycle
Tricycle
Unicycle
Motorcycle
A Prefix is a syllable attached to the front of a root word to modify its meaning

6. 3. Suffix
Cyclone
Cyclometer
Cyclotron
A Suffix is a syllable attached to the end of a root word to modify its meaning

7. A vowel is often added to the end of a root word to help
pronounce the new word
Usually an ‘o’ is used for this purpose
Combining Form: cycl(o)
Cycle= Cyclotron
Cycle=Cyclometer
4. Combining Form

8. 5. Compound Words
Prefix + root word + Suffix
Bi + cycl + ist

9. 5 common Root Words
in medical terminology
arthr /o joint
cardi/o heart
gastr/o stomach
neur/o nerve
oste/o bone

10. 5 Common Prefixes in
medical terminology
anti against
endo within
epi above
hyper excessive
peri around

11. 5 common Suffixes in
medical terminology
algia pain
ectomy surgical removal
itis inflammation
oma tumor
scopy visually examining

12. Compound and Combined Medical Terminology
Examples
arthroscopy visual examination of a joint
gastritis inflammation of the stomach
neuritis an inflammation of the nervous system
ostioma a tumor consisting of a bony substance
pericarditis inflammation around the heart