Word Building
There are a few word-building rules that can help either build or translate a new or unfamiliar term. (Remember, however, there are many exceptions to rules in constructing words.)
- The combining vowel is usually “o.” It is used to join word roots together to form a term.
- Example: cardi/o/gram. When the second word begins with a vowel, as in the term gastr/ectomy, no joining vowel is used.
- Prefixes rarely are altered with a combining vowel to join to word roots.
- Example: hyper/emesis, hyper/trophy
- Words are constructed in relation to the body’s structure. When more than one root appears in a word, they are connected in order from head to toe or from the inside organ outward.
- Example: Gastr/o/intestine/al means pertaining to the stomach and intestine. Cephal/o/pelvic means pertaining to the head and pelvis. Ot/o/rhin/o/laryng/o/logist means one who studies the ear, nose, and throat.
- The root word is the foundation of the word.
- A suffix used in a medical term usually describes a procedure or action. When attempting to translate a word, you should be able to begin at the end.
- Example: cardi/o/logy means the study of the heart; proct/o/scop/y is the process of using an instrument to look into the anus.
- To make singular medical terms plural, you need to use different endings based on how the singular word ends. Table 4.1 lists some examples of singular and plural medical terms.