WK 3 Tutorial Health Care Terminology I Structure 0910

CC2040 English for Academic Studies (Health Care)
Health Care Terminology I
Structure (Word Root,

Suffix,
Prefix, Combining Form),
The SuPeR Sequential Rule
1 Based on William Tsang 2006

Medical and health care terms
- An exceedingly large vocabulary
- Most terms originated from Greek or Latin

How medical and health care terms are
formed…
Each term is usually made up of one or more

building blocks, called word parts.

How medical and health care terms are
formed…
There are 4 types of word parts:
1. Word Root
2. Suffix
3. Prefix
4. Combining Form

1. Word Root
- A word root is the foundation of a medical term.
- Word roots usually describe the part of the

body involved.

Examples of word roots
- ‘nat’ means ‘birth’
- ‘cardi’ means ‘heart’
- ‘neur’ means ‘nerve’

2. Suffix
- A suffix is a word part added at the end of a

word root to modify its meaning.
- Suffixes usually indicate the procedure,

condition, disorder, or disease involved.
(See Handout “Common Suffixes”)

Examples of suffixes
- ‘-al’ means ‘pertaining to’
- ‘-plasty’ means ‘surgical repair’
- ‘-itis’ means ‘inflammation'

Word Root + Suffix
‘nat’ = ‘birth’; ‘-al’ = ‘pertaining to’
‘nat’ + ‘-al’ = ‘natal’
which means ‘pertaining to birth’

3. Prefix
- A prefix is a word part added before a word

root to modify its meaning.
- Prefixes usually indicate the location, time,

or number involved.
(See Handout “Common Prefixes”)

Examples of prefixes
- ‘pre-’ means ‘before’
- ‘hyper-’ means ‘excessive or increased’
- ‘dys-’ means ‘bad or difficult’

Prefix + Word Root + Suffix
‘pre-’= ‘before’; ‘nat’ = ‘birth’; ‘-al’ = ‘pertaining to’
‘pre’ +’nat’ + ‘-al’ = ‘prenatal’
which means ‘before birth’

4. Combining Form
When a suffix beginning with a consonant is

added to a word root, a vowel is inserted
between the word root and the suffix.
The ‘word root + combining vowel’ thus formed is

a combining form.

Examples of combining forms
‘neur’ (nerve) + '-plasty' (surgical repair)
= 'neuroplasty'
which means 'the surgical repair of a nerve'

Examples of combining forms (cont’d)
'neuroplasty'
The o inserted is a combining vowel.
'Neur/o' is a combining form.

Combining vowels
A combining vowel (usually an o):
- makes pronunciation of a term easier
- has no meaning in itself
- is not a word part

How you can interpret medical and
health care terms…
Remember the…
SuPeR Sequential Rule

The SuPeR Sequential Rule
Suffix first, Prefix next, Word Root last.

(Always in this sequence)

How the SuPeR Sequential Rule works…
Take the word
'anesthesia'.

anesthesia
= an + esthes + ia

an + esthes + ia
Prefix Word Root Suffix

Suffix first
'ia' = condition of

Prefix next
'an' = without

Word Root last
'esthes' = feeling or sensation

Anesthesia means…
condition of [being]
without feeling or sensation

condition of [being] without feeling or sensation
'ia' 'an' 'esthes'
Suffix first Prefix next Word Root last

A few SuPeR notes… (1)
Always follow the SuPeR sequence.

Not every term is SuPeR.

Some are S + R.
cardi/o + logy
Word Root Suffix
[the] heart study of

Some are P + R.
post + partum
Prefix Word Root
after birth

Some have more than one P.
hyper + leuko + cyt + osis
Prefixes Word Root Suffix
excessive + white cell condition of

Some have more than one R.
oto + rhino + laryng/o + logy
Word Roots Suffix
ear + nose + throat study of

Thinking in context is essential .

lith + otomy
Word Root Suffix
stone surgical incision

Yet 'lithotomy' also

means a certain
position for medical
examination.
Source: Wilson, M.W.: Basic Medical Terminology

Concepts. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1996, p.65

When in doubt, consult a dictionary or

reference on medical and health care
terminology!
Recommendations:
1. Dirckx, John H., editor, Stedman's Concise Medical Dictionary for the
Health Professions, Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (with
CD-ROM)
2. Ehrlich, Ann and Schroeder, Carol L., Medical Terminology for Health
Professions, Albany, N.Y.: Delmar Thomson Learning (with CD-ROM)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplusdictionary.html
http://laits.utexas.edu/sites/medterms/pronunciation-of-medical-terms/
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pronounce

WK 3 Tutorial Health Care Terminology I Structure 0910

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Исходное описание:

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

WK 3 Tutorial Health Care Terminology I Structure 0910

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

CC2040 English for Academic Studies (Health Care)

Health Care Terminology I

Structure (Word Root,

1 Based on William Tsang 2006

- An exceedingly large vocabulary

- Most terms originated from Greek or Latin

2 Based on William Tsang 2006

Each term is usually made up of one or more

3 Based on William Tsang 2006

There are 4 types of word parts:

4 Based on William Tsang 2006

- A word root is the foundation of a medical term.

- Word roots usually describe the part of the

5 Based on William Tsang 2006

- ‘nat’ means ‘birth’

- ‘cardi’ means ‘heart’

- ‘neur’ means ‘nerve’

6 Based on William Tsang 2006

- A suffix is a word part added at the end of a

- Suffixes usually indicate the procedure,

(See Handout “Common Suffixes”)

7 Based on William Tsang 2006

- ‘-al’ means ‘pertaining to’

- ‘-plasty’ means ‘surgical repair’

- ‘-itis’ means ‘inflammation'

8 Based on William Tsang 2006

‘nat’ = ‘birth’; ‘-al’ = ‘pertaining to’

‘nat’ + ‘-al’ = ‘natal’

which means ‘pertaining to birth’

9 Based on William Tsang 2006

- A prefix is a word part added before a word

- Prefixes usually indicate the location, time,

(See Handout “Common Prefixes”)

10 Based on William Tsang 2006

- ‘pre-’ means ‘before’

- ‘hyper-’ means ‘excessive or increased’

- ‘dys-’ means ‘bad or difficult’

11 Based on William Tsang 2006

‘pre-’= ‘before’; ‘nat’ = ‘birth’; ‘-al’ = ‘pertaining to’

‘pre’ +’nat’ + ‘-al’ = ‘prenatal’

which means ‘before birth’

12 Based on William Tsang 2006

When a suffix beginning with a consonant is

The ‘word root + combining vowel’ thus formed is

13 Based on William Tsang 2006

‘neur’ (nerve) + '-plasty' (surgical repair)

which means 'the surgical repair of a nerve'

14 Based on William Tsang 2006

The o inserted is a combining vowel.

'Neur/o' is a combining form.

15 Based on William Tsang 2006

A combining vowel (usually an o):

- makes pronunciation of a term easier

- has no meaning in itself

- is not a word part

16 Based on William Tsang 2006

SuPeR Sequential Rule

17 Based on William Tsang 2006

Suffix first, Prefix next, Word Root last.

18 Based on William Tsang 2006

Take the word

19 Based on William Tsang 2006