The language of veterinary medicine is a specialized vocabulary used by veterinarians. A (veterinary) medical word consists of some
or all of the following elements:
1. word root
2. combining form
3. suffix
4. prefix
1. Word roots
A word root is the main part of a medical term and contains its primary meaning. All medical terms have at least one word root. Most
word roots are derived from Greek or Latin. As a rule of thumb, Greek roots are used to build words that describe a disease, condition,
treatment, or diagnosis. Latin roots are used to construct words that describe anatomical structures.
2. Combining forms
A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel. This so-called combining vowel is usually an o, but sometimes
it is an i. The combining vowel is used to connect two word elements. A combining form will be listed as word root/vowel (such as
gastr/o), as illustrated in Table 1-2.
A suffix is a word element that is added to the end of a word to change the meaning of the word and make it more specific. In the
terms nephr/itis, and nephr/ectomy, the suffixes are –itis (inflammation) and –ectomy (excision, removal). Changing the suffix changes
the meaning of the word. In medical terminology, a suffix usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), surgical or diagnostic
procedure, or part of speech (noun, adjective) as shown in Table 1.3. Many suffixes are derived from Greek or Latin language.
4. Prefixes
A prefix is a word part that is placed at the beginning of a word or word root. For example in the terms para/nasal and endo/nasal,
the prefixes are para- (beside, near) and endo- (within, inside). However, not all medical terms have a prefix. Adding or changing a
prefix changes the meaning of the word. The prefix usually denotes a number, time, position, direction, or negation as shown in Table
1-4. Many of the prefixes used in medical terminology are also used in the English language.
The three basic steps for defining medical words using subcutaneous as an example are the following:
1. Define the suffix, or last part of the word. In this case, the suffix is -ous, which means pertaining to.
2. Define the first part of the word (which can be a word root, combining form, or prefix). In this case, the prefix sub- means below.
3. Define the middle part of the word. In this case, the word root cutane means skin.
When you analyze subcutaneous following the three previous rules, the meaning is: 1. pertaining to 2. below 3. skin
(subcutaneous=pertaining to below the skin).
Rule #1 A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel, as in gastr/algia.
Rule #2 A combining form (root+o/i) links a suffix that begins with a consonant as in gastr/o/dynia.
Rule #3 A combining form links a root to another root to form a compound word. Follow this rule even if the next root begins with a
vowel, as in gastr/o/enter/itis.
Task 1. Use a dictionary and match the following prefixes and suffixes to their meanings.
Prefixes Suffixes
1. para- ___ slow 16. –logy ___ diseased condition
3. osteoarthritis:
4. intracranial:
5. nephrectomy:
6. dermatology:
Task 3. Use a dictionary and give the meanings of the medical terms in Task 1.2. The first one has been done as an example.
1. supra-= above, ren= kidney, -al= pertaining to pertaining to above the kidney