The words that make up the language of medicine are referred to as the terminology of the medical field, or medical terminology. The majority of medical terms are based in the Latin or Greek. Most medical terms can be broken down into one or more word parts. There are four different word parts, and any given medical term may contain one, some, or all of these parts.
- Prefixes are at the beginning of the word. They describe location, intensity, or amount. Not always present.
- Roots contain the essential meaning of the word, the body part or system. Medical terms always consist of at least one root, sometimes several.
- Suffixes occur at the end of the word. They describe the procedure, diagnosis, test or symptom. Not always present.
- Combining Vowels make a term easier to pronounce. The most commonly used vowel is "o". Combining vowels are often used between roots and suffixes or roots and other roots, but they are not used between prefixes and roots.
Examples:
prefix root suffix
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
inside head inflammation
root connecting vowel suffix
Rhinoplasty (nose job)
Nose "O" repair, restore
