Chapter
1
Introduction to Word Parts
and Word Construction
Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
• Use the technique of programmed learning and frames.
• Apply the phonetic pronunciation guides that are used in frames.
• Recognize that medical terminology has both constructed and nonconstructed terms.
• Identify each of the three word parts (word roots, prefixes, and suffixes) used to construct medical terms.
• Identify the function of a combining vowel that is added to a word
root to form a combining form.
• Recognize that many medical terms are constructed from word parts
and can be deconstructed into their word parts.
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 1
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 1
Phonetic Spelling Challenge
Spell the medical term correctly in the space provided.
1.proh NUN see AYE shun
____________________________
2.phoh NET ik
____________________________
3.kar dee ALL oh jee
____________________________
4.GAS troh heh PAT ik
____________________________
5.oss tee oh PATH ik
____________________________
6.pee dee ah TRI shun
____________________________
7.FRAK sher
____________________________
8.bak ter ee YOO ree ah
____________________________
9.men IN goh seel
____________________________
10. limm FOH mah
____________________________
11. sigh KALL oh jist
____________________________
12. ep ih KAR dee um
____________________________
13. kar dee ALL oh jist
____________________________
14. MEN in JYE tis
____________________________
15. HEPP ah toh MEG ah lee
____________________________
16. NEFF roh lith EYE ah siss
____________________________
17. noo MOH nee ah
____________________________
2 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
Spelling Challenge
These terms are spelled incorrectly. Spell each term correctly in the space provided.
1.Sufix
____________________________
2.Preffix
____________________________
3.Appendicts____________________________
4.Cardialogy____________________________
5.Fraktur____________________________
6.Glueteus maximuse
____________________________
7.Salbingo____________________________
8.Electrocardeogram____________________________
9.Prenadal____________________________
10. Cerrebrum____________________________
11. Pulmunary____________________________
12. Dermetollogist____________________________
13. Acconyms____________________________
14. Cardiopasty____________________________
True/False
Mark each statement as true (T) or false (F).
_______1.The combining vowel is always used at the end of a word root to form a combining
form.
_______2.The term musculoskeletal means “pertaining to muscular and skeletal.”
_______3.Not every medical term has all three word parts.
_______4.Medical terminology is a functional language.
_______5.The word root and combining vowel hyster/o mean “uterus.”
_______6.The combining form path/o means “nerve.”
_______7.The combining form leuk/o means “disease.”
_______8.The combining form neur/o means “birth.”
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 3
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
_______9.The combining form mamm/o means “breast.”
_______10. The combining form proct/o means “rectum.”
Short Answer
Write the definition for each of the following terms.
21. Nonconstructed terms _____________________________________________________________
22. Constructed terms
_____________________________________________________________
23. Prenatal_____________________________________________________________
24. Cardioplasty_____________________________________________________________
Word Search
Fill in the blank with the correct medical term from this chapter, then find those terms in the word
search puzzle that follows.
1.A(n) ____________________________ is a word part that is affixed to the beginning of a
word.
2.A(n) ____________________________ is a word part that provides the primary meaning of
the term.
3.As a general rule, the ____________________________ ____________________________ is
used only to connect a word root with a suffix that begins with a consonant.
4.The term ____________________________ means “the condition of having gallstones.”
5.The term ____________________________ means “inflammation of the stomach and small
intestine.”
6.The term that means “inflammation of the appendix” is ____________________________.
7.The term that means “surgical repair of the heart” is ____________________________.
8.The suffix -ectomy means ____________________________.
9.____________________________ is the plural form of fibroma.
10. Many medical terms are ____________________________, or made up of multiple word parts
that are combined to form a new word.
11. ____________________________ are terms that are not formed from individual word parts.
12. ____________________________ means “inflammation of the heart.”
4 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
13. Inflammation of the brain is known as ____________________________.
14. A(n) ____________________________ is a physician who specializes in the diseases of the
heart.
15. The word root and combining vowel rhin/o mean ____________________________.
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© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
M S
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 5
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 2
Dictation Report
Write each numbered term as you hear it, spelling each term correctly. This exercise will help you
learn to hear, comprehend, visualize, and spell the new medical terms accurately.
(1) ____________________________ is a functional language, with rules of grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. Many medical terms are (2) ____________________________, which are
made up of multiple word parts that are combined to form a new word. Some medical terms are
(3) ____________________________. These are terms that are not formed from individual word
parts. Nonconstructed terms include (4) ____________________________, or terms derived from
the names of people.
A(n) (5) ____________________________ is a word part that is affixed to the beginning of a
word. A(n) (6) ____________________________ is a word part that is affixed to the end of a word.
Both prefixes and suffixes are added to (7) ____________________________, which provide the primary meaning of the term. A fourth word part is the (8) ____________________________.
When you understand the parts of medical terms, you can construct many different words.
For example, the term (9) “____________________________” means the study of the heart.
This term uses the word root for “heart,” (10) ____________________________, and the suffix
(11) ____________________________, which means “the study of.” Each medical term is much like
a puzzle to solve.
(12) ____________________________ is a prefix that means “above” or “on top.” When it is
combined with the word (13) ____________________________, which means “pertaining to skin,”
it forms the new term (14) ____________________________, which means “pertaining to on top
of the skin.” The term (15) ____________________________ is made up of the word root and
combining vowel (16) ____________________________, which means uterus, and the suffix (17)
____________________________, which means “removal of.” This term means “removal of the
uterus.” Studying medical terminology with the understanding of the parts of each word is important for all medical professionals.
6 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 3
Building Medical Terms
Fill in the blank with the correct medical term from this chapter.
There are many situations in health care where an organ or structure in the body requires removal.
Sometimes an organ requires removal because of infection, as in removal of the appendix, or ­because
of cancer, as in surgical removal of the breast. The process by which removal takes place is surgery
or an operation. With the roots you have learned, put together the appropriate medical term for the
surgical removal of each of the following structures.
1.Appendix _____________________
2.Liver _____________________
3.Breast ______________________
4.Larynx ______________________
5.Tonsils ______________________
6.Uterus ______________________
7.Stomach ______________________
At times the diseased structure will require only partial removal and can then be repaired. Also, an
injury may require repair. An example of this occurs in the stomach, where a partial removal of the
stomach, or partial ____________________, may be followed by a surgical repair of the stomach, or
___________________.
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 7
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 4
Which Term Does Not Belong?
Circle the term that is not related to the other terms. Then explain why the term does not belong
with the others.
1.Constructed versus non-constructed terms
a.
Cardiology
b.
Mammoplasty
c.
Hepatitis
d.
Prenatal
e.
Eustation tube
Why does it not belong? ____________________________________________________________
2.Singular terms versus plural terms
a.
Diagnoses
b.
Fibromata
c.
Fungi
d.
Episiotomy
e.
Vertebrae
Why does it not belong? ____________________________________________________________
3.Greek versus Latin terms
a.
Maximus
b.
Psyche
c.
Lithos
d.
Pathos
e.
Derma
Why does it not belong? ____________________________________________________________
4.Root words
a.
anti
b.
cardi
c.
dermat
d.
hem
e.
mamm
Why does it not belong? ____________________________________________________________
8 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
5.Suffixes
a.
-gram
b.
-iatry
c.
-rhin
d.
-scope
e.
-pathy
Why does it not belong? ____________________________________________________________
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 9
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 5
Crossword Puzzle
Directions: Fill in the crossword puzzle with the words missing from the sentences below. Match
the number of the sentence to the boxes placed across or down the grid. If filled out correctly, the
words will fit neatly into the puzzle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
ACROSS
3 Many medical terms are ___________.
terms, which are made up of multiple
word parts that are combined to from
a new word.
4 The plural form of the term vertebra
is ___________.
6 A(n) ___________ is a word part that is
affixed to the end of a word.
7 A(n) ___________ is a word part that is
affixed to the beginning of a word.
8 The prefix endo- means ___________.
DOWN
1 A word ___________ is a word part that
provides the primary meaning of the term.
2 The prefix neo- means ___________.
4 The combining ___________ is used when a
word root requires a connecting vowel to
add a suffix that begins with a consonant,
or to add another word root, when forming
a term.
5 The suffix -ectomy means surgical ___________,
removal.
10 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 1 Answers
Phonetic Spelling Challenge
1.Pronunciation
2.Phonetic
3.Cardiology
4.Gastrohepatic
5.Osteopathic
6.Pediatrician
7.Fracture
8.Bacteriuria
9.Meningocele
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Lymphoma
Psychologist
Epicardium
Cardiologist
Meningitis
Hepatomegaly
Nephrolithiasis
Pneumonia
Spelling Challenge
1.Suffix
2.Prefix
3.Appendix
4.Cardiology
5.Fracture
6.Gluteus maximus
7.Salpingo
8.Electrocardiogram
9.Prenatal
10. Cerebrum
11. Pulmonary
12. Dermatologist
13. Acronyms
14. Cardioplasty
True/False
1.F
2.T
3.T
4.T
5.T
6.F
7.F
8.F
9.T
10. T
Word Search
1.prefix
2.word root
3.combining vowel
4.cholelithiasis
5.gastroenteritis
6.appendicitis
7.cardioplasty
8.surgical removal
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
9.Fibromata
10. constructed terms
11. Nonconstructed terms
12. Carditis
13. encephalitis
14. cardiologist
15. nose
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 11
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
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12 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 2 Answers
Dictation Report
Write each numbered term as you hear it, spelling each term correctly. This exercise will help you
learn to hear, comprehend, visualize, and spell the new medical terms accurately.
(1) Medical terminology is a functional language, with rules of grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. Many medical terms are (2) constructed terms, which are made up of multiple word parts
that are combined to form a new word. Some medical terms are (3) nonconstructed terms. These are
terms that are not formed from individual word parts. Nonconstructed terms include (4) eponyms,
or terms derived from the names of people.
A (5) prefix is a word part that is affixed to the beginning of a word. A (6) suffix is a word part
that is affixed to the end of a word. Both prefixes and suffixes are added to (7) word roots, which
provide the primary meaning of the term. A fourth word part is the (8) combining vowel.
When you understand the parts of medical terms, you can construct many different words. For
example, the term (9) “cardiology” means the study of the heart. This term uses the word root for
“heart,” (10) cardi, and the suffix (11) –ology, which means “the study of.” Every medical term is
much like a puzzle to solve.
(12) Epi- is a prefix that means “above” or “on top.” When it is combined with the word
(13) dermis, which means “pertaining to skin,” it forms the new term (14) epidermis, which means
“pertaining to on top of the skin.” The term (15) hysterectomy is made up of the word root and
combining vowel (16) hyster/o, which means uterus, and the suffix (17) -ectomy, which means
“removal of.” This term means “removal of the uterus.”
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 13
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 3 Answers
Building Medical Terms
1.Appendectomy
2.Hepatectomy
3.Mastectomy
4.Laryngectomy
5.Tonsillectomy
6.Hysterectomy
7.Gastrectomy
8.Gastrectomy
9.Gastroplasty
14 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 4 Answers
Which Term Does Not Belong?
1.E
2.D
3.A
4.A
5.C
Eustacian tube is a nonconstructed term. Eustacian is derived from a proper name.
Episiotomy is a singular term, whereas all other terms are in their plural form.
Maximus is a Latin derivative, whereas the other terms are derived from Greek.
Anti- is a prefix, and other terms are word roots.
Rhin is a word root that means “nose.” The other choices are all suffixes.
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction 15
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Word Parts and Word Construction
Worksheet 5 Answers
Crossword Puzzle
Solution:
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16 Chapter 1/ Word Parts and Word Construction
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.
Wingerd, In-Class Activities to Accompany Medical Terminology Complete!, 2nd Edition