Medical Terminology Simplified

1–53 Rule 1:In the following examples, use a word root to link suffixes that begin

with a vowel.

Word Root Suffix Medical Word

leuk -emia becomes __________ / _____ / __________

cephal -algia becomes __________ / _____ / __________

gastr -itis becomes __________ / _____ / __________

append -ectomy becomes __________ / _____ / __________

1–54 Rule 2:In the following examples, use a combining form (root + o) to link

the suffixes that begin with a consonant.

Word Root Suffix Medical Term

gastr -scope becomes __________ / _____ / __________

men -rrhea becomes __________ / _____ / __________

angi -rrhexis becomes __________ / _____ / __________

ureter -lith becomes __________ / _____ / __________

1–55 Rule 3:In the following four examples, apply the rule, “Use a combining

form (root + o) to link a root to another root to form a compound word.” (This rule

holds true even if the next root begins with a vowel.)

oste+ chondr+ -itisbecomes __________ / _____ / __________ / __________.

oste+ chondr+ -omabecomes __________ / _____ / __________ / __________.

oste+ arthr+ -itisbecomes __________ / _____ / __________ / __________.

gastr+ enter+ -itisbecomes __________ / _____ / __________ / __________.

1–56 Would you use a word root or a combining form as a link to the suffixes

-algia, -edema,and -uria?__________ __________

1–57 Refer to the three rules of word building on page 10 to complete

Frames 1–57 to 1–62.

Form a word with cardiand -gram:__________ / _____ / __________

(root) (suffix)

Summarize the rule that applies in this frame.

Rule 2:

Frame 1–50to Frame 1–57

Word Elements • CHAPTER 1 11

leuk/emia

loo-KĒ-mē-ă

cephal/algia

sĕf-ă-LĂL-jē-ă

gastr/itis

găs-TRĪ-tĭs

append/ectomy

ăp-ĕn-DĔK-tō-mē

gastr/o/scope

GĂS-trō-skōp

men/o/rrhea

mĕn-ō-RĒ-ă

angi/o/rrhexis

ăn-jē-ō-RĔK-sĭs

ureter/o/lith

ū-RĒ-tĕr-ō-lĭth

oste/o/chondr/itis

ŏs-tē-ō-kŏn-DRĪ-tĭs

oste/o/chondr/oma

ŏs-tē-ō-kŏn-DRŌ-mă

oste/o/arthr/itis

ŏs-tē-ō-ăr-THRĪ-tĭs

gastr/o/enter/itis

găs-trō-ĕn-tĕr-Ī-tĭs

word root

cardi/o/gram

KĂR-dē-ō-grăm

Rule 2:A combining form
(root + o) links a suffix that
begins with a consonant.