Medical Terminology Simplified

WORD ELEMENTS

This section introduces CFs related to the small intestine and colon. Key suffixes are defined in

the right-hand column as needed. Review the following table, and pronounce each word in the

word analysis column aloud before you begin to work the frames.

Word Element Meaning Word Analysis

Combining Forms

Small Intestine

duoden/o duodenum (first duoden/o/scopy (dū-ŏd-ĕ-NŎS-kō-pē): visual examination of the duodenum

part of the small -scopy: visual examination

intestine)

enter/o intestine enter/o/pathy (ĕn-tĕr-ŎP-ă-thē): any intestinal disease

(usually the -pathy: disease

small intestine)

jejun/o jejunum (second jejun/o/rrhaphy (jĕ-joo-NOR-ă-fē): suture of the jejunum

part of the small -rrhaphy: suture

intestine)

ile/o ileum (third ile/o/stomy (ĭl-ē-ŎS-tō-mē): incision of the ileum (ileotomy) and creation of a

part of the permanent opening

small intestine) -stomy*: forming an opening (mouth)

Ileostomy is performed following a total colectomy. The ileum is pulled out through the

abdominal wall. The edges of the wall of the colon are rolled to make a mouth (stoma)

that is then sutured to the abdominal wall. The patient wears a plastic pouch on the

abdomen to collect feces.

Large Intestine

append/o appendix append/ectomy (ăp-ĕn-DĔK-tō-mē): removal of the appendix

-ectomy: excision, removal

Appendectomy is performed to remove a diseased appendix that is in danger of rupturing.

appendic/o appendic/itis (ă-pĕn-dĭ-SĪ-tĭs): inflammation of the appendix

-itis: inflammation

col/o colon col/o/stomy (kō-LŎS-tō-mē): creation of an opening between the colon and the

abdominal wall

-stomy*: forming an opening (mouth)

A colostomy creates a place for fecal matter to exit the body other than through the

anus. It may be temporary or permanent.

colon/o colon/o/scopy (kō-lŏn-ŎS-kō-pē): visual examination of the inner surface of the

colon using a long, flexible endoscope

-scopy: visual examination

proct/o anus, rectum proct/o/logist (prŏk-TŎL-ō-jĭst): physician who specializes in treating disorders

of the colon, rectum, and anus

-logist: specialist in the study of

rect/o rectum rect/o/cele (RĔK-tō-sēl): herniation or protrusion of the rectum; also called proctocele

-cele: hernia, swelling

sigmoid/o sigmoid colon sigmoid/o/tomy (sĭg-moyd-ŎT-ō-mē): incision of the sigmoid colon

-tomy: incision

Pronunciation Help Long sound a ̄in ra ̄te e ̄in re ̄birth ı ̄in ı ̄sle o ̄in o ̄ver u ̄in u ̄nite

Short sound a ̆in a ̆lone e ̆in e ̆ver ̆ıin ı ̆t o ̆in no ̆t u ̆in cu ̆t

*When the suffix -stomyis used with a combining form that denotes an organ, it refers to a surgical opening to the outside of the body.

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exercise of the terms in this table. It will help you master pronunciations and meanings

of medical terms.