Workbook > Unit 1
Unit 1 - Medical Terminology
Identifying the Four Word Parts using Hyphens and Slashes
As you learned in the introduction, many medical terms are constructed from one or more word parts that generally have Greek or Latin origins. There are four types of word parts: prefixes, word roots, combining vowels, and suffixes. Combining forms are word roots with a combining vowel attached after a forward slash.
In order to help users of medical terminology decipher the meanings of medical terms, word parts are distinguished from each other through the use of hyphens and forward slashes. For instance, prefixes are followed by a hyphen, while suffixes are preceded by a hyphen; word roots can appear alone or with a forward slash followed by a combining vowel.
Here is an example of punctuation identifiers: in the medical term "polyglycolysis" (which means "extensive breakdown of sugar"), the word parts can be shown in two ways. Note the use of hyphens and a forward slash in Example #2.
Example #1
| Kind of Word Part | Individual Word Parts | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | poly | much, many, extensive |
| Word Root | glyc | sugar |
| Combining Vowel | o | (used for ease of pronunciation only) |
| Suffix | lysis | break down, destruction |
Example #2
| Kind of Word Part | Individual Word Parts | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | poly- | much, many |
| Combining Form | glyc/o | sugar |
| Suffix | -lysis | break down, destruction |
As you can see from the examples, when one adds the combining vowel to a word root the result is called the combining form.