Word Parts

Word Roots Combining Forms

Indicates the involved body part

Arthro means joint.

nay means pertaining to birth.

Suffixes

Indicates the procedure, disorder, condition, or disease.

Itis means inflammation

tall means pertaining to.

Prefixes

Indicates locations, time, number, or status.

pre means before

Combining Word Roots

Combining forms are created by adding a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), usually the letter "o", to the end of a word root. It is used when connecting word roots or when the word root is joined to a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Singular to Plural Form

Table 1: Singular to Plural Form

Suffixes

Common suffixes used to describe pathologies:

-algia

pain

-dynia

pain

-itis

inflammation

-megaly

enlargement

-necrosis

tissue death

-sclerosis

hardening

-stenonis

narrowing

Common suffixes used to describe procedures:

-centesis

puncture to remove a fluid

-graphy

obtaining an image or record

-gram

image

-plasty

surgical repair

-scopy

visual examination

Root Words with Prefixes

Table 2: Root Words with Prefixes

Root Words with Suffixes

Table 3: Root Words with Suffixes

What Makes an Oral Presentation Effective

Strategies for Adapting to Particular Audiences

Every audience is different. At the same time, effective speaking is about making certain generalizations and adapting speaking choices to those generalizations. Some suggestions for adapting to particular audience situations are:

The audience feels general agreement with the speaker and embraces the topic

Speakers should devote less time to their introduction.

If the speech is persuasive more attention should be paid to solutions and ways the audience can get involved in pursuing those solutions.

Language can be more emotional as a way of generating enthusiasm.

The audience lacks familiarity with the topic

Speakers should use simple language and strategies that illustrate and clearly explain the topic.

Similarly, the speaker should draw connections between the topic and the audience as a means of generating interest about the topic.

One particular strategy is for the speaker to draw analogies between the topic areas known to be salient to the audience.

The audience disagrees with the speaker and/or topic

The speaker should devote more time to building a positive relationship with the audience.

This likely means a longer introduction that builds to the topic through appeals about which the audience can feel positively.

The speaker will also need to devote more time to building the case for the topic by using evidence likely to be seen by the audience as credible.

The audience lacks an interest in the topic

The speaker should find ways to connect the topic with audience experiences as a means of highlighting its importance to them.

Audiences that lack interest in a topic are also likely to listen less critically, meaning that delivery and appearance may be more important in this type of situation.

Word List

Prefixes

Suffixes

Vocabulary

Assignments

Critical Thinking Question

Question

Prompt

You are part of a medical care team in a busy emergency department. A new scribe, a person responsible for charting physician/patient interactions, arrives and jumps into the hustle and bustle right away. After things quiet down a bit, you begin looking over patient notes and notice the scribe has been using unapproved abbreviations, made many typos and misspellings, and confused quite a few terms that look alike/sound alike.

Question

How do you explain to the scribe the importance of spelling and only using approved abbreviations? Give an example of two terms that sound alike or look alike. What could happen if these terms were interchanged in the scribes notes? What tips would you give the scribe for learning medical terminology?

Answer

Context

Hi buddy, I see you've been ...

What's Wrong?

What you're doing is very dangerous ...

These notes may have to be read and understood by others in emergency situations.

Example

Let me give you an example.

Palpitation.

• A pounding or racing heart.

Palpation.

• An examination technique in which the examiners hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.

"The patient came in for a palpation"

• That implies the patient has already had an examination of their heart.

Advice

As a step-in solution, I recommend you ...

To learn this long-term, there are medical terminology typing games online ...

Oral Communication Content Draft

Question

Prompt

Choose one medical term from Chapter 1 that you believe is important for a non-expert audience to understand.

Write a short draft (approximately 200–300 words) that includes:

• A clear central message (thesis):

• • What is the key idea you want your audience to understand about this term?

• Audience identification:

• • Who are you explaining this term to (e.g., patient, family member, general public)?

• Organized explanation:

• • Brief introduction of the term

• • Explanation using plain language

• • One example or application

• Conclusion:

• • Why understanding this term matters.

Answer

My Term

Pyrosis

• Discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus.

Thesis What is the key idea you want your audience to understand about this term?

I want you to understand what this term means and why it's important to know how to use it.

Audience Identification Who are you explaining this term to (e.g., patient, family member, general public)?

I am explaining this to a patient.

Organized Explanation Introduction of the Term

Pyrosis is the burning sensation caused when stomach acid regurgitates back up into the esophagus.

The word has Greek origins. pyr/o stands for fire and -osis indicates an abnormal condition.

Together, they are used to describe heartburn in the chest area.

Organized Explanation Explanation using Plain Language

To better understand the word, we have to understand what's happening in your digestive system.

As you eat, food travels down your esophagus into your stomach.

As food enters your stomach, it starts making acid, in part, to help break down food into nutrients.

Stomach acid needs to remain in the stomach and upper small intestine where your body can handle high acidity.

Your esophagus isn't able to handle the high acidity.

Normally, a one-way valve between your stomach and your esophagus prevents stomach acid from rising into your esophagus.

However, there's an abnormality in your system, maybe a loose flap/valve, that allows some stomach acid to rise into your esophagus.

When stomach acid enters, it damages the lining of the esophagus, causing discomfort and a burning sensation--aka. pyrosis.

Organized Explanation One Example or Application

One of the main symptoms of GERD, is pyrosis.

Conclusion Why understanding this term matters.

It's important to understand this term because it appears in your medical history.

As you navigate your health journey and talk with other doctors, you need to be able to accurately describe and confirm certain diagnosis still exist.

There are many different types of pain that can originate near the heart. Knowing the source of your discomfort helps get you treatment harder, better, faster, stronger.