How Medical Words are Formulated

Critique of Chapter 1 of Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 8th Edition

Chapter 1 of Medical Terminology for Health Professions introduces the basic concepts of understanding medical terminology, which is actually very helpful for anyone working towards a career in the health industry. This chapter begins by providing context for this understanding with a rudimentary overview of the main medical terms, word roots, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes. As in any type of new field, one must master the fundamentals before proceeding, and that is what this chapter is all about. Mastering these components is fundamental for being able to communicate and share knowledge in healthcare. The language has a direct bearing on patient care. The chapter’s easy-to-follow approach makes complex medical terms simple to understand by breaking them down into manageable parts. Thus, students can quickly learn to recognize unfamiliar terms and begin to apply their knowledge practically. In this critique, I will assess the chapter’s strengths, including its clarity, organization, and instructional value.

Primary Medical Terms

In Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Ehrlich et al. (2020) explain why it is necessary to grasp the primary medical terms. The reason is that these are the most essential words for students to learn as they develop their medical terminology. The chapter makes this process simple: medical terms are introduced in boldface, allowing one to easily distinguish these key terms from others in the text??.

The simple presentation of primary terms lets new learners soak up the key terms without much strain. The presentation is visually appealing, which makes absorbing the amount of vocabulary necessary in the medical field less daunting overall. However, there are some limitations regarding this presentation approach. The emphasis on primary terms is beneficial, but the book could improve this section by giving more context or real-world examples of when and where these terms are most often used in clinical settings.

The Four Basic Types of Word Parts

Chapter 1 introduces four fundamental word parts essential to understanding medical terms: word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes (Ehrlich et al., 2020). Each of these parts is used in constructing, communicating, and interpreting medical terminology. This breakdown is a logical way to introduce students to the basics of medical language??. It proceeds from basic root words to more complex words where combinations occur or where suffixes or prefixes are attached to add meaning.

Ehrlich et al. (2020) explain that Word Roots typically indicate the body part involved. For instance, “gastr-” refers to the stomach. This segment of the chapter also explains that word roots cannot stand alone and must be combined with other parts to form a complete medical term. One way this section could have been improved would have been by including common pitfalls or variations of word roots that may cause confusion at times.

Word Roots: Examples

Because word roots serve as the foundation of many medical terms, the book does offer a variety of examples to demonstrate their relation to specific body parts. For example, it gives:

· Gastr- (stomach)

· Oste- (bone)

· Arthr- (joint)

· Neur- (nerve)

· Cardi- (heart)

These examples are likely recognizable to most students who are familiar with different fields in the medical sector: osteoporosis, cardiac arrest, neurology, arthritis, gastritis—these are all terms that most people, in fact, have probably used as adults. The book simply shows how word roots serve as the base for terms relating to the anatomical structures or functions or illnesses to which they relate?. Some more comparative examples of the application of these roots would have made this section better, but it is good enough as is.

Combining Forms: Examples

Combining forms consist of a word root followed by a vowel (usually “o”), which makes it easier to combine the root with another root or suffix. The “o” acts as the glue for the combination. For example, the book gives:

· Gastr/o (stomach)

· Neur/o (nerve)

· Arthr/o (joint)

· Oste/o (bone)

· Rhin/o (nose)

The inclusion of the combining vowel makes pronunciation easier and allows for the construction of terms like “gastroenteritis” (inflammation of the stomach and intestines)??. The combining forms are good ways to help students to see just how flexible medical terminology is and how these forms are made by joining multiple word parts to describe medical conditions?.

Word Suffixes: Examples

The book explains that suffixes tend to indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease (Ehrlich et al., 2020). Suffixes are added to the end of the word and depending on how they are used they can change the meaning. Examples include:

· -itis (inflammation): as in “arthritis” (inflammation of the joints)

· -ectomy (surgical removal): as in “appendectomy” (removal of the appendix)

· -logy (study of): as in “cardiology” (study of the heart)

· -megaly (enlargement): as in “hepatomegaly” (enlargement of the liver)

· -pathy (disease): as in “neuropathy” (disease of the nerves)

Ehrlich et al. (2020) give solid examples of how suffixes are used to alter word roots and create terms that convey specific medical conditions??. This section is definitely helpful and effective in showing how words are built in medical contexts. Still, additional exercises focusing on less commonly used suffixes would give students even more of an idea of how medical language is used—but the examples given are more than satisfactory.

Word Prefixes: Examples

Unlike suffixes, prefixes typically tell about location, time, number, or status. They are always placed at the beginning of a term. Examples of prefixes introduced in the chapter include:

· Pre- (before): as in “prenatal” (before birth)

· Hyper- (excessive): as in “hypertension” (high blood pressure)

· Hypo- (deficient): as in “hypotension” (low blood pressure)

· Inter- (between): as in “interstitial” (pertaining to the spaces between cells or tissues)