Page 17 - 633 102 Professional English for Pharmacists E-Course book

vascul is connected to the suffix without a combining vowel, since the suffix ar begins
with a vowel.

You should also keep in mind that the rules for linking one root word to another
are slightly different from the rules for linking root words to suffixes. Whereas the combining
vowel is dropped when linking root words to suffixes. Whereas the combining vowel is
dropped when linking a root word to a suffix that begins with a vowel, the combining
vowel is always used to link one root word to another, regardless of whether the second
root begins with a vowel or a consonant. For example, consider the term cardioaortic.

Cardio = heart aort = aorta ic = pertaining to
Combining form root word suffix

As you can see, the combining vowel is used to link cardi to the second root
word, even though the root aort begins with a vowel. A combining vowel is not used,
however, to connect the root aort to the suffix, since the suffix ic begins with a vowel.
Thus, the correct term is cardioaortic, not cardiaortic or cardiaortoic. The term means pertaining
to the heart and aorta.

Prefixes

Virtually all medical terms contain root words and suffixes. Many contain prefixes as well. A
prefix is a word element added in front of the root (s) to modify the basic meaning of
the word. Prefixes usually (but not always) indicate location, time, status, or number. For example,
consider the term bradycardia.

brady = slow cardi = heart a = condition
prefix root word suffix

Bradycardia literally means slow heart condition; it is used to describe a condition
characterized by a slow heartbeat. Substituting one prefix for another can dramatically
change the meaning of a term. For example, let’s replace the prefix brady with the prefix
tachy. The term tachycardia is broken down as follows:
Tachy = fast cardi = heart a = condition
prefix root word suffix

The prefix tachy means fast. The rest of the term is unchanged. Thus, tachycardia literally
means fast heart condition, or a condition characterized by a fast heartbeat- the opposite
of bradycardia.
Deciphering New Medical Terms

The three word elements we’ve discussed – root words, suffixes, and prefixes - are the
basic building blocks of medical terms. After you learn the word elements most commonly

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