Body system combining forms
Gastrointestinal system
The gastrointestinal system, also called the digestive system, breaks down, digests, and absorbs nutrients. The digestive system includes the mouth, tongue, teeth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and appendix. Combining terms related to the digestive system include the following:
Endocrine system
The endocrine system produces hormones that circulate in the blood. These hormones go to target tissues, which stimulate a particular action. The endocrine system includes the pituitary gland, pineal gland, hypothalamus, thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal cortex and medulla, parathyroid gland, thymus gland, ovaries, and testes. Combining terms related to the endocrine system include the following:
Integumentary system
The integumentary system is a barrier that protects the body and acts as a sense organ. It helps to retain body fluids, protect against infection, and regulate body temperature. The integumentary system includes the skin, subcutaneous tissue, sweat and sebaceous glands, hair, nails, and sense receptors. Combining terms related to the integumentary system include the following:
Lymphatic and immune
The lymphatic system maintains fluid balance. The immune system provides immunity to some diseases. Both systems protect the internal environment of the body. The lymphatic and immune systems include the lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils, spleen, lymphocytes, and antibodies. Combining terms related to the lymphatic and immune systems include the following:
Musculoskeletal system
The musculoskeletal system is made up of the muscular and skeletal systems. Since these two systems work so closely together, they are commonly referred to as the musculoskeletal system. The muscular system is involved with heat production, and muscle contractions, tone, and posture. The muscular system includes the muscles. The skeletal system protects, supports, and provides a framework for organs in the boy. It helps with movement, development of new bone, regulation of blood calcium, and the formation of blood cells and platelets. The skeletal system includes the bones, joints, and supportive connective tissues, including ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Combining terms related to the musculoskeletal system include the following:
Nervous system
The nervous system controls body structures to maintain homeostasis. It receives and processes information from other body structures. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, neurons, neuroglial cells, peripheral nerves, and autonomic nerves. Combining terms related to the nervous system include the following:
The reproductive system
The reproductive system produces hormones and is involved with reproduction. The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva, mammary glands, ovum, estrogen, and progesterone. The male reproductive system includes the epididymis vas deferens, prostate gland, testes, scrotum, penis, urethra, sperm, and testosterone. Combining terms related to the reproductive system include the following:
Respiratory system
The respiratory system delivers oxygen to the cells and removes carbon dioxide from the body. The respiratory system includes the nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, bronchioles, and alveoli. Combining terms related to the respiratory system include the following:
Sensory system
The sensory system gathers information through the senses of vision, hearing, balance, taste, and smell. The sensory system consists of the eyes, ears, taste buds, olfactory receptors, and sensory receptors. Combining terms related to the sensory system include the following:
Urinary system
The urinary system eliminates nitrogenous waste and maintains the electrolyte, water, and acid-base balances. The urinary system includes the nephron unit, kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The following combining forms are related to the urinary system:
Building, Defining, and Pronouncing Medical Terms
For a person to successfully build, define, and pronounce medical terms, remembering key guidelines and processes can be helpful. The following sections discuss guidelines for building medical terms and the process for defining and pronouncing medical terms.
Building Medical Terms
When building a medical term, it is important to know when to use a combining vowel, how to order the combining forms, and how to spell singular and plural terms.
When building medical terms, remember these guidelines:
- When combining a root with a suffix:
- If the suffix begins with a consonant, use a combining vowel between the root and the suffix.
- If the suffix begins with a vowel, do not use a combining vowel. Furthermore, if the root ends in a vowel and the suffix starts with the same vowel, one of the vowels is dropped.
- When adding a root to a root, use a combining vowel. FIGURE 3.4 shows how cholangiopancreatography and pyloromyotomy are built. A combining vowel is used even if the second root begins with a vowel.
- Do not use a combining vowel between a prefix and a root.
Common prefixes
| Category | Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Number | bi- | two |
| Position | sub- | under |
| Direction | intra- | within |
| Time | brady- | slow |
| Negation | a- / an- | without |
Some medical terms have two or more combining forms. With some terms, the order of the combining forms follows the sequence of the procedure. For instance, when a proctosigmoidoscopy is performed, an endoscope is used. (Remember, -scopy means process of visual examination.) At the start of the procedure, the provider inserts the endoscope into the anus. The endoscope enters the rectum (proct/o) and then is advanced into the sigmoid colon (sigmoid/o).
Singular and Plural Terms
When singular Latin and Greek terms are changed to the plural forms, special rules apply. When Latin terms that consist of a noun and an adjective are pluralized, both terms need to be pluralized. For example, placenta previa would become placentae previae.
It is also helpful to remember these English rules for pluralizing nouns:
- Most words can be made into the plural form by adding -s. For example, the plural form of heart is hearts.
- If the term ends in -s, -x, -ch, or -sh, add -es. For example, the plural form of stitch is stitches.
- If the term ends in -y after a consonant, drop the -y and add -ies. For example, the plural form of artery is arteries.
- If the term ends in -o after a consonant, add -nes. For example, the plural form of comedo is comedones.
There are some exceptions to these rules, and the spelling of those terms must be memorized.
Examples
| Singular form | Plural form |
|---|---|
| bursa | bursae |
| thorax | thoraces |
| appendix | appendices |
| diagnosis | diagnoses |
| fibroma | fibromata |
| larynx | larynges |
| spermatozoon | spermatozoa |
| atrium | atria |
| bronchus | bronchi |
| calyx | calyces |
Defining medical terms
When you encounter an unknown medical term, take the following steps to identify the meaning:
- Divide the term into word parts.
- For example, divide vasculitis into word parts: vascul/itis
- Label each word part and combining form.
- vascul/o -itis
- combining form, suffix
- Define each word part.
- vascul/o -itis
- combining form – vessel; suffix – inflammation
- Define the term.
- Start with the suffix definition.
- Then add the definition(s) for the rest of the word, starting at the beginning of the term.
- Example: inflammation of the (blood) vessel.
Pronouncing unusual letter combinations
As a medical assistant, it is important to accurately pronounce medical terms. Some medical terms are easy to pronounce, whereas others are more difficult.