ALHS 1090 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
CHAPTERS 1 TO 15 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 CORE CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS
◉ eponym
Answer: a person whose name is, or is thought to be, the source of
the name of something (non constructed terms)
◉ nonconstructed terms
Answer: terms that are not formed from individual word parts
◉ prefix
Answer: beginning of a word
◉ Word Root/ Root Word
Answer: Word part that provide primary meaning
◉ suffix
Answer: word ending
,◉ combining vowel
Answer: The vowel used to combine two word roots or a word root
and suffix.
◉ combining form
Answer: combination of the root and the combining vowel
◉ Rules to remember
Answer: 1. A prefix comes before The word root or combining form
2. A suffix is a word ending and comes after the word roots or
combining forms
3. The word route or combining form provides the primary meaning
of the term.
4. The combining vowel for most word roots is o.
The vowels I and E are also used as combining vowels for some word
roots. If the combining form is to be joined with another word root
or combining form that begins with a consonant, retain the
combining vowel. When adding a suffix starting with a vowel to a
combining form, drop the combining vowel.
5. Prefixes did not require combining vowels to join with other word
parts. Rarely, a prefix will drop it's ending vowel to combine with
another word part.
, 6. Medical terms are deciphered by breaking them into word parts,
and then defining first the suffix, then the prefix, then the word roots
or combining forms.
◉ append/o
Answer: appendix
◉ cardi/o
Answer: heart
◉ Cerebr/o
Answer: cerebrum, brain
◉ dermat/o
Answer: skin
◉ electric/o
Answer: electricity
◉ Encephal/o
Answer: brain
CHAPTERS 1 TO 15 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 CORE CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS
◉ eponym
Answer: a person whose name is, or is thought to be, the source of
the name of something (non constructed terms)
◉ nonconstructed terms
Answer: terms that are not formed from individual word parts
◉ prefix
Answer: beginning of a word
◉ Word Root/ Root Word
Answer: Word part that provide primary meaning
◉ suffix
Answer: word ending
,◉ combining vowel
Answer: The vowel used to combine two word roots or a word root
and suffix.
◉ combining form
Answer: combination of the root and the combining vowel
◉ Rules to remember
Answer: 1. A prefix comes before The word root or combining form
2. A suffix is a word ending and comes after the word roots or
combining forms
3. The word route or combining form provides the primary meaning
of the term.
4. The combining vowel for most word roots is o.
The vowels I and E are also used as combining vowels for some word
roots. If the combining form is to be joined with another word root
or combining form that begins with a consonant, retain the
combining vowel. When adding a suffix starting with a vowel to a
combining form, drop the combining vowel.
5. Prefixes did not require combining vowels to join with other word
parts. Rarely, a prefix will drop it's ending vowel to combine with
another word part.
, 6. Medical terms are deciphered by breaking them into word parts,
and then defining first the suffix, then the prefix, then the word roots
or combining forms.
◉ append/o
Answer: appendix
◉ cardi/o
Answer: heart
◉ Cerebr/o
Answer: cerebrum, brain
◉ dermat/o
Answer: skin
◉ electric/o
Answer: electricity
◉ Encephal/o
Answer: brain
