In medical terminology, what is the root word?

• A. The suffix added to indicate condition.
• B. The prefix that modifies meaning.
• C. The base part of a term that gives its core meaning.
• D. An irrelevant filler word.

Answer: (C)

The root word is the base part of a medical term that carries its essential meaning. It often names a body part or system, and other word parts attach to it to expand the idea. Prefixes come at the front to modify or specify meaning, while suffixes attach at the end to indicate a condition, procedure, or action. The root is what stays constant as you build related terms, and you’d usually look up the core idea in that root in a medical dictionary. Irrelevant filler words aren’t used in medical terms. For example, in gastritis the root gastr- means stomach; the suffix -itis indicates inflammation, together forming a term that means inflammation of the stomach.