What is a root word in medical terminology?

• A. The suffix that modifies the term.
• B. The prefix that changes meaning.
• C. The base part of a term that gives its core meaning.
• D. A pronoun used in notes.

Answer: (C)

In medical terminology, the root word is the base part that carries the main meaning of the term. It forms the core concept, such as cardi- for heart or gastr- for stomach. Prefixes and suffixes are added to modify or specify that meaning—prefixes give information like location, time, or number, while suffixes indicate conditions, procedures, or diseases. A combining vowel (often o) helps link roots to each other or to suffixes, as in gastr/o- or cardi/o-. A pronoun used in notes isn’t part of a medical term. So the root word provides the central meaning of the term.