Is there anyone that could possibly help me understand medical terminology? My college course has transitioned to an all online setting with in-class closed book exams.

I'm having a hard time understanding the difference in word roots and combining forms.

For instance: she wants us to break apart words like cephalic and transverse into the following categories:

plural noun ending
singular noun ending
suffix
word root
combining form
prefix

Any knowledgeable help is welcome!!! Thanks!

Start with a very good dictionary ... or several. Here is a good place to begin:

http://www.onelook.com
Once you enter a word here, you'll find its entries in a number of dictionaries.

Here's an example:
http://www.onelook.com/?w=cephalic&ls=a

Now ... look at that word's entry in American Heritage and Merriam-Webster.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/cephalic
Here you'll see the word divided into syllables (ce phal ic), you can hear it pronounced, and you can read about its etymology (history of the word).

"cephal" is the root of this word and "ic" is the suffix, which makes the word an adjective.

Try this with other words and see what you find.

Of course, I can help you understand medical terminology! It can be challenging at first, but with practice, you'll become familiar with the various components of medical words. Let's break down the word "cephalic" as an example.

To identify the different parts of the word, we'll consider the following categories you mentioned:

1. Plural noun ending: This is not applicable in the case of "cephalic" since it refers to a single structure.

2. Singular noun ending: Again, not applicable here since we are not referring to a specific individual or thing.

3. Suffix: The suffix is the part of the word that comes at the end. In "cephalic," there is no apparent suffix.

4. Word root: The word root is the core part of the word that gives it its essential meaning. In this case, "cephalic" derives from the word root "cephal-" which means head or skull.

5. Combining form: A combining form is similar to a word root but is used when joining it to other word parts. In this case, "cephal-" is also the combining form.

6. Prefix: The prefix appears at the beginning of a word and modifies its meaning. In "cephalic," there is no obvious prefix.

Now, let's look at the word "transverse":

1. Plural noun ending: Not applicable here.

2. Singular noun ending: Not applicable.

3. Suffix: The suffix in "transverse" is "-verse," which means across or through.

4. Word root: The word root in this case is "trans-" which means across or through.

5. Combining form: In this case, "trans-" is also the combining form.

6. Prefix: The prefix is "trans-" which indicates movement or position across or through something.

It's important to note that medical terminology can be complex, with many exceptions and variations. However, having a basic understanding of these word parts will help you decipher and remember medical terms more easily.

I would also recommend using resources like medical dictionaries or online terminology courses that provide examples and exercises for further practice. And don't hesitate to consult your course materials or reach out to your instructor for additional clarification and guidance.