PPT Slide
When you look at a medical term (and don’t know what it means), it doesn’t look like English at all.
But, when you’re able to break it down, you can see that each part of the word has it’s own meaning, and combining them creates a specific description of a part of the anatomy, a disease, or condition.
The combining form helps you define the different parts - and their order. (Their order is important so you can determine which organ system, anatomical part, or condition is of primary interest.)
Ot/o = pertaining to the ear
Rhin/o = pertaining to the nose
Laryng = pertaining to the throat
ologist = one who studies
(notice that this suffix does NOT start with a consonant!)
ear, nose, and throat doctor