CLST 301- Lecture 3

Summary of Connecting Vowel Rules:
1. Never after a prefix.
2. User the connecting vowel "o" between all roots unless
1. you are told not to, or
1. 
   
The Components
1. Prefix + root
Connecting vowel
pericardinal [not periocardinal]
transfermal [not transodermal]
acephalic     [not aocephalic]
2. Always between two roots  
   ( Root +[connecting vowel] Root )    unless told not to.
Examples
abdominothoracic
cranioacromial
ventroinguinal
craniocervical
Example of word in which connecting vowel is absent:    chromhidrosis
("abnormal condition characterized by colorful sweat")
Root + Suffix or Termination  ( but ONLY if suffix or termination begins with consonant (other than "h"))
Connecting Vowel
Needs a connecting vowel before termination:
stethoscope [-scope]
cheiloplasty [-plasty]
dermatocele [-cele]
Does not need a connecting vowel:
cephalic               [-ic]
caudectomy       [-ectomy]
leucocythaemia [-haemia]
1. Read the definition; isolate the individual elements which must be expressed.
Important notes:
1. ignore what is in round brackets
2. read what is in square brackets as it provides information you need
Examples
1. pain in the loin        -algia, lumb-      
lumbalgia
2. having the form of a foot [don't use pod-]   
-ate,  ped-
pedate
3. pertaining to (upper and lower) jaws of unequal (width) [use -ous]
-ous, gnath-, anis-
anisognathous
2. Identify elements as prefix, root, suffix, or termination, and place them in correct order.
3. Decide upon the use (or not) of a connecting vowel between these elements.
leukemia
"a disease characterized by the presence of an excessive number of white blood cells in the blood"
reduce it down to the simplest and most important aspects
(a disease characterized by) the presence of (an excessive number of ) white (blood cells) in the blood
leuk-      white
-emia     the presence of (a substance) in the blood
Creating a definition from a term
1. Examine the term and isolate the individual elements: root(s), prefix(es), suffix or termination.
Ignore connecting vowels.
1. caudate                        caud-, -ate
2. omphalomegaly         omphal-,  -megaly
3. ventrohysteropexy    ventr-, hyster- , -pexy
4. transdermal                 trans- , derm- , al
Important:
Consider all possible meanings for any element. Don't just seize on one and stick to it.
2. Decide upon an appropriate definition,  by accounting for all elements.
On occasion, you may need to add additional wording.
1. caudate
1. having a tail
2. having the form of a tail
2. omphalomegaly
1. enlargement of the umbilicus
2. enlargement of the navel
3. transdermal
1. through the skin
2. across (the barrier of) the skin
3. across the barrier of the skin
Note: your definitions do not have to be dictionary - correct.
BUT your definition must make sense in several ways:
1. It must take into account all elements.
2. It must make sense logically and anatomically.
1. chirodactylalgia:
1. pain in the hand and fingers
2. pain in the hand and toes [illogical]
2. -cele
1. protrusion of (an organ or other structure)
2. protrusion filled with (a substance)
3. laparocele
1. protrusion of the abdomen
2. protrusion filled with the abdomen [illogical]
3. It must be grammatically-correct English.
1. omphalomegaly
1. enlargement of the navel   [noun]
2. to enlarge the navel            [verb]
3. navel enlargement              [noun]
4. enlarging the navel            [noun, but it implies a process]
2. omphalectomize [verb]
1. excision of the navel         [noun]
2. to cut out the navel           [verb]
3. having cut out the navel   [adjective]
4. navel cutting                       [noun]
IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! SPELLING COUNTS
Prefix
English:
An element "fixed in front" of a word:
underground
trans-Pacific
In this course:
An element "fixed in front" of a root.
Prefix  +   Root  +  Suffix/Termination
trans   +  derm-   +  -al  (transfermal)
sub-    +   ment-  +   -al  (submental)
Root1  +  Prefix + Root 2  +  Suffix / Termination
ment-[o]   +  peri-   + cheil-   + -it is  (mentopericheilitis)
"inflammation of the chin and (the area) around the lip"