Question

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

a) A combining vowel joins word elements together to create medical terms
b) In the term gastroenterology, there are two combining vowels
c) The vowel "o" is a combining vowel in the combining form pulmon/o
d) In a medical term, the suffix is found at the beginning of the word
e) Adding a different suffix to the same root enables you to build a whole new set of words

Answer 1

In medical terminology, the suffix is a word element that is positioned at the end of a medical term. Therefore, the statement "In a medical term, the suffix is found at the beginning of the word" is not true.

Step-by-step explanation:

In medical terminology, the suffix is a word element that is found at the end of a medical term, not at the beginning. The suffix modifies the meaning of the term, indicating a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech. For example, in the term "gastroenterology," "ology" is the suffix, representing the study or science of the digestive system.

Contrarily, the combining vowel is used to join word elements together, facilitating pronunciation and contributing to the formation of a coherent medical term. The vowel "o" in the combining form "pulmon/o" and the presence of combining vowels in various medical terms, as described in option a) and b), are accurate statements.

Furthermore, option e) is also true, as adding a different suffix to the same root allows the creation of new words with distinct meanings. Understanding the correct placement and function of word elements is fundamental in mastering medical terminology.

Therefore, the statement "In a medical term, the suffix is found at the beginning of the word" is not true.