Is there a rule?

Question

Take a look at these terms:intradermal, epidermal,andhypodermic,andleiodermia,andpachyderma, xerodermaWhy does the word root "derm" take four different suffixes, "-al", "-ic" "-ia", or "-a" ? Is there any rule that I should memorize?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

The inimitable Tamakazura (Email Removed) stated on 07 Sep 2003:
[nq:1]Take a look at these terms: intradermal, epidermal, and hypodermic, and leiodermia, and pachyderma, xeroderma Why does the word root "derm" take four different suffixes, "-al", "-ic" "-ia", or "-a" ? Is there any rule that I should memorize?[/nq]
It takes more than 4. From Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary on the Web, and this is for only two of your examples:

pachyderma (pachy·der·ma) (pak²e-der¢m(schwa)) (pachy- + derma) abnormal thickening of the skin. See also elephantiasis.

pachydermatocele (pachy·der·ma·to·cele) (pak²e-d(schwa)r-mat¢o-s(emacr)l) (pachy- + dermato- + -cele1) plexiform neuroma which attains large dimensions and produces a condition resembling elephantiasis.

pachydermatous (pachy·der·ma·tous) (pak²e-der¢m(schwa)-t(schwa)s) thick-skinned; pertaining or relating to pachyderma. Called also pachydermic.

pachydermic (pachy·der·mic) (pak²e-der¢mik) pachydermatous.

pachydermoperiostosis (pachy·der·mo·peri·os·to·sis)

AND

xeroderma (xe·ro·der·ma) (z(emacr)r²o-der¢m(schwa)) (xero- + derma) a mild form of ichthyosis, marked by a dry, rough, discolored state of the skin, with the formation of a scaly desquamation.

xeroderma pigmento¢sum, a rare pigmentary and atrophic autosomal recessive disease affecting all races, in which there is extreme cutaneous photosensitivity to ultraviolet light, as a result of a deficient enzyme in the excisional repair of ultraviolet-damaged DNA. It begins in childhood with the early development of senile changes in sun-exposed skin, including excessive freckling, telangiectases, keratoses, papillomas, and malignancies, and of severe ophthalmologic abnormalities, including photophobia, lacrimation, keratitis, opacities, and tumors of the lid and cornea. Mental retardation, areflexia, and other neurological disorders may be associated. Subtypes of the disorder have been identified based on the capacity for excisional DNA repair. See also pigmented xerodermoid, under xerodermoid.

xerodermatic (xe·ro·der·mat·ic) (z(emacr)r²o-d(schwa)r-mat¢ik) pertaining to or of the nature of xeroderma.

xerodermia (xe·ro·der·mia) (z(emacr)r²o-der¢me-(schwa)) xeroderma.

xerodermoid (xe·ro·der·moid) (z(emacr)r²o-der¢moid) (xeroderma + -oid) resembling xeroderma.

pigmented xerodermoid, a condition considered to be a variant of xeroderma pigmentosum in which there is no defect in the excisional repair of ultraviolet-damaged DNA; it is characterized by a late onset, associated with prolonged exposure to the sun, with freckling appearing in the second decade and no skin cancers until age 40.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In answer to the original question, there is a rule, but not in English. These are Greek or Latin loan-words, ... to simply have a good medical dictionary, as CyberCypher apparently does, and look them up for the correct English spelling.[/nq]
Guess what! I have no time for dictionaries now. I got to memorize to be able to differentiate the followings:

epidermis (outer layer of skin) dermis (true skin)

epidemal (pertaining to upon the skin) intradermal (pertaining to within the skin)

(different sameness) hypodermic (pertaining to under the skin) subcutaneous (pertaining to under the skin)

(-ia has two opposite meanings!) paronychia (diseased state around the nail) leiodermia (condition of smooth skin)

(-a doesn't mean anything) pachyoderma (thickening of the skin) leukoderma (white skin, less color then normal) erythroderma (red skin) erythema (redness) xanthoderma (yellow skin) xeroderma (dry skin)

I got a test (an exam. test, not an organ test) tomorrow! I can project how the teacher trick me.

Usenet · Answer

In answer to the original question, there is a rule, but not in English. These are Greek or Latin loan-words, so the rules for their endings would be found in Greek or Latin grammar. Best to simply have a good medical dictionary, as CyberCypher apparently does, and look them up for the correct English spelling. JW

Usenet · Answer

The inimitable Tamakazura (Email Removed) stated on 09 Sep 2003:
[nq:2]In answer to the original question, there is a rule, ... does, and look them up for the correct English spelling.[/nq]
[nq:1]Guess what! I have no time for dictionaries now. I got to memorize to be able to differentiate the followings: epidermis (outer layer of skin) dermis (true skin)[/nq]
noun
[nq:1]epidemal (pertaining to upon the skin) intradermal (pertaining to within the skin)[/nq]
adjective
[nq:1](different sameness) hypodermic (pertaining to under the skin) subcutaneous (pertaining to under the skin)[/nq]
adjective, one Greek and one Latin, same meaning, different usages
[nq:1](-ia has two opposite meanings!) paronychia (diseased state around the nail) leiodermia (condition of smooth skin)[/nq]
noun (used for medical conditions) eg "alopecia" = "baldness"
[nq:1](-a doesn't mean anything) pachyoderma (thickening of the skin) leukoderma (white skin, less color then normal) erythroderma (red skin) erythema (redness) xanthoderma (yellow skin) xeroderma (dry skin)[/nq]
noun (used to describe an attribute of something)
[nq:1]I got a test (an exam. test, not an organ test) tomorrow! I can project how the teacher trick me.[/nq]
It sounds as if you have left everything until the last moment. If you have to know all these words in particular, then you must be in some kind of medical college basic science program or an MD or nursing program. Whatever the case, it is not obvious from this list of wrods that your teacher is out to trick you. Western medical terminology is primarily Greek- and Latin-based, and all the roots and affixes must be memorized. Each of the endings you've provided above indicate what part of speech the word is. The meaning of each expression is evident if you know all the Greek and Latin roots as well as all the prefixes and suffixes.

The rule you are searching so diligently for is:

Do not procrastinate!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]epidermis (outer layer of skin) dermis (true skin)[/nq]
[nq:1]noun[/nq]
Agree.
[nq:2]epidemal (pertaining to upon the skin) intradermal (pertaining to within the skin)[/nq]
[nq:1]adjective[/nq]
Agree.
[nq:2](different sameness) hypodermic (pertaining to under the skin) subcutaneous (pertaining to under the skin)[/nq]
[nq:1]adjective, one Greek and one Latin, same meaning, different usages[/nq]
Can you tell apart which is Greek? (I am serious.)
[nq:2](-ia has two opposite meanings!) paronychia (diseased state around the nail) leiodermia (condition of smooth skin)[/nq]
[nq:1]noun (used for medical conditions) eg "alopecia" = "baldness"[/nq]
Thanks. It was one of my spelling questions today.
[nq:1]It sounds as if you have left everything until the last moment. If you have to know all these words ... as well as all the prefixes and suffixes. The rule you are searching so diligently for is: Do not procrastinate![/nq]
Well, thanks to you. I did well in today's test. There was no trick question like I supposed before. I think I got 100%. Next week test is Respiratory System. I got to get busy now.

Usenet · Answer

The inimitable Tamakazura (Email Removed) stated on 13 Jul 7616:
[nq:2]noun[/nq]
[nq:1]Agree.[/nq]
[nq:2]adjective[/nq]
[nq:1]Agree.[/nq]
[nq:2]adjective, one Greek and one Latin, same meaning, different usages[/nq]
[nq:1]Can you tell apart which is Greek? (I am serious.)[/nq]
Usually, but not always. I studied Latin but not Greek in high school, and so many words that have a Greek source were borrowed into Latin, whence they entered English
[nq:2]noun (used for medical conditions) eg "alopecia" = "baldness"[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks. It was one of my spelling questions today.[/nq]
When I first started teaching in Taiwan, I asked my high school students to write an essay on the person they admired most. Little did I realize that their next big English essay test would use exactly the same topic. Most of the students in my 7 classes (ca. 350 of 'em) that semester got excellent marks on that test.

(...)
[nq:2]The rule you are searching so diligently for is: Do not procrastinate![/nq]
[nq:1]Well, thanks to you. I did well in today's test. There was no trick question like I supposed before. I think I got 100%. Next week test is Respiratory System. I got to get busy now.[/nq]
Congratulations! I'm, always happy to hear that taking my advice turned out well for someone. Now if I will copnsent to taking my own advice, perhaps I wouldn't feel so pressured on the job. Good luck on your next test.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]When I first started teaching in Taiwan, I asked my high school students to write an essay on the person ... Most of the students in my 7 classes (ca. 350 of 'em) that semester got excellent marks on that test.[/nq]
Did you teach them how to write five-paragraph essays?
[nq:2]Well, thanks to you. I did well in today's test. ... test is Respiratory System. I got to get busy now.[/nq]
[nq:1]Congratulations! I'm, always happy to hear that taking my advice turned out well for someone. Now if I will copnsent to taking my own advice, perhaps I wouldn't feel so pressured on the job. Good luck on your next test.[/nq]
Since you mentioned my next test, I tell you what are tricky ones.

Suffixes

-ectomy (to surgical removal) -stomy (creation of artificial opening) -tomy (cut into or incision)

-plasty (surgical repair) -pexy (surgical fixation, suspension)

Guess what. I am kind of getting to understand those doctors who mistakenly amputate wrong limb or organ from the patient. Typos and misreading medical terms are lethal.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Since you mentioned my next test, I tell you what are tricky ones. Suffixes -ectomy (to surgical removal) -stomy (creation of artificial opening) -tomy (cut into or incision) -plasty (surgical repair) -pexy (surgical fixation, suspension)[/nq]
How about

-itis -osis

99% of native English speakers (including unfortunately, a minority of doctors) don't know the meaning of those.

-- Wes Groleau -- I've been framed! ... http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9612.html

Is there a rule?

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