Does a root word not change the meaning of medical term?

That statement is incorrect. Root words are the core of a medical term and fundamentally contribute to its meaning.

Here's why:

* Root words provide the basic concept: They denote the organ, body part, or condition being referred to. For example, "cardi" means heart, "hepato" means liver, and "gastr" means stomach.

* Prefixes and suffixes modify the root word: While prefixes and suffixes provide additional details about location, size, or function, they cannot stand alone to convey meaning.

Example:

* Hepatitis

* Hepat (root word) = liver

* -itis (suffix) = inflammation

* Hepatitis = inflammation of the liver.

In summary, root words are essential for understanding the meaning of medical terms. They provide the core concept that prefixes and suffixes modify and refine.