BRCC Medical Terminology Exam 1

Word Root

The word part that is the core of the word

Example: play in play/er; arthr in rather/itis

Prefix

The word part attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning

Example: re in re/play; sub in sub/hepat/ic

Suffix

The word part attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning

Example: er in play/er; ic in heptic

Combining vowel

The word part, usually an o, used to ease pronunciation. It connects two word roots, connects a word root and suffix, and is NOT placed to connect a prefix and word root

Example: o is oste/o/arthr/itis; hept in sub/hept/ic

anter/o

Combining form meaning front

caud/o

Combining form meaning tail (downward)

cephalic/o

Combining form meaning head (upward)

dist/o

Combining form meaning away (from the point of attachment of a body part)

dors/o

Combining form meaning back

infer/o

Combining form meaning below

later/o

Combining form meaning side

medi/o

Combining form meaning middle

poster/o

Combining form meaning back, behind

proxim/o

Combining form meaning near (the point of attachment of a body part)

super/o

Combining form meaning above

ventr/o

Combining form meaning belly (front)

cutane/o, demro/o, dermat/o

Combining form meaning skin

hidr/o

Combining form meaning sweat

kerat/o

Combining form meaning horny skin tissue (keratin), hard; can also refer to the cornea of the eye

onych/o, ungu/o

Combining form meaning nail

seb/o

Combining form meaning sebum (oil)

aut/o

Combining form meaning self

bi/o

Combining form meaning life

coni/o

Combining form meaning dust

crypt/o

Combining form meaning hidden

heter/o

Combining form meaning other

myc/o

Combining form meaning fungus

necr/o

Combining form meaning death (cell, body)

pachy/o

Combining form meaning thick

rhytid/o

Combining form meaning wrinkles

staphyl/o

Combining form meaning grape like clusters

strept/o

Combining form meaning twisted chains

xer/o

Combining form meaning dry, dryness

adenoid/o

Combining form meaning adenoids

alveol/o

Combining form meaning alveolus

bronch/o, bronchi/o

Combining form meaning bronchus

diaphragm/o, phren/o

Combining form meaning diaphragm

epiglott/o

Combining form meaning epiglottis (voice box)

laryng/o

Combining form meaning larynx

lob/o

Combining form meaning lobe

nas/o, rhin/o

Combining form meaning nose

pharyn/o

Combining form meaning pharynx

pleur/o

Combining form meaning pleura

pneum/o, pnemat/o, pneumon/o

Combining form meaning lung, air

pulmon/o

Combining form meaning lung

sept/o

Combining form meaning septum (wall off, fence)

sinus/o

Combining form meaning sinus

thorac/o

Combining form meaning thorax, chest, chest cavity

tonsill/o

Combining form meaning tonsil

trache/o

Combining form meaning trachea

atel/o

Combining form meaning imperfect, incomplete

capn/o

Combining form meaning carbon dioxide

hem/o, hemat/o

Combining form meaning blood

muc/o

Combining form meaning mucus

orth/o

Combining form meaning straight

ox/i

Combining form meaning oxygen

phon/o

Combining form meaning sound, voice

py/o

Combining form meaning pus

radi/o

Combining form meaning x-rays, ionizing radiation

somn/o

Combining form meaning sleep

son/o

Combining form meanings sound

spir/o

Combining form meaning breathe, breathing

tom/o

Combining form meaning to cut, secretion, or slice

cerebell/o

Combining form meaning cerebellum

cerebr/o

Combining form meaning cerebrum, brain

dur/o

Combining form meaning hard, dura master

encephala/o

Combining form meaning brain

gangli/o, ganglion/o

Combining form meaning ganglion

gli/o

Combining form meaning glia

meaning/o, meningi/o

Combining form meaning meninges

myel/o

Combining form meaning spinal cord. Can also mean bone marrow

neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve

radic/o, radicul/o, rhiz/o

Combining form meaning nerve root (proximal end of a peripheral nerve, closest to the spinal cord)

esthesi/o

Combining form meaning sensation, sensitivity, feeling

ment/o, psych/o

Combining form meaning mind

mon/o

Combining form meaning one, single

phas/o

Combining form meaning speech

poli/o

Combining form meaning gray matter

quadr/i

Combining form meaning four

adren/o, adrenal/o

Combining form meaning adrenal glands

cortic/o

Combining form meaning cortex (the outer layer of a body organ)

endocrin/o

Combining form meaning endocrine

parathyroid/o

Combining form meaning parathyroid glands

pituitar/o

Combining form meaning pituitary gland

thyr/o, thyroid/o

Combining form meaning thyroid gland

acr/o

Combining form meaning extremities height

calc/i

Combining form meaning calcium

dips/o

Combining form meaning thirst

kal/i

Combining form meaning potassium

natr/o

Combining form meaning sodium

integumentary system

-Composed of skin, nails, and glands.

-Forms a protective covering for the body that prevents entry of of bacteria and other invading organisms

-Protects the body from water loss and the damaging effects of ultraviolet light

-Regulates body temperature and helps manufacture vitamin D.

respiratory system

-Comprises the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

-Functions in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and body cells --> respiration

- Internal and external respiration

upper respiratory tract

Includes the nose, pharynx, and larynx

lower respiratory tract

Includes the trachea, bronchi, and lungs

nervous system

-Consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves na day be divided into two parts : the central and peripheral nervous system

-Forms a complex communication system allowing for the coordination of body functions and activities

-Designed to detect changes inside and outside the body, elevate sensory information, and to send directions to muscles or glands in response

-Provides mental activités such as thought, memory, and emotion

somatic nervous system

The division of the peripheral nervous system that sends signals to the skeletal (voluntary) muscles and receives input from the senses

autonomic nervous system

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

endocrine system

-Composed of endocrine glands distributed throughout the body. These glands are: pituitary, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads (ovaries and testes), and thymus

-Regulates body activities through the use of hormones which when released into the bloodstream influence metabolic activities, growth, and development

-Endocine glands make up this system

aden/o

combining form for gland

sarc/o

combining form for flesh, connective tissue