Combining Forms Unit 1

acanth-

thorn, spine

alg-

pain

alges-

sensitivity to pain

all-

other, divergence, difference from

angi-

*dropped vowel form:

ang- → endangium

(blood) vessel, duct

arteri-

*dropped vowel form

arter- → arteritis

artery

arthr-

joint

bi-

*dropped vowel form:

b- → aerobe

life

brady-

slow

cardi-

*dropped vowel form:

card- → pericarditis

heart

cephal-

head

crani-

*dropped vowel form:

cran- → epicranium

skull

cyt-

cell

encephal-

brain

erythr-

red, red blood cell

lept-

thin, fine, slight

leuk-

white, white blood cell

lith-

stone, calculus

log-

word, usually referring to the ability to speak or understand words

malac-

soft

mes-

middle, secondary, partial, mesentery

-meter

instruments for measuring

nephr-

kidney

neur-

nerve, nervous system

oste-

*dropped vowel form:

ost- → dysostosis

bone

prax-

act, action

usually refers to movement or motor control

prot-

first, primitive, early

scler-

hard

sten-

narrow

stere-

solid, having three dimensions

tachy-

rapid

tox(i)-

*dropped vowel form:

tox- → toxin

poison

metr-

a type of measure

-logy

the study of

cytology

-logist

someone who specializes in the study of

cardiologist

-malacia

the softening (of the tissue) of

cardiomalacia

-sclerosis

the hardening (of the tissue) of

encaphalosclerosis

-stenosis

the narrowing of

arteriostenosis

-toxic (adj)

poisonous (to)

cytotoxic

-toxin

a substance poisonous (to)

erythrotoxin

-lithiasis

formation of stones

nephrolithiasis

edema (adj - edematic)

swelling

phlegm (adj - phlegmatic)

a type of mucus (originating from the lungs and throat)