Combining Forms

Combining forms from Chapter 1

aden/o

gland

adenoma - tumor of a gland

arthr/o

joint

arthritis - inflammation of a joint

bi/o

life

biopsy - viewing of living tissue

cardi/o

heart

cardiology - a study of the heart

carcin/o

cancer(ous)

carcinoma - a cancerous tumor

cephal/o

head

cephalic - pertaining to the head

cerebr/o

cerebrum (largest part of the brain)

cerebral - pertaining to the cerebrum

cis/o

to cut

excision - to cut out

crin/o

to secrete

endocrine glands - glands that secrete into the blood stream

cyst/o

bladder or pouch

pertaining to the urinary bladder or cyst (sac containing fluid)

cystoscopy - visual exam of the urinary bladder

cyt/o

cell

cytology - the study of cells

derm/o

skin

hypodermic - pertaining to under the skin

dermat/o

skin

dermatitis - inflammation of the skin

electr/o

electricity

electrocardiogram - a record of the electrical activity of the heart

encephal/o

brain

electroencephlalogram - a record of the electrical activity of the brain

enter/o

intestines (usually the small intestine)

enteritis - inflammation of the small intestine

erythr/o

red

erythrocyte - red blood cell

gastr/o

stomach

gastrectomy - removal of part or all of the stomach

glyc/o

sugar

hypoglycemia - high blood sugar

gnos/o

knowledge

diagnosis - state of complete knowledge

gynec/o

female, woman

gynecoglogy - study of female reproductive system

hem/o

blood

hemoglobin - the protien in RBC that carries oxygen

hemat/o

blood

hematoma - collection or mass of blood

hepat/o

liver

hepatitis - inflammation of the liver

iatr/o

treatment, physician

iatrogenic - condition caused by treatment

leuk/o

white

leukocyte - white blood cell

log/o

study of

dermatology - study of the skin

neur/o

nerve

neurology - study of the nervous system

nephr/o

kidney

nephritis - inflammation of the kidney

onc/o

tumor (cancerous)

oncologist - cancer specialist

ophthalm/o

eye

ophthalmoscope - tool for examining the eye

oste/o

bone

osteoarthritis - inflammation and degeneration of the bones and joints

path/o

disease

pathologist - examines bodies and biopsies to determine cause of death

ped/o

child

pediatric - branch of medicine focused on children

psych/o

mind

psychiatrist - a mental health specialist

radi/o

x-rays

radiology - x-ray imaging specialty

ren/o

kidney

renal - pertaining to the kidney

rhin/o

nose

rhinitis - inflammation of the nose/sinus cavities

sarc/o

flesh

sarcoma - tumor from fleshy cells (muscle, bone or fat)

sect/o

to cut

resection - to cut back

thromb/o

clot(ting)

thrombocyte - platelets, the cells that help blood clot

ur/o

urinary

urologist - urinary specialist

medi/o

middle

medial - situated in or moving towards the centre

nucle/o

nucleus

nucleic - relating to the nucleus

pelv/i

pelvis

pelvic - relating to or located near the pelvis

pharyng/o

pharynx

pharyngeal -relating to the pharynx

poster/o

back, behind

posterior - further back in position or behind

proxim/o

nearest

proximal - situated nearer to the trunk or point of attachment

sacr/o

sacrum

sacral - relating to the sacrum

spin/o

spine, backbone

spinal - relating to the spine

thel/o, theli/o

nipple

epithelial cell - cell lining the bodies surfaces first identified on the nipples

thorac/o

chest

thoracotomy - incision into the chest wall

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

tracheal - pertaining to the trachea

umbilic/o

navel, umbilicus

umbilical - relating to the naval/umbilical cord

ventr/o

belly side of the body

ventral - related to the belly side of the body

vertebr/o

vertabra(e), backbones

vertebral - relating to the backbone

viscer/o

internal organs

viscera - internal organs in the main cavities of the body

abdomin/o

abdomen

abdominal - pertaining to the region below the chest containing viscera

adip/o

fat

adipose - used for the storage of fat

anter/o

front

anterior - of the front part of the body

cervic/o

neck (of the body or the uterus)

cervical - relating to the neck or cervix

chondr/o

cartilage

chondroma - benign tumor

chondrosarcoma - malignant tumour

chrom/o

color

chromosomes - “bodies of color” named for how they were identified

coccyg/o

coccyx (tailbone)

coccygeal - in reference to the tailbone

crani/o

skull

craniotomy - removal of a section of skull fir access for treatment

dist/o

far, distant

situated away from body or point of attachment

dors/o

back portion of

dorsal - relating to the upper or back portion of the body

hist/o

tissue

histology - study of the microscopic structures of tissues

ili/o

ilium (upper part of hip bone)

iliac - relating to the ilium or the nearby regions of the lower body

inguin/o

groin

inguinal - if the groin

kary/o

nucleus

karyotype - the number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in the nuclei

later/o

side

lateral - of, at or towards the sides

lumb/o

lower back

lumbosacral - refers to the area where the lower spine (lumbar) connects to the middle of the hip bone (saccrum)

acr/o

extremities, top, end

acrocyanosis - bluish discoloration of the extremities

acu/o

sharp, severe, sudden

acute - sudden onset

amni/o

the membrane surrounding a fetus

amniocentesis - puncture of the amniotic sac for fluid testing

angi/o

vessel

angiogram - viewing the blood vessels and arteries with contrast

arteri/o

artery

arterial - pertaining to or rooted in the artery

axill/o

armpit (axilla)

axillary - pertaining to the armpit

blephar/o

eyelid

blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelid

bronch/o

bronchial tubes

bronchitis - inflammation of the bronchi

chem/o

drug, chemical

chemotherapy - using drugs to treat a condition

isch/o

to hold back

ischemia - restriction of blood flow to an area

chron/o

time

chronic - lasting over a long time

col/o

colon

colostomy - creating and incision/opening in the colon

hydr/o

water

hydrocephalus - the buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid the brains ventricles

lapar/o

abdomen, abdominal wall

laparoscope - instrument to look inside the abdominal cavity

laryng/o

larynx

laryngitis - inflammation of the voice box