Word roots & Combining forms
abdomin/o
abdomen ex: abdominocystic -pertaining to the abdomen and gallbladder
lapar/o
abdominal wall ex: laparorrhaphy -suture of the abdominal wall
an/o
anus ex: anoplasty -plastic repair of the anus
appendic/o
appendix ex: appendicolysis -surgical separation of adhesions binding the appendix
arteri/o
artery ex: arteriogram -an x-ray picture of an artery
appendage
attached to or outgrowth ex: appendectomy -excision of the vermiform appendix
cyst/o
bladder ex: cystocele -hernia of the bladder into the vagina
hem/o
blood ex: hematoma -blood clot in an organ or under the skin
oste/o
bone ex: osteoporosis -abnormal thinning of the skeleton
myel/o
bone marrow; spinal cord ex: myelocyte -immature cell of bone marrow
encephal/o
brain ex: encephaloma -a swelling or tumor of the brain
mamm/o
breast ex: mammogram -x-ray recording of breast tissue
mast/o
breast ex: mastitis - inflammation of the breast
cyt/o
cell ex: cytology -the study of the body cells
cerebr/o
cerebrum(part of the brain) ex: cerebral -pertaining to the brain
steth/o
chest ex: stethospam - spasm of the chest muscles
kerat/o
cornea of eye; horny substance ex: keratorrhexis -repture of the cornea
ot/o
ear ex: otitis -inflammation of the ear
myring/o
eardrum ex: myringoplasty - surgical reconstruction of the eardrum
tympan/o
eardrum ex: tympanum -part of the cavity of the middle ear, in the temporal bone
esophag/o
esophagus ex: esophagism -spasm of the esophagus
opthalm/o
eye ex: ophthalmorrhagia -hemorrhage from the eye
salping/o
fallopian tube ex: salpingocyesis - development of an embryo in the uterine tube; a tubal pregnancy.
aden/o
gland ex: adenitis -inflammation of a gland
cephal/o
head ex: cephalic -pertaining to the head
cardi/o
heart ex: cardiology -the study of the heart
ile/o
ileum(small intestine) ex: ileus -intestinal obstruction
enter/o
intestines ex: enteritis -the inflammation of the intestine.
irid/o
iris(eye) ex: iridomalacia -softening of the iris
arthr/o
joint ex: arthrocele -a joint swelling
nephr/o
kidney ex: nephritis -inflammation of the kidney
hepat/o
liver ex: hepatocele -hernia of the liver
lob/o
lobe, as of lung or brain ex: lobotomy -cutting of nerve fibers connecting a lobe of the brain with the thalamus
pneum/o
lungs(air or gas) ex: pneumonectomy -excision of lung tissue
andr/o
men ex: android -resembling a man
stomat/o
mouth ex: stomatomalacia -softening of the structures of the mouth
my/o
muscle ex: myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle
neur/o
nerve ex: neuralgia -pain in the nerve
rhin/o
nose ex: rhinitis -inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.
oophor/o
ovary ex: oophorocystosis -formation of an ovarian cyst
pancreat/o
pancreas ex: pancreatogenous -arising of the pancreas
pyel/
pelvis of kidney ex: pyelectasis -dilation of the renal pelvis
pharyng/o
pharynx ex: pharyngismus -muscular spasm of the pharynx
prostat/o
prostate gland ex: prostatitis -inflammation of the prostate
procto
rectum ex: proctodynia -pain in the rectum
rect/o
rectum and/or anus ex: rectocele -hernial protrusion of part of the rectum into the vagina.
ren/i
renal(kidney) ex: reniform -kidney-shaped
sacr/o
sacrum ex: sacrolumbar -pertaining to the sacrum and loins
splen/o
spleen ex: splenoptosis - downward displacement of the spleen
gastro/o
stomach ex: gastropathy -any disease of the stomach.
ten/o
tendon ex: tendolysis -the freeing of tendon adhesions
orchid/o
testicle ex: orchidorrhaphy -surgical fixation of an undescended testis into the scrotum by suturing
orchi/o
testicle ex: orchiopathy -any disease of the testes
lamina, lamin/o
thin, flat part of verterbra ex: laminotomy -transection of a vertebral lamina
thorac/a
thorax(chest) ex: thoracentesis -surgical puncture and drainage of the thoracic cavity
thyr/o
thyroid gland ex: thyroxine -a hormone of the thyroid gland that contains iodine
gloss/o
tongue ex: glossodynia -pain in the tongue
lingua
tongue ex: nigralingua -black tongue
trache/o
trachea ex: tracheoscopy -infection of the interior the trachea
ureter/o
ureter ex: ureteropathy -any disease of the ureter
hyster/o
uterus ex: hysterolith -a uterine calculus(stone)
phleb/o
vein ex: phlebotomy -incision of a vein
ven/i
vein ex: surgical puncture of a vein
spondyl/o
vertebra ex: spondylodymus -twin fetuses united by the vertebrae
angi/o
vessel ex: angiectomy -excision of part a blood vessel of lymph vessel
vas/o
vessel ex: vascular -pertaining to the blood vessels
gyne
woman ex: morbid aversion to women
