Master Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology: Combining Forms and their Meanings

• A combining form is a word part that is added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning.
• "Arthr/o" means joint, while "arthritis" means inflammation of a joint.
• "Aden/o" means gland, while "adenoma" means a tumor of a gland, and "adenitis" means inflammation of a gland.
• "Bi/o" means life, while "biology" means the study of life, and "biopsy" means the process of viewing living tissue under a microscope.
• "Carcin/o" means cancer or cancerous, while "carcinoma" means a tumor of cancerous tissue.
• "Cardi/o" means heart, while "cardiology" means the study of the heart.
• "Cephal/o" means head, while "cephalic" means pertaining to the head.
• "Cerebr/o" means cerebrum, while "cerebral" means pertaining to the cerebrum.
• "Cyst/o" means urinary bladder, while "cystoscope" means an instrument to visually examine the urinary bladder.
• "Cyt/o" means cell, while "cytology" means the study of cells.
• "Derm/o" means skin, while "dermal" and "dermat/o" mean pertaining to the skin, and "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin.
• "Electr/o" means electricity, while "electrocardiogram" (ECG) or (EKG) means a record of the electricity of the heart.
• "Encephal/o" means brain, while "electroencephalogram" (EEG) means a record of the electricity of the brain.

Medical Terminology: Combining Forms and their Meanings

• A combining form is a word part that is added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning.
• "Arthr/o" means joint, while "arthritis" means inflammation of a joint.
• "Aden/o" means gland, while "adenoma" means a tumor of a gland, and "adenitis" means inflammation of a gland.
• "Bi/o" means life, while "biology" means the study of life, and "biopsy" means the process of viewing living tissue under a microscope.
• "Carcin/o" means cancer or cancerous, while "carcinoma" means a tumor of cancerous tissue.
• "Cardi/o" means heart, while "cardiology" means the study of the heart.
• "Cephal/o" means head, while "cephalic" means pertaining to the head.
• "Cerebr/o" means cerebrum, while "cerebral" means pertaining to the cerebrum.
• "Cyst/o" means urinary bladder, while "cystoscope" means an instrument to visually examine the urinary bladder.
• "Cyt/o" means cell, while "cytology" means the study of cells.
• "Derm/o" means skin, while "dermal" and "dermat/o" mean pertaining to the skin, and "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin.
• "Electr/o" means electricity, while "electrocardiogram" (ECG) or (EKG) means a record of the electricity of the heart.
• "Encephal/o" means brain, while "electroencephalogram" (EEG) means a record of the electricity of the brain.

Medical Terminology: Combining Forms and their Meanings

• A combining form is a word part that is added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning.
• "Arthr/o" means joint, while "arthritis" means inflammation of a joint.
• "Aden/o" means gland, while "adenoma" means a tumor of a gland, and "adenitis" means inflammation of a gland.
• "Bi/o" means life, while "biology" means the study of life, and "biopsy" means the process of viewing living tissue under a microscope.
• "Carcin/o" means cancer or cancerous, while "carcinoma" means a tumor of cancerous tissue.
• "Cardi/o" means heart, while "cardiology" means the study of the heart.
• "Cephal/o" means head, while "cephalic" means pertaining to the head.
• "Cerebr/o" means cerebrum, while "cerebral" means pertaining to the cerebrum.
• "Cyst/o" means urinary bladder, while "cystoscope" means an instrument to visually examine the urinary bladder.
• "Cyt/o" means cell, while "cytology" means the study of cells.
• "Derm/o" means skin, while "dermal" and "dermat/o" mean pertaining to the skin, and "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin.
• "Electr/o" means electricity, while "electrocardiogram" (ECG) or (EKG) means a record of the electricity of the heart.
• "Encephal/o" means brain, while "electroencephalogram" (EEG) means a record of the electricity of the brain.