Medical Terminology Chapter 5 Flashcards

Combining Forms in Medical Terminology

• abdomin/o- refers to the abdomen, a key part of the body housing various organs.
• ablat/o- signifies the action of taking away or destroying tissue.
• anastom/o- describes the creation of an opening between two structures, often relevant in surgical procedures.
• aneurysm/o- pertains to an aneurysm, which is the dilation or bulging of a blood vessel.
• angi/o- denotes blood or lymphatic vessels, crucial for circulatory functions.
• angin/o- relates to angina, indicating chest pain linked to heart issues.
• aort/o- specifies the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
• apic/o- is associated with the apex or tip of a structure, often used in cardiology.
• arter/o- and arteri/o- both refer to arteries, which carry blood away from the heart.
• arteriol/o- means arterioles, smaller branches of arteries.
• ather/o- indicates soft, fatty substances, often linked to plaque buildup in arteries.
• atheromat/o- pertains to fatty deposits or masses within vessels.
• atri/o- signifies the atrium, an upper chamber of the heart.
• auscult/o- relates to listening, commonly applied in diagnosis through stethoscopes.
• axill/o- refers to the axilla or armpit, an area of lymph nodes.
• brachi/o- pertains to the arm, important for movement and anatomy.
• capill/o- denotes capillaries, tiny blood vessels facilitating exchange between blood and tissues.
• card/i- and cardi/o- both relate to the heart, essential for circulation.
• carot/o- signifies stupor or sleep, relevant in medical conditions affecting consciousness.
• catheter/o- refers to catheters, tubes used for various medical procedures.
• cholesterol/o- signifies cholesterol, a vital fatty substance in the body but also a contributor to cardiovascular disease.
• circulat/o- indicates movement in a circular route, fundamental for blood circulation.
• claudicat/o- describes limping pain, often associated with vascular problems.
• clav/o- pertains to the clavicle or collarbone, a key bone in shoulder anatomy.
• coagul/o- signifies the process of clotting, crucial in wound healing and blood loss prevention.
• coarct/o- means pressed together, often related to narrowed blood vessels.
• compens/o- refers to counterbalancing mechanisms in the body, essential for homeostasis.
• conduct/o- relates to carrying or conveying signals, especially in nervous systems.
• congest/o- indicates accumulation of fluid, typically in tissues or cavities.
• constrict/o- describes something drawn together or narrowed, significant in blood flow control.
• coron/o- refers to structures that encircle like a crown, commonly used in cardiology for coronary vessels.
• cusp/o- means projection or point, usually describing heart valve structures.
• cutane/o- signifies skin, the body's largest organ.
• diastol/o- refers to the process of dilating, particularly in relation to the heart's filling phase.
• dilat/o- means to widen or enlarge, crucial in understanding blood vessel behavior.
• dissect/o- means to cut apart, often used in surgical contexts.
• ech/o- pertains to echoes or sound waves, widely used in diagnostic imaging.
• ectop/o- indicates being outside of a place, often in describing abnormal tissue locations.
• electr/o- signals the importance of electricity, especially in heart rhythms.
• esophag/o- refers to the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
• femor/o- pertains to the femur, the thigh bone, one of the longest bones in the body.
• fibrill/o- signifies muscle or nerve fibers, important in physiology and pathology.
• fract/o- means to break up, commonly used in describing fractures or bone injuries.
• fus/o- refers to pouring, which can describe the process of fluid movement within the body.
• idi/o- indicates the unknown or individual, often used in idiopathic conditions.
• ili/o- refers to the ilium, the uppermost part of the hip bone.
• infarct/o- denotes areas of dead tissue due to lack of blood supply, critical in understanding heart attacks.
• isch/o- means to keep back or block, often used in context of restricted blood flow.
• jugul/o- pertains to the jugular vein, essential for draining blood from the head.
• lipid/o- signifies lipids or fats, important for energy and cellular structures.
• log/o- relates to words or the study of, commonly seen in medical terminology education.
• lumin/o- refers to the lumen or opening within a vessel, crucial for flow dynamics.
• ly/o- means to break down or destroy, often referring to cellular breakdown.
• man/o- denotes thinness or frenzy, sometimes linked to anxiety.
• mediastin/o- indicates the mediastinum, the central compartment of the thoracic cavity.
• mitr/o- describes structures resembling a miter, commonly used in heart valve anatomy.
• my/o- signifies muscle, essential for movement and function.
• necr/o- pertains to dead cells, tissue, or body parts, critical in diagnosing necrosis.
• nucle/o- refers to the nucleus of a cell, vital for genetic material storage.
• occlus/o- means to close against, often used in dental and surgical contexts.
• orth/o- signifies straight or correct, significant in various medical fields including orthopedics.
• palpit/o- relates to throbbing sensations, commonly associated with heart activity.
• pariet/o- means wall of a cavity, used in anatomical descriptions.
• pat/o- indicates being open, relevant in understanding blood flow and organ function.
• path/o- signifies disease or suffering, a core concept in medicine.
• peripher/o- refers to outer aspects of the body, often related to neurology and circulation.
• perone/o- pertains to the fibula, a bone in the lower leg.
• pharmac/o- indicates medicine or drug, significant in pharmacology.
• phleb/o- refers to veins, the vessels that return blood to the heart.
• physi/o- signifies physical function, essential for understanding bodily processes.