Medical Terminology Flashcards (3)

Combining Forms

• Acromi/o: Refers to the acromion process, a bony prominence of the shoulder.
• Arthr/o: Denotes a joint in the skeletal system.
• Calcane/o: Pertains to the heel bone, essential for foot structure and stability.
• Carp/o: Relates to carpal bones, which make up the wrist.
• Chondr/o: Represents cartilage, a flexible connective tissue found in various body parts.
• Clavicul/o, Cleid/o: Both indicate the clavicle or collarbone, which connects the arm to the body.
• Condyl/o: Refers to condyles, rounded projections of bone that articulate with other bones.
• Cost/o: Indicates ribs, vital for protecting thoracic organs and aiding respiration.
• Crani/o: Related to the skull, which encases and protects the brain.
• Dent/o: Refers to teeth, essential structures for mastication (chewing).
• Ischi/o: Designates the ischium, part of the pelvic bone.
• Kines/o, Kinsesi/o: Pertains to movement; key in understanding musculoskeletal dynamics.
• Lumb/o: Refers to the lumbar spine or region, critical for lower back support.
• Metacarp/o: Indicates metacarpal bones, the intermediate part of the hand between the wrist and fingers.
• My/o: Relates to muscle tissue, crucial for movement and stability.
• Orth/o: Means straight; often used in medical terms relating to alignment.
• Oste/o: Refers to bone, essential for structure and support in the body.
• Pelv/o: Pertains to the pelvic region, involved in locomotion and support of internal organs.
• Phalang/o: Refers to fingers, the bones that form the digits of the hand.
• Por/o: Indicates porous structures, significant in understanding bone health.
• Pub/o: Pertains to the pubis, another part of the pelvic bone.
• Sacr/o: Refers to the sacrum, a triangular-shaped bone between the two hip bones.
• Stern/o: Designates the sternum or breastbone, central to the rib cage.
• Ten/o: Refers to tendons, which connect muscles to bones.
• Thorac/o: Pertains to the thoracic region of the spine or chest cavity.
• Xiph/o: Indicates the xiphoid process, the lower part of the sternum.

Prefixes

• De-: Means down from or less than, indicating a reduction or lower level.
• Epi-: Means upon or over, describing positions or layers.
• Inter-: Indicates between, often used to describe structures adjacent to one another.
• Meta-: Means beyond, frequently used in biological contexts.
• Poly-: Indicates too many or too much, often related to quantity.
• Supra-: Means above, often indicating location or positioning in anatomy.

Suffixes

• Ist: Denotes "one who is," describing a professional or specialist in a field.
• Plasia: Refers to development, often in the context of cell or tissue growth.