Medical Terminology Flashcards Chapter 8

Medical Combining Forms and Their Meanings

• aneurysmo/o: Refers to a widened blood vessel, indicating potential vascular issues.
• angio/o: Denotes a vessel, commonly associated with blood or lymphatic systems, integral to circulatory studies.
• vascul/o: Similar to angio/o, representing blood or lymph vessels, highlighting importance in vascular health.
• aort/o: Specifically pertains to the aorta, the major artery responsible for distributing oxygenated blood.
• arteri/o: Represents arteries, crucial conduits for blood flow from the heart to various body parts.
• arteriol/o: Refers to arterioles, the smaller branches of arteries, playing a key role in regulating blood pressure.
• atri/o: Indicates the atrium, one of the heart's upper chambers that receives blood.
• ather/o: Relates to fatty plaque, often found in atherosclerosis, impacting cardiovascular health.
• cardi/o: Refers to the heart, a central organ in the circulatory system, essential for understanding cardiology.
• coron/o: Also denotes the heart, particularly in relation to coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle.
• electr/o: Refers to electricity, significant in understanding electrical activity and rhythms within the heart.
• embol/o: Denotes an embolus, a blood clot or foreign material that can obstruct blood vessels, leading to various medical conditions.
• hemangi/o: Refers to blood vessels, important in discussions about tumors or lesions arising from vascular tissues.
• my/o: Represents muscle, essential in understanding the muscular structure of the heart and its function.
• phleb/o: Relates to veins, vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
• ven/o: Another term for veins, underlining the significance of venous return in circulation.
• scler/o: Refers to hardening of the sclera (the white part of the eye), indicating possible scleral diseases.
• sept/o: Indicates the septum, a wall separating the heart's chambers, crucial in heart anatomy.
• sphygm/o: Relates to pulse, essential for assessing cardiovascular health.
• sten/o: Refers to narrowing or stricture, often associated with vascular constrictions that can result in complications.
• thromb/o: Denotes a blood clot, critical in understanding thrombosis and its impacts on health.
• valv/o: Refers to a valve, an essential component in maintaining unidirectional blood flow in the heart and vessels.
• valvul/o: Another term for valve, relevant in discussions about valvular heart diseases.
• vas/o: Refers to a vessel, vas deferens, or duct, highlighting its role in both circulatory and reproductive systems.
• ventricul/o: Indicates ventricle, relevant for both cardiac and cerebral anatomy, emphasizing its role in heart function or brain structure.