Unit 3 Combining Forms: Aden/o to Vascul/o

Medical Combining Forms (Aden/o to Vascul/o)

• Aden/o: Refers to glands, important in the secretion of hormones and other substances.
• Amni/o: Indicates the amnion, the protective sac filled with fluid that surrounds an embryo.
• Angi/o: Denotes vessels, primarily blood vessels critical for circulation.
• Arteri/o: Refers specifically to arteries that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
• Arthr/o: Points to joints, the areas of connection between bones.
• Ather/o: Relates to atherosclerosis, characterized by plaque accumulation in arteries.
• Axill/o: Pertains to the armpit (underarm) area of the body.
• Bronch/o & Bronchi/o: Both refer to bronchial tubes, the air passages that lead from the trachea to the lungs.
• Carcin/o: Indicates cancerous conditions, a key term in oncology.
• Cardi/o: Signifies the heart, central to the cardiovascular system.
• Chem/o: Associated with drugs or chemicals, vital in pharmacology.
• Cholecyst/o: Refers to the gallbladder, an organ that stores bile.
• Chron/o: Involves concepts of time, relevant in medicine to denote duration of conditions.
• Col/o: Indicates the colon, an essential part of the digestive system.
• Crani/o: Refers to the skull, the bony structure protecting the brain.
• Cry/o: Relates to cold, often used in medical terms for cold therapies.
• Cyst/o: Refers to the urinary bladder or any cyst, important in urology.
• Electr/o: Concerns electricity, crucial in nerve and muscle function.
• Encephal/o: Refers to the brain, integral to the nervous system.
• Erythr/o: Indicates red, commonly used in terms like erythrocytes (red blood cells).
• Esophag/o: Relates to the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat to the stomach.
• Hem/o & Hemat/o: Both terms refer to blood, significant in understanding hematology.
• Hepat/o: Indicates the liver, a critical organ for metabolism and detoxification.
• Hyster/o: Refers to the uterus, pivotal in reproductive health.
• Inguin/o: Pertains to the groin, the area where the abdomen meets the thighs.
• Isch/o: Signifies holding back, often used in terms related to circulation issues.
• Lapar/o: Relates to the abdomen or abdominal wall, relevant in surgical contexts.
• Laryng/o: Refers to the larynx or voice box, involved in vocalization and respiration.
• Leuk/o: Indicates white, often associated with leukocytes (white blood cells).
• Mamm/o & Mast/o: Both refer to the breast, important in mammary studies and medical conditions.
• Men/o: Relates to menstruation and the monthly cycle in females.
• Mening/o: Refers to the meninges, the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
• My/o: Indicates muscle, essential in movement and body structure.
• Myel/o: Refers to the spinal cord or bone marrow, central to the nervous system and blood cell production.
• Necr/o: Pertains to death, especially of cells or tissues, significant in pathology.
• Nephr/o: Refers to the kidney, critical in waste elimination; used in various medical terms.
• Neur/o: Indicates nerves, fundamental in the nervous system and its functioning.
• Oophor/o: Refers to ovaries, key in female reproductive health.
• Oste/o: Denotes bone, crucial in orthopedics and structural biology.
• Ot/o: Relates to the ear, important in auditory processes and balance.
• Pelv/o: Refers to the hip area, relevant in various physical assessments.
• Peritone/o: Indicates the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.
• Phleb/o: Refers to veins, vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
• Pneumon/o & Pulmon/o: Both relate to lungs, essential for respiration.
• Radi/o: Denotes X-rays, an imaging technique vital in diagnostics.
• Ren/o: Refers to kidneys, important for excretory and regulatory functions.
• Rhin/o: Indicates the nose, crucial in respiration and olfaction.
• Salping/o: Relates to the fallopian tubes, significant in female reproductive biology.
• Sarc/o: Pertains to flesh, often related to connective tissue or muscle.
• Septic/o: Refers to infection, key in understanding medical conditions and responses.
• Thorac/o: Indicates the chest area, significant in respiratory health.
• Tonsill/o: Refers to tonsils, involved in immune response.
• Trache/o: Indicates the windpipe or trachea, essential for airflow to the lungs.
• Ur/o: Refers to urine or urinary tract, central in renal function and excretion.
• Vascul/o: Pertains to blood vessels, critical in circulation and cardiovascular health.