Medical Terminology - Root Words

Question 1

Abdomin/o

Answer 1

Abdomen

EX: Abdominal pain: pain from inside the abdomen or the outer muscle wall

Question 2

Cardi/o

Answer 2

Heart

EX: Cardiac arrest: when the heart stops beating suddenly

Question 3

Thorac/o

Answer 3

Chest

EX: Thoracotomy: surgical procedure in which a cut is made between the ribs to see and reach the lungs or other organs in the chest or thorax

Question 4

Psych/o

Answer 4

Mind

EX: Psychosis: when people lose some contact with reality

Question 5

Neur/o

Answer 5

Nerve

EX: Neurodegenerative: resulting in degeneration of the nervous system, especially the neurons in the brain.

Question 6

Nephr/o

Answer 6

Kidney

EX: Nephrolithiasis: kidney stones

Question 7

Hepat/o

Answer 7

Liver

EX: Hepatitis: a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation

Question 8

Cyan/o

Answer 8

Blue

EX: Cyanosis: a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane

Question 9

Erythr/o

Answer 9

Red

EX: Erythroderma: also sometimes called exfoliative dermatitis, is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition that presents with diffuse erythema and scaling involving all or most of the skin surface area

Question 10

Leuk/o

Answer 10

White

EX: Leukemia: a broad term for cancers of the blood cells

Question 11

Aort/o

Answer 11

Aorta: the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso

EX: Aortic aneurysm: a balloon-like bulge in the aorta. Aortic aneurysms can dissect or rupture. The force of blood pumping can split the layers of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak in between them.

Question 12

Ateri/o

Answer 12

Artery: any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood is conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body.

EX: Arteriogram: an X-ray of the blood vessels

Question 13

Ather/o

Answer 13

Fat

EX: Atherogenic: tending to promote the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries.

Question 14

Brachi/o

Answer 14

Arm

EX: that which is felt over the brachial artery at the inner aspect of the elbow

Question 15

Hem/o

Answer 15

Blood

EX: Hemorrhagic stroke: when blood from an artery suddenly begins bleeding into the brain

Question 16

Bronchi/o

Answer 16

Airway

EX: Bronchitis: an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs.

Question 17

Pneumo

Answer 17

Lung

EX: Tension pneumothorax: severe condition that results when air is trapped in the pleural space under positive pressure, displacing mediastinal structures, and compromising cardiopulmonary function.

Question 18

Pharyng/o

Answer 18

Throat

EX: Oropharyngeal dysphagia: difficulty initiating a swallow.

Question 19

Path/o

Answer 19

Disease

EX: Pathology: branch of medical science primarily concerning the cause, origin, and nature of disease.

Question 20

Mening/o

Answer 20

Meninges

EX: Meningitis: inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Question 21

Myo

Answer 21

Muscle

EX: Myopathy: any disease that affects the muscles that control voluntary movement in the body.

Question 22

Oste/o

Answer 22

Bones

EX: Osteoarthritis: occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time

Question 23

Cyt/o

Answer 23

Cell

EX: Cytokinesis: part of the cell division process during which the cytoplasm of a single eukaryotic cell divides into two daughter cells.

Question 24

Cyst/o

Answer 24

Bladder

EX: Cystocele: when the wall between the bladder and the vagina weakens

Question 25

Phag/o

Answer 25

Eat

EX: Phagocytosis: the ingestion of bacteria or other material by phagocytes

Question 26

Scler/o

Answer 26

Hard

EX: Sclerotherapy: injecting a solution directly into the vein. This solution causes the vein to scar, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins

Question 27

Trache/o

Answer 27

Windpipe

EX: Tracheotomy: an opening surgically created through the neck into the trachea