Medical Terminology - ROOTS

Question 1

an/o

Answer 1

anus, anal
Anal fistula: An opening in the skin near the anus that leads into a blind pouch or may connect through a tunnel with the rectal canal.
An ANAL FISTULA is usually caused by an infection near the anus causing an abscess in the nearby tissue.

Question 2

appendic/o

Answer 2

append, appendix
Appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix.
APPENDICITIS often causes fever, loss of appetite, and pain.

Question 3

arteri/o

Answer 3

artery
Arteriosclerosis: Hardening and thickening of the walls of the arteries.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS can occur because of fatty deposits on the inner lining of arteries (atherosclerosis), calcification of the wall of the arteries, or thickening of the muscular wall of the arteries from chronically elevated blood pressure (hypertension).

Question 4

arthr/o

Answer 4

joint
Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint.
A person with ARTHRITIS can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain.

Question 5

bronch/o

Answer 5

bronchus
Bronchitis: Inflammation and swelling of the bronchi.
BRONCHITIS can be acute or chronic.

Question 6

cardi/o

Answer 6

heart
Cardiovascular disease: Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels.
Arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease are three examples of a CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

Question 7

cerebr/o

Answer 7

cerebrum
Cerebral: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum or the brain.
A CEREBRAL aneurysm is the localized widening of a blood vessel within the brain.

Question 8

cholecyst/o

Answer 8

gallbladder
cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder.
A CHOLECYSTECTOMY may be done by laparoscopy or by open surgery.

Question 9

col/o

Answer 9

colon
Colonoscopy: A procedure whereby a physician inserts a viewing tube (colonoscope) into the rectum for the purpose of inspecting the colon.
During COLONOSCOPY, polyps can be removed, bleeding can be cauterized, and a biopsy can be performed if abnormal areas of the colon are seen.

Question 10

crani/o

Answer 10

cranium
Craniotomy: A surgical operation in which an opening is made in the skull.
A CRANIOTOMY is often a critical operation, performed on patients who are suffering from brain lesions or traumatic brain injury.

Question 11

cyst/o

Answer 11

bladder
Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder.
CYSTITIS can be due to infection from bacteria that ascend the urethra (the canal from the outside) to the bladder.

Question 12

derm/o

Answer 12

skin
Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to an inherent skin defect, direct contact with an irritating substance, or to an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of DERMATITIS include redness, itching, and in some cases blistering.

Question 13

gastr/o

Answer 13

stomach
Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large intestines.
Constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two common examples of functional GASTROINTESTINAL disorders.

Question 14

hepa, hepat/o

Answer 14

liver
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, irrespective of the cause.
HEPATITIS is caused by a number of conditions, including drug toxicity, immune diseases, and viruses.

Question 15

hyster/o

Answer 15

uterus
Hysterectomy: An operation to remove the uterus.
A HYSTERECTOMY is most commonly performed as a treatment for fibroids, cancer or severe dysplasia of the uterus, and for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Question 16

mast

Answer 16

breast
Mastalgia: Pain in the breast or mammary gland, whether serious or not.
MASTALGIA has many causes including injury, infection, and plugged milk ducts.

Question 17

my/o

Answer 17

muscle
Myalgia: Pain in the muscles or within muscle ‘tissue.
While the most common cause is the overuse of a muscle or group of muscles, acute MYALGIA may also be due to viral infections, especially in the absence of a traumatic history.

Question 18

neur/o

Answer 18

nerve
Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.
Peripheral NEUROPATHY is when the nerve problem affects the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 19

nephr/o

Answer 19

kidney
Nephrotoxic: Poisonous to the kidney.
Neomycin is a potentially NEPHROTOXIC antibiotic.

Question 20

oste/o

Answer 20

bone
Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calcium and bone protein.
OSTEOPOROSIS is most common in older adults, particularly postmenopausal women, and in patients who take steroids or steroidal drugs.

Question 21

ot/o

Answer 21

ear
Otitis: Inflammation of the ear.
OTITIS in young children this may result in pulling at the ear, increased crying, and poor sleep.

Question 22

pneum/o

Answer 22

lung, air
Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation.
Symptoms of PNEUMONIA may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Question 23

ren/o

Answer 23

kidney
renopathy: kidney disease (usually use the term nephropathy)
People who have had diabetes for a long time may develop RENOPATHY.

Question 24

rhin/o

Answer 24

nose
Rhinoplasty: Plastic surgery on the nose.
RHINOPLASTY may be performed to repair nasal fractures and other structural problems.

Question 25

thyr/o

Answer 25

thyroid
Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck.
THYROIDITIS can cause a release an excess of thyroid hormones into the blood stream, resulting in a temporary hyperthyroid state.

Question 26

trache/o

Answer 26

trachea
Tracheostomy: Surgery to create an opening (stoma) into the windpipe.
A TRACHEOSTOMY may be made as an emergency measure if the airway is blocked.