Exploring Medical Language
Terms
undefined, object
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micro-
(prefix) - small
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puerper/o
(combining form) - childbirth
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pseud/o
(combining form) - false
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chori/o
(combining form) -
chorion
The outermost of the two female membranes - the amnion is the inner most - which together surround the embryo -
lact/o
(combining form) - milk
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peri
(prefix) - surrounding (outer)
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embry/o
(combining form) - embryo, to be full
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-partum
(suffix) - childbirth, labor
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prim/i
(combining form) - first
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par/o
(combining form) - bear, give birth to, labor, childbirth
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part/o
(combining form) - bear, give birth to, labor, childbirth
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amni/o
(combining form) -
amnion
A thin membrane surrounding the fetus during pregnancy -
esophag/o
(combining form) -
esophogus
The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach -
pre-
(prefix) - before
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cervic/o
(combining form) -
cervix
The lower narrow part of the uterus forming a canal into the vagina which leads to the outside of the body -
gravid/o
(combining form) - pregnancy
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-tocia
(suffix) - birth, labor
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culd/o
(combining form) -
cul-de-sac
A blind pouch or cavirty that is closed on one end -
-rrhexis
(suffix) - rupture
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pylor/o
(combining form) -
pylorus, pyloric sphincter
The outlet of the stomach -
colp/o
(combining form) - vagina
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nat/o
(combining form) - birth
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spermat/o
(combining form) - spermatozoa, sperm
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gynec/o
(combining form) - woman
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perine/o
(combining form) -
perineum
The area between the anus and the scrotum (in men) or the vulva (in women) -
-amnios
(suffix) - amnion, amniotic fluid
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splen/o
(combining form) - spleen
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metr/o, metr/i
(combining form) - uterus
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cardi/o
(combining form) - heart
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arche/o
(combining form) - first, beginning
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mamm/o
(combining form) - breast
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ile/o
(combining form) -
ileum
The lowest part of the small intestine, located beyond the duodenum and jejunum, just before the large intestine (the colon) -
plasm/o
(combining form) -
plasma
The liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid, which makes up about half of its volume -
phleb/o
(combining form) - vein
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lymph/o
(combining form) - An almost colorless fluid that travels through vessels called lymphatics in the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease
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valv/o
(combining form) - valve
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electr/o
(combining form) - electricity, electrical activity
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thym/o
(combining form) -
thymus gland
A lymphoid organ situated in the center of the upper chest just behind the sternum (breastbone) -
colon/o
(combining form) -
colon
The part of the large intestine that runs from the cecum to the rectum as a long hollow tube -
arteri/o
(combining form) - artery
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peritone/o
(combining form) -
peritoneum
The membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs -
thromb/o
(combining form) - clot
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-sclerosis
(suffix) - hardening
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-penia
(suffix) - abnormal reduction in number
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nulli-
(prefix) - none
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gastr/o
(combining form) - stomach
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ech/o
(combining form) - sound
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tachy-
(prefix) - fast, rapid
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brady-
(prefix) - slow
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-graph
(suffix) - instrument used to record
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post-
(prefix) - after
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arther/o
(combining form) - yellowish, fatty plaque
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therm/o
(combining form) - heat
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atri/o
(combining form) -
atrium
One of the two smaller chambers of the heart -
pelv/i, pelv/o
(combining form) -
pelvis, pelvic bone
The lower part of the abdomen located between the hip bones -
multi-
(prefix) - many
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valvul/o
(combining form) - valve
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isch/o
(combining form) - deficiency, blockage
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-salpinx
(suffix) - fallopian tube
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ventricul/o
(combinging form) -
ventricle
A chamber of an organ -
cephal/o
(combining form) - head
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omphal/o
(combining form) - umbilicus, navel
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fet/o, fet/i
(combining form) - fetus, unborn child
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ven/o
(combining form) - vein
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rect/o
(combining form) -
rectum
The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine -
-poiesis
(suffix) - formation
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angi/o
(combining form) - vessel
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-atresia
(suffix) - absence of a normal opening, occlusion, closure
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-ial
(suffix) - pertaining to
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lapar/o
(combining form) - abdomen
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col/o
(combining form) -
colon
The part of the large intestine that runs from the cecum to the rectum as a long hollow tube -
sial/o
(combining form) - saliva
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diverticul/o
(combining form) -
diverticulum
A small bulging sac pushing outward from the colon wall -
palat/o
(combining form) -
palate
The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back portion is muscular (soft palate) -
aort/o
(combining form) -
aorta
The largest artery in the body -
-apheresis
(suffix) - removal
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-ac
(suffix) - pertaining to
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cheil/o
(combining form) - lip
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duoden/o
(combining form) -
duodenum
The first part of the small intestine -
choledoch/o
(combining form) - common bile duct
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appendic/o
(combining form) -
appendix
A small outpouching from the beginning of the large intestine (the ascending colon) -
or/o
(combining form) - mouth
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chol/e
(combining form) - gall, bile
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gloss/o
(combining form) - tongue
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sigmoid/o
(combining form) -
sigmoid colon
the lower colon (the lower portion of the large bowel) -
gingiv/o
(combining form) - gum
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abdomin/o
(combining form) -
abdomen
The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis -
hepat/o
(combining form) - liver
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herni/o
(combining form) -
hernia
A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavity in which it is normally contained -
cec/o
(combining form) -
cecum
The cecum (also spelled caecum), the first portion of the large bowel, situated in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen -
enter/o
(combining form) - intestines
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an/o
(combining form) -
anus
The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body -
jejun/o
(combining form) -
jejunum
Part of the small intestine. It is half-way down the small intestine between its duodenum and ileum sections -
antr/o
(combining form) -
antrum
A general term for cavity or chamber which may have specific meaning in reference certain organs or sites in the body -
uvul/o
(combining form) -
uvula
The small piece of soft tissue that can be seen dangling down from the soft palate over the back of the tongue -
lingu/o
(combining form) - tongue
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hemi-
(prefix) - half
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celi/o
(combining form) -
abdomen
The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis -
-odynia
(suffix) - pain
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-pepsia
(suffix) - digestion
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dipl/o
(combining form) - two, double
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-crit
(suffix) - to separate
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proct/o
(combining form) -
rectum
The last 6 to 8 inches of the large intestine -
ton/o
(combining form) - tension, pressure
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cholangi/o
(combining form) - bile duct
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polyp/o
(combining form) - small growth
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pancreat/o
(combining form) -
pancreas
A fish-shaped spongy grayish-pink organ about 6 inches long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach -
core/o
(combining form) -
pupil
The opening of the iris -
stomat/o
(combining form) - mouth
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retin/o
(combining form) -
retina
The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain -
coren/o
(combining form) -
cornea
The clear front window of the eye that transmits and focuses light into the eye -
-plegia
(suffix) - paralysis
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blephar/o
(combining form) - eyelid
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phot/o
(combining form) - light
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lacrim/o
(combining form) - tear duct, tear
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bi-, bin-
(prefix) - two
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-phobia
(suffix) - abnormal fear of or aversion to specific objects of things
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dacry/o
(combining form) - tear, tear duct
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iri/o
(combining form) -
iris
The iris is the circular, colored curtain of the eye -
pupill/o
(combining form) -
pupil
The opening of the iris -
scler/o
(combining form) -
sclera
The tough white outer coat over the eyeball that covers approximately the posterior five-sixths of its surface -
cry/o
(combining form) - cold
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cor/o
(combining form) - pupil
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opt/o
(combining form) - vision
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kerat/o
(combining form) -
cornea
The clear front window of the eye that transmits and focuses light into the eye
Can also mean horny tissue -
arthr/o
(combining form) - joint
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-opia
(suffix) - vision (condition)
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tympan/o
(combining form) - eardrum, middle ear
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labyrinth/o
(combining form) - labyrinth, inner ear
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irid/o
(combining form) -
iris
The iris is the circular, colored curtain of the eye -
ocul/o
(combining form) - eye
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ophthalm/o
(combining form) - eye
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oste/o
(combining form) - bone
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lamin/o
(combining form) - lamina, thin flat plate or layer
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myring/o
(combining form) - tympanic membrane (eardrum)
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aur/i, aur/o
(combining form) - ear
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mastoid/o
(combining form) -
mastoid
The rounded protrusion of bone just behind the ear once thought to look like the breast -
scoli/o
(combining form) - crooked, curved
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ten/o
(combining form) -
tendon
The tissue by which a muscle attaches to bone -
clavicul/o
(combining form) - clavicle (collarbone)
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tibi/o
(combining form) -
tibia
The larger of the two bones in the leg (the smaller one being the fibula). The tibia is familiarly known as the shinbone -
staped/o
(combining form) -
stapes
A stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear -
stern/o
(combining form) -
sternum (breastbone)
Anatomic name for the breast bone, the long flat bone in the upper middle of the front of the chest -
lord/o
(combining form) - bent forward
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sacr/o
(combining form) -
sacrum
The large heavy bone at the base of the spine, which is made up of fused sacral vertebrae -
conjunctiv/o
(combining form) -
conjunctiva
A thin clear moist membrane that coats the inner surfaces of the eyelids and the outer surface of the eye -
burs/o
(combining form) - bursa (cavity)
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myos/o
(combining form) - muscle
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lumb/o
(combining form) -
loin (lumbar region of the spine)
Referring to the 5 lumbar vertebrae which are situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae in the spinal column -
acou/o
(combining form) - hearing
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ot/o
(combining form) - ear
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supra-
(prefix) - above
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cost/o
(combining form) - rib
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maxill/o
(combining form) - maxilla (upper jawbone)
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vertebr/o
(combining form) -
vertebra
A vertebra is one of 33 bony segments that form the spinal column of humans -
femor/o
(combining form) - femur (upper leg bone)
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myel/o
(combining form) - spinal cord (myel/o also means bone marrow)
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carp/o
(combining form) - carpals (wrist bones)
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-physis
(suffix) - growth
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sym-
(prefix) - together, joined
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syn-
(prefix) - together, joined
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pub/o
(combining form) -
pubis
The front center portion of the pelvis -
tars/o
(combining form) - tarsals (ankle bones)
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scapul/o
(combining form) - scapula (shoulder blade)
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menisc/o
(combining form) - meniscus (cresent)
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ili/o
(combining form) -
ilium
The upper part of the bony pelvis which forms the receptacle for the head of the femur at the hip joint -
fibul/o
(combining form) -
fibula (lower leg bone)
The lateral (outside) and smaller of the two long bones in the lower leg between the knee and ankle -
tendin/o
(combining form) -
tendon
The tissue by which a muscle attaches to bone. A tendon is somewhat flexible, but fibrous and tough -
clavic/o
(combining form) - clavicle (collarbone)
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patell/o
(combining form) - patella (kneecap)
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mandibul/o
(combining form) - mandible (lower jaw bone)
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petr/o
(combining form) - stone
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phalang/o
(combining form) - phalanges, finger or toe bones
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audi/o
(combining form) - hearing
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rachi/o
(combining form) - spine, vertebral column
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kinesi/o
(combining form) - movement, motion
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inter-
(prefix) - between
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ischi/o
(combining form) -
ischium
Bone making up the lower down back part of the pelvis -
chondr/o
(combining form) -
cartilage
Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints -
synovi/o
(combining form) -
synovia, synovial membrane
The fluid that lubricates joints -
tend/o
(combining form) - tendon
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-clasia
(suffix) - break
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kyph/o
(combining form) - hump
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spondyl/o
(combining form) - vertebra
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radi/o
(combining form) - radius (lower arm bone)
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aponeur/o
(combining form) - A sheetlike fibrous membrane, resembling a flattened tendon, that serves as a fascia to bind muscles together or as a means of connecting muscle to bone
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uln/o
(combining form) - ulna (lower arm bone)
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crani/o
(combining form) - cranium, skull
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humer/o
(combining form) - humerus (upper arm bone)
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-asthenia
(suffix) - weakness
-
mon/o
(combining form) - one
-
gangli/o
(combining form) -
ganglion
an aggregation of nerve cell bodies -
cerebell/o
(combining form) -
cerebellum
The portion of the brain in the back of the head between the cerebrum and the brain stem -
ankyl/o
(combining form) - crooked, stiff, bent
-
disk/o
(combining form) -
intervertebral disk
A pad of cartilage between two vertebrae that acts as a shock absorber -
-clast
(suffix) - break
-
-clasis
(suffix) - break
-
dur/o
(combining form) -
hard, dura mater
The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord -
psych/o
(combining form) - mind
-
quadr/i
(combining form) - four
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ganglion/o
(combining form) - an aggregation of nerve cell bodies
-
-schisis
(suffix) -
split, fissure
A cleft or groove. A fissure can be normal or abnormal -
-desis
(suffix) - surgical fixation, fusion
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esthesi/o
(combining form) - sensation, sensitivity, feeling
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encephal/o
(combining form) - brain
-
mening/o, mening/i
(combining form) -
meninges
The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord -
cerebr/o
(combining form) -
cerebrum, brain
The largest part of the brain -
-iatrist
(suffix) - specialist, physician
-
-paresis
(suffix) - slight paralysis
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phas/o
(combining form) - speech
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phren/o
(combining form) - mind
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-ictal
(suffix) - seizure, attack
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-iatry
(suffix) - treatment, specialty
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radicul/o
(combining form) - nerve root
-
radic/o
(combining form) - nerve root
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calc/i
(combining form) - calcium
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ment/o
(combining form) - mind
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tetra-
(prefix) - four
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poli/o
(combining form) - gray matter
-
adrenal/o
(combining form) -
adrenal gland
One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys -
kal/i
(combining form) - potassium
-
adren/o
(combining form) -
adrenal gland
One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys -
dips/o
(combining form) - thirst
-
endocrin/o
(combining form) -
endocrine
Pertaining to hormones and the glands that make and secrete them into the bloodstream through which they travel to affect distant organs -
rhiz/o
(combining form) - nerve root
-
aden/o
(combining form) - gland
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thyroid/o
(combining form) - thyroid gland
-
thyr/o
(combining form) -
thyroid gland
A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy -
acr/o
(combining form) - extremities, height
-
parathyroid/o
(combining form) -
parathyroid gland
A gland that regulates calcium, located behind the thyroid gland in the neck -
natr/o
(combining form) - sodium
-
cortic/o
(combining form) -
cortex
The outer portion of an organ -
-drome
(suffix) - run, running
-
-ologist
(suffix) - one who studies and treats (specialist, physician)
-
-logy
(suffix) - study of
-
-stasis
(suffix) - control, stop, standing
-
-plasm
(suffix) - a growth, substance formation
-
-genesis
(suffix) - origin, cause
-
-gen
(suffix) - substance or agent that produces or causes
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hist/o
(combining form) - tissue
-
chrom/o
(combining form) - color
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lip/o
(combining form) - fat
-
cyan/o
(combining form) - blue
-
sarc/o
(combining form) - flesh, connective tissue
-
system/o
(combining form) - system
-
cyt/o
(combining form) - cell
-
path/o
(combining form) - disease
- adenocarcinoma
- cancerous tumor of glandular tissue
- andenoma
- tumor composed of glandular tissue
- carcinoma
- cancerous tumor
- chloroma
- tumor of green color
- epithelioma
- tumor composed of epithelium
- fibroma
- tumor composed of fiber
- fibrosarcoma
- malignant tumor composed of fiber
- leiomyoma
- tumor composed of smooth muscle
- leiomyosarcoma
- malignant tumor of smooth muscle
- lipoma
- tumor composed of fat
- liposarcoma
- malignant tumor of fat
- melanocarcinoma
- cancerous black tumor
- melanoma
- black tumor
- myoma
- tumor composed of muscle
- neoplasm
- new growth
- neuroma
- tumor composed to nerve
- rhabdomyoma
- tumor composed of striated muscle
- rhabdomyoscarcoma
- malignant tumor of striated muscle
- sarcoma
- tumor of connective tissue
- cytogenic
- producing cells
- cytoid
- resembling a cell
- cytology
- study of cells
- cytoplasm
- cell substance
- dysplasia
- abnormal development
- epithelial
- pertaining to the epithelium
- erythrocyte
- red blood cell
- erythrocytosis
- increase in number of red blood cells
- histology
- the study of tissue
- hyperplasia
- excessive development
- hypoplasia
- incomplete development
- karyocyte
- cell with a nucleus
- karyoplasm
- substance of a nucleus
- leukocyte
- white blood cell
- leukocytosis
- increase in the number of white blood cells
- lipoid
- resembling fat
- myopathy
- disease of the muscle
- neuroid
- resembling a nerve
- somatic
- pertaining to the body
- somatogenic
- originating in the body
- somatopathy
- disease of the body
- somatoplasm
- body substance
- systemic
- pertaining to a system
- visceral
- pertaining to internal organs