Combining Forms
1.abdomin/o- abdomen
2.acanth/o- spiny, thorny
3.acetabul/o- acetabulum
4. acous/o- sound
5. acr/o- extremity, height
6. acromi/o- acromion (point of the shoulder)
7. actin/o- ray, beam of light
8. acu/o- needle
9. acu/o- sharp, severe, sudden
10. aden/o- gland
11. adenoid/o- glandlike
12. adip/o- fat
13. adren/o- adrenal gland
14. adrenal/o- adrenal gland, adrenaline or epinephrine
15. aer/o-air, gas
16. agglutin/o- agglutination
17. agor/a- marketplace
18. alb/o- white
19. albin/o- albinism-white
20. albumin/o- albumin, simple protein, white of egg
21. alges/o- pain, sensation
22. alveol/o- alveolus, the alveolar process
23. ambly/o- dullness, dimness
24. amin/o- NH2
25. amni/o- amnion, (sac surrounding the embryo in the uterus)
26. amyl/o- starch
27. an/o- anus
28. andr/o- male, masculine
29. aneurysm/o- aneurysm
30. angi/o- blood or lymph vessel
31. anis/o- unequal, dissimilar, unlike
32. ankyl/o-bent, crooked, stiff, fixed
33. anter/o- anterior, front
34. anthrac/o- coal, carbon
35. anxi/o-anxiety
36. aort/o- aorta
37. aphth/o-ulcer
38. aponeur/o-aponeurosis (type of tendon)
39. append/o- appendix
40. appendic/o- appendix
41. aqua, aque/o- watery, containing water
42. arter/o- artery
43. arteri/o- artery
44. arteriol/o-arteriole
45. arthr/o- joint
46. articul/o- joint
47. asbest/o- asbestos
48. atel/o- incomplete
49. ather/o- pasty material, plaque, fatty substance
50. atri/o- atrium
51. audi/o- sound, hearing, sense of hearing
52. audit/o- sound, sense of hearing or organs of hearing
53. aur/o- ear
54. auricul/o- auricle or pinna
55. aut/o- self, own
56. axill/o- armpit
57. azot/o- urea, nitrogen
58. bacill/o- bacilli (bacteria)
59. bacteri/o- bacteria
60. balan/o- glans penis
61. bar/o- pressure, weight
62. bartholin/o- Bartholin glands
63. bas/o- base
64. baso/o-base, alkaline
65. bi/o- life
66. bil/i- gall, bile
67. bilirubin/o- bilirubin (bile pigment)
68. blephar/o- eyelid
69. bol/o- to cast, throw
70. brachi/o- arm
71. bronch/o- bronchial tubes
72. bronch/o- bronchus
73. bronchi/o- bronchi
74. bronchiol/o- bronchiole
75. bucc/o- cheek
76. bunion/o- bunion
77. burs/o- bursa (sac of fluid near joints)
78. bysinn/o- cotton dust
79. cac/o- bad, ill
80. calc/o- calcaneus or heel bone
81. calc/o- calcium
82. calcane/o- calcaneus (heel bone)
83. calci/o- calcium
84. calci/o- calyx
85. cali/o- calix, calyx
86. calic/o- calix
87. capn/o- carbon dioxide
88. carcin/o- cancerous, cancer, crab
89. cardi/o- heart
90. carp/o- carpal bones, wrist bones
91. caud/o- tail, lower part of body
92. caus/o- burn
93. cauter/o- heat, cautery, burning
94. cec/o- cecum
95. celi/o- belly, abdomen
96. cephal/o- head
97. cerebell/o- cerebellum
98. cerebr/o- cerebrum
99. cerumin/o- cerumen, earwax
100. cervic/o- neck, cervix
101. cheil/o- lip
102. chem/o- chemical, drug
103. chol/e- gall, bile
104. cholecyst/o- gallbladder
105. choledoch/o- common bile duct
106. cholesterol/o- cholesterol
107. chondr/o- cartilage
108. chori/o- chorion
109. chorion/o- chorion
110. chrom/o- color
111. chron/o- time
112. cib/o- meals
113. cis/o- to cut
114. clavicul/o- clavicle
115. coagul/o-coagulation
116. coccyg/o- coccyx (tailbone)
117. cochle/o- cochlea of the ear
118. col/o- colon, large intestine
119. colon/o- colon, large intestine
120. colp/o- vagina
121. comat/o- coma
122. coni/o- dust
123. conjunctiv/o- conjunctiva
124. cor/o-pupil of the eye
125. corne/o-cornea
126. coron/o- crown, coronary artery
127. cortic/o- cortex
128. cost/o- rib
129. crani/o- cranium, skull
130. cras/o- mixture, temperament
131. crin/o- secrete, secretion
132. cry/o- cold
133. crymo- cold
134. crypt/o- hidden, concealed
135. culd/o- cul-de-sac
136. cutane/o- skin
137. cyan/o- blue
138. cycl/o- ciliary body of eye, cycle, circle
139. cyst/o- urinary bladder, sac filled with fluid, bladder
140. cyt/o- cell
141. dacry/o- tears, lacrimal duct, lacrimal sac
142. dacryocyst/o- tear sac or lacrimal sac
143. dactyl/o- fingers, toes
144. dem/o- people
145. dent/i- tooth
146. derm/o- skin
147. dermat/o- skin
148. desicc/o- drying
149. diaphor/o- sweat, perspiration
150. dipl/o- double
151. dips/o- thirst
152. dist/o- far, distant
153. dors/o- back portion of the body
154. duct/o- to lead, carry
155. duoden/o- duodenum
156. dur/o- duramater
157. electr/o- electric, electricity
158. emmetr/o- in due measure
159. encephal/o- brain
160. enter/o-intestines, usually small intestine
161. eosin/o- eosinophil
162. epididym/o- epididymis
163. epiglott/o- epiglottis
164. episi/o- vulva
165. erg/o- work
166. erythem/o- flushed, redness
167. erythemat/o- redness
168. erythr/o- red
169. esophag/o- esophagus
170. esthes/o-sensation
171. esthesi/o- feeling, nervous sensation
172. estr/o- estrogen, female
173. ethm/o- sieve
174. eti/o- cause
175. exanthemat/o- rash
176. faci/o- face
177. fasci/o- fascia
178. femor/o- femur (thigh bone)
179. fibr/o- fiber
180. fibros/o- fibrous connective tissue
181. fibul/o- fibula, calf bone
182. flex/o- to bend
183. flour/o- luminous
184. fluor/o- fluorine
185. follicul/o- follicle, small sac
186. fung/o- fungus, mushroom
187. furc/o- forking, branching
188. galact/o- milk
189. ganglion/o- ganglion
190. gastr/o- stomach
191. gen/o- producing
192. gester/o- pregnancy
193. gingiv/o- gum
194. glauc/o- gray
195. glauc/o-bluish green
196. gli/o- glue (neuroglia)
197. glomerul/o- glomerulus or glomeruli
198. gloss/o- tongue
199. gluc/o- glucose
200. glyc/o-sugar
201. glycogen/o- glycogen, animal starch
202. glycos/o- glucose, sugar
203. gnos/o- knowledge
204. gon/o- seed
205. gonad/o-gonads or sex glands
206. goni/o- angle
207. granul/o-granules
208. gravid/o- pregnancy
209. gynec/o- woman, female
210. hallucin/o- hallucination
211. hem/o- blood
212. hemat/o- blood
213. hemoglobin/o- hemoglobin
214. hepat/o- liver
215. herni/o- hernia
216. hidr/o-sweat, sweat glands
217. hist/o- tissue
218. home/o-same, alike
219. hormon/o- hormone
220. humer/o- humerus
221. hydr/o- water, fluid
222. hypn/o- sleep, or hypnosis
223. hyster/o- uterus
224. iatr/o- medicine or treatment
225. ile/o- ileum (third part of small intestine)
226. ili/o- ilium (part of the pelvic bone), top of hip bone
227. immun/o- immune, immunity, protection
228. inguin/o- groin
229. insulin/o- insulin
230. ir/o- iris
231. irid/o-iris
232. is/o- equal, like
233. isch/o- to hold back
234. ithy/o- straight
235. jejun/o- jejunum
236. kal/i- potassium
237. kary/o- nucleus
238. kerat/o- hard, horny, cornea
239. ket/o- ketones, acetones
240. keton/o- ketones, acetones
241. kines/o- motion, movement
242. kinesi/o- motion, movement
243. klept/o- steal
244. kyph/o- hump (posteroanterior curvature)
245. labi/o- lip
246. lacrim/o- tears
247. lact/o- milk
248. lamin/o- lamina (part of vertebral arch), flat layer
249. lapar/o- abdomen, abdominal wall
250. laryng/o- larynx (voice box)
251. later/o- side
252. leiomy/o- smooth muscle(nonstriated)
253. lept/o- light, thin, frail
254. leth/o- death
255. leuk/o-white, white blood cell
256. lex/o- speech
257. ligament/o- ligament
258. lingu/o- tongue
259. lip/o- fat
260. lith/o- stone, calculus
261. lob/o- lobe
262. log/o- study
263. lord/o- hollow back- (anteroposterior curvature), swayback, curve
264. lumb/o- loin, lower back
265. lux/o- to slide, dislocation
266. lymph/o- lymph
267. lymphaden/o-lymph node, lymph gland
268. lymphangi/o-lymphatic vessels
269. malleol/o- malleolus
270. mamm/o- breasts
271. mandibul/o- lower jaw, mandible
272. mast/o- breast
273. mastoid/o- mastoid process
274. maxill/o- maxilla
275. meat/o- meatus, opening, passage
276. medi/o- middle
277. mediastin/o- mediastinum
278. medull/o- medulla (inner section)
279. melan/o-melanin, black
280. men/o- menses, menstruation
281. mening/o- membranes, meninges
282. meningi/o- membranes, meninges
283. ment/o- mind, chin
284. mes/o- middle
285. metacarp/o- metacarpals
286. metatars/o- metatarsals
287. metr/o- uterus
288. metri/o- moderate
289. mi/o- less
290. mon/o- single
291. morph/o- form, shape, structure
292. mort/o- death
293. muc/o- mucus
294. mucos/o-mucous membrane (mucosa)
295. mut/a- mutation, genetic change
296. mutagen/o- causing genetic change
297. my/o-muscle
298. myc/o-fungus
299. mydr/o-wide, dilation of the pupil
300. myel/o- bone marrow, spinal cord
301. myocardi/o- middle layer of the heart
302. myom/o- neoplasm of muscular tissue
303. myos/o- muscle
304. myring/o- tympanum, eardrum
305. myx/o- mucus
306. narc/o- stupor, narcosis, benumb, deaden, sleep
307. nas/o- nose
308. nat/i- birth
309. natr/o- sodium
310. necr/o- death (of cells or whole body)
311. nephr/o- kidney
312. neur/o- nerve, nerve tissue, nervous system
313. neutr/o- neutral
314. noct/i- night
315. norm/o- normal, order
316. nucle/o- nucleus
317. nyct/o- night, nocturnal
318. o/o-egg, ovary
319. obstetr/o- midwifery
320. ocul/o- eye
321. odont/o-tooth
322. olecran/o- elbow bone
323. olig/o- little, few, scanty
324. omphal/o- umbilical cord, navel
325. onc/o- tumor
326. onh/o-tumor
327. onych/o- nail
328. oophor/o- ovary
329. ophthalm/o- eye
330. opt/o-eye
331. optic/o-eye
332. or/o- mouth
333. orch/o- testes
334. orchi/o- testes
335. orchid/o- testes
336. orth/o- straight
337. ossicul/o- ossicles of the middle ear
338. oste/o- bone
339. ot/o- ear
340. ov/o- egg
341. ovari/o-ovary
342. ovul/o- egg, ovule
343. ox/o- oxygen
344. oxysm/o- sudden, sharp
345. palat/o- palate
346. palpebr/o-eyelid
347. pancreat/o- pancreas
348. papill/o-papilla, nipple-like process, optic disk
349. parathyroid/o- parathyroids
350. patell/a- kneecap, patella
351. patell/o- kneecap, patella
352. path/o- disease
353. pector/o- chest
354. ped/o- child, foot
355. pelv/i pelvic bone, hip, pelvis
356. pelv/o- hip, pelvic cavity
357. pend/o- to hang
358. pericardi/o- pericardium
359. perine/o- perineum
360. peritone/o- peritoneum
361. perone/o- fibula
362. phac/o- lens of eye
363. phag/o- to eat, swallow
364. phak/o- lens of eye
365. phalang/o- phalanges, (finger and toes)
366. pharmac/o- drug
367. pharmaceut/o- pharmacy, drugs
368. pharyng/o- pharynx, throat
369. phas/o- speech
370. phe/o- dusky, dark
371. phil/o- love, like, attraction, fond
372. phim/o- muzzle, narrowness of the opening
373. phleb/o- vein
374. phob/o- fear
375. phon/o- sound, voice
376. phor/o- carrying, bearing
377. phot/o- light
378. phren/o- diaphragm
379. phys/o- tendency to swell or inflate, growing
380. phyt/o- plants
381. pil/o- hair
382. pineal/o- pineal gland
383. pituitar/o- pituitary
384. plant/o- sole of the foot
385. plas/o- development or formation
386. ple/o- more
387. pleur/o- pleura
388. plex/o- plexus, network (of nerves)
389. pneum/o- lung
390. pneumon/o- lungs, gas or air
391. poikil/o- varied, irregular
392. poli/o- gray matter of the brain and spinal cord
393. polyp/o- polyp, small growth
394. pont/o- pons, pontes, (pons varoli), (pons cerebelli)
395. poster/o- back, behind
396. presby/o-old age
397. proct/o- anus and rectum
398. prostat/o- prostate gland
399. proxim/o- near
400. prurit/o-itching, itch
401. psych/o- mind
402. psychr/o- cold
403. pub/o- pubis
404. pulmon/o- lungs
405. pupill/o- pupil
406. purul/o- fus-filled
407. py/o- pus
408. pyel/o- pelvis, usually renal pelvis
409. pylor/o- pylorus, pyloric sphincter
410. pyret/o- fever, heat
411. pyrex/o- fever
412. pyr/o- fire, heat, fever
413. rachi/o- spinal column, vertebrae
414. radi/o- radiation, radius, radioactive, x-rays
415. radi/o-radiation
416. radicul/o- radicle, nerve root
417. rect/o- rectum
418. ren/o- kidney
419. reticul/o- network
420. retin/o- retina
421. rhabdomy/o- striated, (skeletal muscle)
422. rheumat/o- watery flow
423. rhin/o- nose
424. roentgen/o- x-ray
425. rrhythm/o- rhythm
426. sacr/o- sacrum
427. salphing/o- uterine tube, oviduct, fallopian tube, eustachian tube
428. sarc/o- flesh
429. scapul/o- scapula, shoulder blade
430. schiz/o- to split or cleave, schizophrenia
431. scintill/o- spark
432. scirrh/o- hard
433. scler/o-outer layer of the eye, sclera, (white of the eye)
434. scoli/o- crooked, bent, lateral curvature
435. scot/o- darkness
436. seb/o- sebum, sebaceous
437. sebace/o- sebum, sebaceous
438. sect/o- to cut
439. semin/i- seminiferous tubules, semen, seed
440. seps/o- infection
441. sial/o- saliva, salivary
442. sialden/o- salivary gland
443. sider/o- iron
444. sigmoid/o- sigmoid colon
445. sinus/o- sinus (cavity)
446. somat/o- body, bodily
447. somn/o- sleeep
448. son/o- sound
449. sperm/o- sperm cell
450. spermat/o- semen, spermatozoan, sperm cell
451. sphen/o- wedge, sphenoid bone
452. spher/o- globe-shaped, round, spherical, sphere
453. sphygm/o- pulse
454. spin/o- spine, spinal cord, backbone
455. spir/o- coil-shaped
456. splen/o- spleen
457. spondyl/o- vertebrae
458. squam/o- squama, squamous, scale
459. staped/o- stapes of the auditory ossicle, middle ear bone
460. staphyl/o- clusters, uvula, staphylococci
461. stear/o- fat, lipid
462. steat/o- fat, lipid
463. ster/o- steroid
464. stern/o- sternum, breast bone
465. steth/o- chest
466. stomat/o-mouth or opening
467. strept/o- curved or twisted chains
468. styl/o- pillar, pole or stake
469. syncop/o- unconsciousness
470. tars/o- tarsus, root of foot
471. tax/o-arrangement
472. tel/o- distance, end
473. terat/o- monster
474. test/o- testis
475. thalam/o- thalamus
476. the/o-to put, place
477. thec/o- sheath or capsule
478. thel/o- nipple
479. therapeut/o- treatment
480. thorac/o- chest
481. thromb/o- blood clot, thrombin, coagulation
482. thym/o- thymus
483. thyr/o-shield, thyroid gland
484. thyroid/o- thyroid gland
485. tibi/o- tibia-shinbone
486. toc/o- childbirth
487. tom/o- cutting or section
488. ton/o- tone, tension, pressure
489. tonsill/o- tonsils
490. top/o- place, position, location
491. tox/o- poison, toxin
492. toxic/o- poison, toxin
493. trache/o- trachea (windpipe)
494. trich/o- hair
495. trigon/o- triangle
496. troph/o- food, nutrition
497. tympan/o- tympanum or eardrum
498. uln/o- ulna-larger of the two bones of the forearm
499. umbilic/o- navel, umbilicus
500. ungu/o- nails
501. ur/o- urinary tract, urine
502. ureter/o- ureter
503. urethr/o- urethra
504. urin/o- urine
505. uter/o- uterus
506. uve/o- vascular tunic of eye
507. vag/o- vagus nerve
508. vagin/o- vagina
509. valv/o- valve
510. valvul/o- valve
511. varic/o- dilated vein
512. vas/o- blood vessel
513. vascul/o- blood vessel
514. ven/o-vein
515. vener/o- intercourse
516. ventr/o- belly side of the body
517. ventricul/o- ventricles
518. vertebr/o- vertebrae, backbones
519. vesic/o- vesicle, bladder
520. viscer/o- internal organs
521. vit/o- life
522. vitr/o- in artificial medium
523. vitre/o-vitreous body, glassy
524. viv/o- in living medium
525. vulv/o- vulva
526. xanth/o-yellow
527. xen/o- strange or foreign material
528. xer/o- dry, dryness
529. zo/o- animal