Common Medical Root Words and Combining Vowels

Question 1

Albin/o

Answer 1

White

Question 2

Derm/o or Dermat/o or Derma

Answer 2

Skin

Question 3

Bi/o

Answer 3

Life

Question 4

Diaphor/o

Answer 4

Profuse sweating

Question 5

Cry/o

Answer 5

Cold

Question 6

Electr/o

Answer 6

Electricity

Question 7

Cutane/o

Answer 7

Skin

Question 8

Ichthy/o

Answer 8

Scaly

Question 9

Cyan/o

Answer 9

Blue

Question 10

Kerat/o

Answer 10

Hard

Question 11

Lip/o

Answer 11

Fat

Question 12

Melan/o

Answer 12

Black

Question 13

Myc/o

Answer 13

Fungus

Question 14

Necr/o

Answer 14

Death

Question 15

Pil/o

Answer 15

Hair

Question 16

Py/o

Answer 16

Pus

Question 17

Rhytid/o

Answer 17

Wrinkle

Question 18

Seb/o

Answer 18

Oil

Question 19

Ungu/o

Answer 19

Nail

Question 20

Xer/o

Answer 20

Dry

Question 21

Root Word

Answer 21

The foundation of each term that provides us with a general meaning of the word.

• not all medical terms require a root
• all medical roots take a suffix

Question 22

Combining vowel

Answer 22

Typically an “o”. This element helps us pronounce the word more easily and connects the root word to the suffix.

• can be used to connect two roots
• never used to join a prefix and a root

Question 23

Artery

Answer 23

Artery

Question 24

Arthr

Answer 24

joint

Question 25

Bronch

Answer 25

Bronchus

Question 26

Carcin

Answer 26

Cancer

Question 27

Cardi

Answer 27

Heart

Question 28

Cyst

Answer 28

Bladder

Question 29

Entera

Answer 29

Abdomen/intestine

Question 30

Gastr

Answer 30

Stomach

Question 31

Gluco

Answer 31

Sugar

Question 32

Hemo

Answer 32

Blood

Question 33

Hepat

Answer 33

Liver

Question 34

my

Answer 34

Muscle

Question 35

Nasa

Answer 35

Nose

Question 36

Nephr

Answer 36

Kidney

Question 37

Neur

Answer 37

Neuron

Question 38

Oste

Answer 38

Bone

Question 39

Patho

Answer 39

Disease