Hey, I Know You: Word Recognition
Chapter 8: Hey, I Know You: Word Recognition
Angi/o Vessel Angioplasty: Surgical repair or
reconstruction of a vessel Arteri/o Artery Arterioplasty: Surgical repair or
reconstruction of an artery
Arthr/o Joint Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint
Arthroplasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction of a joint
Audi/o Hearing Audiometry: Measurement of hearing
using an audiometer
Bio Life Biology: The study of life and living
organisms
Bronch/i, bronch/o Bronchus/lung Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchus
Bronchoscopy: Visual examination of the bronchus
Cardi/o Heart Cardiomegaly: Enlargement of the
heart
Cardiac: Pertaining to the heart Carditis: Inflammation of the heart Cholecyst/o Gallbladder Cholecystectomy: Removal of the
gallbladder
Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder
Chondr/i, chondr/o Cartilage Chondromalacia: Softening of cartilage
Col/o Colon Colonoscopy: Visual examination of
the colon
Colonoscope: Instrument used in colonoscopy
Cry/o Cold Cryobiology: Branch of biology deal-
ing with effects of low temperatures Cysti, cyst/o Bladder, or cyst Cystectomy: Surgical removal of a
simple cyst or of the urinary bladder Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder Cystogram: Radiograph of the bladder
Cystopexy: Surgical fixation of the bladder to abdominal wall
(continued)
Table 8-1 (continued)
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Cyt/o Cell Cytology: Study of cells
Duoden/o Duodenum (first
section of small intestine)
Duodenotomy: Surgical cutting into the duodenum
Duodenectomy: Surgical removal of the duodenum
Duodenitis: Inflammation of the duodenum
Encephal/o Brain Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain
Episi/o Vulva Episiotomy: Surgical cutting of the
vulva
Esophag/o Esophagus Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): Visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum by scope
Erythr/o Red Erythrocytes: Red blood cells
Erythema: Reddening of the skin
Galact/o Milk Galactorrhea: Spontaneous flow of
milk when nursing
Gastr/o Stomach Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach
Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of the stomach
Gastrodynia: Stomach ache
Glyc/o Sugar Glycosuria: Sugar in the urine
Gynec/o Female Gynecologist: Physician who studies
and treats diseases of female reproductive organs
Hemat/o Blood Hematocyte: Blood cell
Hepat/o, hepatic/o Liver Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver Heter/o Other, different Heterosexual: Sexually attracted to
the opposite sex
Hist/o, histi/o Tissue Histology: Study and function of tissue
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Chapter 8: Hey, I Know You: Word Recognition
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Hom/o, home/o Same, alike Homosexual: Sexually attracted to the same sex
Hydr/o Water, wet Hydromassage: Massage by means
of moving water
Hyster/o Uterus Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of
the uterus
Ile/o Ileum (intestine) Ileostomy: Artificial opening into the ileum
Ileitis: Inflammation of the ileum
ili/o Ilium (pelvic
bone)
Ilioinguinal: Pertaining to the ilium and inguinal regions
Jejun/o Jejunum (in
small intestine)
Jejunitis: Inflammation of the jejunum Jejunostomy: Artificial opening into the jejunum
Lacrima Tears Lacrimatory: Causing a flow of tears
Laryng/o Larynx Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx Laryngectomy: Surgical removal of the larynx
Leuk/o White Leukocyte: White blood cell
Lith/o Stone or
calculus
Lithotripsy: Crushing of a stone or calculus
Men/o Menstruation Menorrhea: Menstrual flow
Menorrhagia: Excessive or heavy menstrual flow
Myel/o Bone marrow or
spinal cord
Myelogram: Recording of the spinal cord
My/o Muscle Myositis: Inflammation of a muscle
Myalgia: Pain in a muscle or painful muscle
Nat/o Birth Prenatal: Before birth
Postnatal: After birth
Necr/o Death Necrosis: Death of a cell
Necrophobia: Morbid fear of death or dead bodies
Nephr/o Kidney Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of a
kidney
(continued)
Table 8-1 (continued)
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Neur/o Nerve Neurologist: Physician who studies
and treats conditions of the nervous system
Oophor/o Ovary Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of
an ovary
Oophoritis: Inflammation of an ovary Orchid/o, orchi/o Testis Orchialgia: A pain in the testicle
Orchiectomy: Surgical removal of a testicle
Peritone/o Peritoneum Peritoneal: Pertaining to the peritoneum
Peritonitis: Inflammation of the peritoneum
Pharyng/o Pharynx Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx (sore throat)
Pleur/o Pleura, rib
(side)
Pleurisy: Inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity
Pleurolysis: Surgical separation of pleural adhesions
Pneum/a/o/ato/ono Lungs Pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lung
Proct/o Rectum, anus Proctologist: Physician who studies and treats diseases of rectum and anus
Pulmon/o Lungs Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs
Pyel/o Renal pelvis Pyelography: Radiograph (x-ray) of the pelvis of the kidney
Pyelolithotomy: Removal of a stone from the kidney pelvis
Rect/o Rectum Rectosigmoid: Pertaining to the
rectum and sigmoid
Salping/o Fallopian tube Salpingectomy: Surgical removal of a fallopian tube
Sarc/o Flesh Sarcoid: Resembling flesh
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Chapter 8: Hey, I Know You: Word Recognition
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Splen/o Spleen Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the
spleen
Splenectomy: Surgical removal of the spleen
Tend/o, ten/o Tendon Tendinitis (or tendonitis):
Inflammation of a tendon
Testicul/o Testis Testicular: Pertaining to a testis or testicle
Testitis: Inflammation of a testis Thorac/o Chest Thoracotomy: Incision into the chest
cavity
Thoracentesis: Surgical puncture into chest cavity
Tonsill/o Tonsils Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of tonsils
Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils
Ureter/o Ureter Ureterolithotomy: Removal of a
calculus (stone) from a ureter by means of incision
Ureteropelvic: Pertaining to the ureter and pelvis of the kidney Urethr/o Urethra Urethritis: Inflammation of the
urethra
Urethropexy: Surgical fixation of the urethra
Vas/o Vas deferens Vasectomy: Surgical removal of portion of vas deferens for male sterilization
Viscer/o Viscera
(organs)
Viscerography: Radiography of the viscera
Terms for the Outside of Your Body
Whew! Now let’s take a look at some of the words you can conjure for the exterior of your body. Table 8-2 is your ticket.
Table 8-2 Out of Bounds: External Terminology
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Blephar/o Eyelid or eyelash Blepharoplasty: Surgical repair of the eyelids
Cephal/o Head Cephalocentesis: Surgical puncture of the head (skull)
Cephalomegaly: Enlargement of the head (skull)
Cervic/o Neck or cervix Cervicodynia: Pain in the neck Cervicitis: Inflammation of the cervix Cheil/o, chil/o Lip Cheilophagia: Biting of the lips Derm/a/o,
dermat/o
Skin Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin Dermatologist: Physician who studies and treats diseases of the skin
Dermatome: Instrument used for cutting thin skin slices for skin grafting
Dors/i, dors/o Back or posterior Dorsalgia: Pain in the back
Gingiv/o Gums in mouth Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums
Inguin/o Groin Inguinodynia: Pain in the groin
Irid/o Iris of eye Iridectomy: Surgical removal of the iris Lapar/o Abdomen, loin,
flank
Laparotomy: Cutting into the abdomen Laparoscopy: Visual examination into the abdomen
Lingu/o Tongue Sublingual: Under the tongue
Mamm/a, mamm/o
Breast Mammoplasty: Surgical repair or recon- struction of the breast
Mast/o Breast Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the
breast
Odont/o Teeth Odontalgia: Toothache
Onych/o Nails Onychophagia: Habit of biting the nails Onychomalacia: Softening of the nails Ophthalm/o,
ocul/o
Eyes Ophthalmologist: Physician studying eyes and treatment of eye disease Optic/o, opt/o Seeing, sight Optician: One who fills the
ophthalmologist’s prescription for cor- rective eye glasses
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Chapter 8: Hey, I Know You: Word Recognition
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Or/o Mouth Orolingual: Pertaining to the mouth and
tongue
Ot/o Ear Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle
ear
Otodynia: Earache
Pelv/o Pelvis Pelvimetry: Measurement of dimensions
and capacity of the pelvis
Pod/o Foot Podarthritis: Inflammation of the joints of the foot
Rhin/o Nose Rhinoplasty: Nose job
Rhinorrhea: Discharge of mucus from the nose (runny nose)
Stomat/o Mouth Stomatitis: Inflammation of the oral mucosa or lining of the mouth Thorac/o Chest Thoracentesis: Surgical puncture into
the chest cavity
Thoracotomy: Surgical incision into the chest cavity
Table 8-3 Quick Glance: Pathology
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Aden/o Gland Adenomegaly: Enlargement of a gland
Adenitis: Inflammation of a gland
Atri/o Atrium Atriomegaly: Abnormal enlargement of an atrium of the heart
Carcin/o Cancer Carcinogen: A cancer-producing sub- stance
Cheir/o, chir/o
Hand Cheiromegaly: Abnormal enlargement (megaly) of the hand
Cholecyst/o Gallbladder Cholelithiasis: Stones in the gallbladder Choledoch/o Common bile
duct
Choledocholithiasis: Stones in the common bile duct of the gallbladder
Cyan/o Blue Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the skin Cyanotic: Pertaining to or characterized by cyanosis
(continued)
Table 8-3 (continued)
Root Word What It Means Example(s)
Cysti, cyst/o Bladder or cyst Cystocele: Hernial protrusion of urinary bladder through vaginal wall
Dipl/o Double, twice Diplopia: The condition of double vision Encephal/o Brain Encephalopathy: A disorder or disease of
the brain
Hemat/o Blood Hematemesis: Vomiting of blood
Hepat/o, hepatic/o
Liver Hepatomegaly: Enlargement of the liver Hydr/o Water, wet Hydropenia: Deficiency of water in the
body (dehydration)
Melan/o Black Melanoma: Black-colored tumor or growth Necr/o Death Necrosis: Condition of death of a cell Nephr/o Kidney Nephrolithiasis: Condition of kidney stones Path/o Disease Pathology: Branch of medicine that deals
with the study of disease and its effects Pathologist: Physician who diagnoses diseases by examining tissues and cells under a microscope. Also performs autopsies.
Pneum/ato, pneum/ono
Lungs Pneumoconiosis: Condition of abnormal deposits of dusts or other matter in the lungs
Salping/o Fallopian tube Hydrosalpinx: Accumulation of fluid in a fallopian tube
Sept/o Infection Septicemia: Toxins or pathogenic organ- isms in the blood (blood poisoning) Ureter/o Ureter Ureterolith: Calculus or stone lodged in the
ureter
Urethr/o Urethra Urethrorrhea: Abnormal discharge from the urethra
Viscer/o Viscera (organs) Visceromegaly: Enlargement of internal organs, also called organomegaly