Word Roots of the Body Parts (Part 1)

Getting familiar with the word roots or combining forms of the human body is the first step in your medical terminology studies. Take this quiz to get started.

Quick Review for the Quiz

Check out the flashcard version for a more detailed review.

Combining Form Body Part Sample Word
abdomin/o abdomen abdominoscopy
celi/o abdomen celiac
acr/o extremity, height or tip end acromegaly
brachi/o arm brachialgia
cephal/o head cephalalgia
cervic/o cervix or neck cervicocranial
lapar/o abdominal wall or flank laparoscopy
lumb/o lumbar region (lower back) lumbosacral
ot/o ear otoscope
peritone/o, periton peritoneum intraperitoneal
steth/o chest stethoscope
thorac/o chest thoracotomy

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Ot/o
    • Celi/o
    • Peritone/o
    • Carp/o

    Correct Wrong

    Ot/o is a combining form for "ear". Take the word ot/o/scope as an example. Ot/o pertains to "ear", -scope is a suffix that refers to "instrument used for viewing or examination".  The otoscope is a type of diagnostic instrument that is used to examine the eardrum and inner ear.

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Cephal/o
    • Thorac/o
    • Onych/o
    • Acr/o

    Correct Wrong

    Cephal/o is a combining form for "head". Take the word cephal/algia as an example. Cephal is a word root that pertains to "head", -algia is a suffix that refers to "pain". Cephalalgia is the medical term for headache.

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Cervic/o
    • Gnath/o
    • Dactyl/o
    • Omphal/o

    Correct Wrong

    Cervic/o or trachel/o is a combining form for "cervix" or "neck". Take the word cervic/o/crani/al as an example. Cervic/o in this example pertains to "neck", crani is a word root for "skull" or "cranium", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". Cervicocranial is a term used to describe issues related to the neck and the cranium.

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Steth/o
    • Gon/o
    • Trich/o
    • Ot/o

    Correct Wrong

    Steth/o or thorac/o is a combining form for "chest". Take the word steth/o/scope as an example. Steth/o pertains to "chest", -scope is a suffix that refers to "visual examination instrument". To determine a person's level of cardiovascular health, a stethoscope measures sounds inside the body, usually in the chest. 

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Celi/o
    • Thel/o
    • Pod/o
    • Brachi/o

    Correct Wrong

    Celi/o or abdomin/o is a combining form for "abdomen". Take the word celi/ac as an example. Celi is a word root that pertains to "abdomen", -ac is a suffix that means "pertaining to".  The condition of celiac disease is a long-term digestive and immune disease characterized by damage to the small intestine. 

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Lapar/o
    • Carp/o
    • Brachi/o
    • Trich/o

    Correct Wrong

    Lapar/o is a combining form for "abdominal wall" or "flank". Take the word lapar/o/scopy as an example. Lapar/o pertains to "abdominal wall", -scopy is a suffix that means "examination".  Using laparoscopy, surgeons can examine the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without making long incisions.

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Lumb/o
    • Onych/o
    • Lapar/o
    • Thel/o

    Correct Wrong

    Lumb/o is a combining form for " lumbar region(lower back)". Take the word lumb/o/sacr/al as an example. Lumb/o pertains to "lumbar region", sacr is a word root that pertains to "sacrum", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". The term lumbosacral refers to the lumbar and sacral regions of the back, including the small of the back and the back of the pelvis.

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Peritone/o
    • Cheil/o
    • Carp/o
    • Dactyl/o

    Correct Wrong

    Periton or peritone/o is a word root and combining form for "peritoneum". Take the word intra/peritone/al as an example. Intra- is a prefix that means "inside" or "within", peritone is a word root for "peritoneum", -al is a suffix that means to "pertaining to".  The term intraperitoneal refers to the space within the cavity of the peritoneum.

  • Question of

    The combining form for extremity.

    • Acr/o
    • Cervic/o
    • Thel/o
    • Cephal/o

    Correct Wrong

    Acr/o is a combining form for "extremity", "height" or "tip end". Take the word acr/o/megaly as an example. Acr/o refers to the "extremities", -megaly is a suffix that pertains to "enlargement". An acromegaly is an enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw caused by an overactive pituitary gland. 

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

    • Brachi/o
    • Cephal/o
    • Pod/o
    • Om/o

    Correct Wrong

    Brachi/o is a combining form for "arm". Take the word brachi/algia as an example. Brachi is a word root that refers to "arm", -algia is a suffix that pertains to "pain". The condition known as brachialgia is characterized by pain in the arm.