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 theΒ flashcard versionΒ 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/oΒ is a combining form for "ear". Take the word ot/o/scopeΒ as an example.Β Ot/oΒ pertains toΒ "ear",Β -scopeΒ is a suffix that refers toΒ "instrument used for viewing or examination".Β Β 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/oΒ is a combining form for "head". Take the word cephal/algiaΒ as an example. CephalΒ is a word root that pertains toΒ "head",Β -algiaΒ is a suffix that refers toΒ "pain".Β 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/oΒ or trachel/o is a combining form for "cervix" or "neck". Take the word cervic/o/crani/alΒ as an example. Cervic/oΒ in this exampleΒ pertains toΒ "neck", crani is a word root for "skull" or "cranium",Β -alΒ is a suffix that meansΒ "pertaining to".Β 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/oΒ or thorac/oΒ is a combining form for "chest". Take the word steth/o/scopeΒ as an example. Steth/oΒ pertains toΒ "chest",Β -scopeΒ is a suffix that refers toΒ "visual examination instrument".Β To determine a person's level of cardiovascular health, a stethoscope measures sounds inside the body, usually in the chest.Β 

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

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

    Correct Wrong

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

  • Question of

    Find the combining form of the image.

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

    Correct Wrong

    Lapar/oΒ is a combining form for "abdominal wall" or "flank". Take the word lapar/o/scopyΒ as an example. Lapar/oΒ pertains toΒ "abdominal wall",Β -scopyΒ is a suffix that meansΒ "examination".Β Β 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/oΒ is a combining form for "Β lumbar region(lower back)". Take the word lumb/o/sacr/alΒ as an example. Lumb/oΒ pertains toΒ "lumbar region", sacrΒ is a word root that pertains toΒ "sacrum", -alΒ is a suffix that means "pertaining to".Β 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/alΒ as an example. Intra-Β is a prefix that means "inside" or "within", peritoneΒ is a word root for "peritoneum", -alΒ is a suffix that means toΒ "pertaining to". Β 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/megalyΒ as an example. Acr/oΒ refers to the "extremities", -megalyΒ is aΒ suffix that pertains toΒ "enlargement".Β An acromegaly is an enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw caused by an overactive pituitary gland.Β 

  • 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", -algiaΒ is aΒ suffix that pertains toΒ "pain". The condition known as brachialgia is characterized by pain in the arm.