First things First
Above; excessive; beyond
Hyper
-itis
Inflammation
Hopefully we DON'T see our patient turning this color! 🫣 This combining form means blue.
Cyan/o
What is enlargement of the heart?
Cardiomegaly (Cardio/Megaly)
Cardio=Heart
Megaly=Enlargement
I’ve heard they get a bad rep. Has anyone seen Grey’s Anatomy? Cristina Yang wanted to be the best in the country. If you still can’t figure this one out... you may be heartless.
Cardiology
Less than; below/under; deficient
Hypo
-ectomy
Excision/Removal
Roses are red, and apparently so is this combining form. What word part means red?
Erythr/o?
What is it called when your patient has a low blood sugar?
Hypoglycemia (Hypo/glyc/emia)
hypo-- = low
glyc = sugar
-emia = blood
Sunscreen, acne, rashes, moles... they’ve seen it all. If you don’t know this one, maybe you just need a little more skin in the game.
Dermatology
Around/About
Peri
-algia
Pain
This combining form takes us to the dark side—it means black.
Melan/o
What is Nerve Pain?
Neuroalgia (Neuro/Algia)
Neuro=Nerve
Algia=Pain
Headaches, seizures, nerves, and the brain. You might have to really think about this one.
Neurology
Slow
-emia
Blood
Bananas, lemons, sunshine... you get the picture. What combining form means yellow?
Xanth/o
What is the removal of the stomach?
Gastrectomy (Gastr/ectomy)
Gastr/o=Stomach
Ectomy=Removal
These specialists aren't interested in beans, but they are VERY interested in something bean-shaped. Their patients may also need dialysis.
Nephrology
Tachy
You might recognize this one hiding inside leukocyte. What color does leuk/o mean?
White
Let's see if you can break it down:
Fibromyalgia
Fibr/o=Fiber
My/o= Muscle
Algia= Pain
Stomach problems? Intestinal problems? Digestive problems? These specialists really have the guts to deal with it all.
Gastroenterology