Combining Forms
This combining form refers to an airway and sounds like part of your lungs.
What is bronchi/o?
This suffix means carbon dioxide.
What is -capnia?
This combining form means blood.
What is hem/o?
This prefix means within.
What is endo-?
The sclera or white of the eye is represented by this form.
What is scler/o?
This suffix means pain.
What is -algia?
This abbreviation stands for acute respiratory distress syndrome.
What is ARDS?
If you're talking about blood, you'd use this combining form.
What is hem/o?
You’d use this suffix to describe dilation or widening.
What is -ectasis?
Think “hunchback” with this form.
What is kyph/o?
You’d use this prefix for something above or excessive.
What is hyper-?
This form means to breathe.
What is spir/o?
This means hearing, like in presbycusis.
What is -cusis?
A genetic disorder affecting mucus production.
What is CF (Cystic Fibrosis)?
This form refers to the voice box, crucial for speech
What is laryng/o?
An infection might end with this suffix, meaning inflammation.
What is -itis?
This one means pus.
What is py/o?
This prefix means across.
What is trans-?
It’s another term for the ear.
What is aur/o?
A mass or tumor might end with this suffix.
What is -oma?
This common chronic disease affects breathing over time.
What is COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)?
Sticky and slippery, this combining form means mucus.
What is muc/o?
This suffix means softening—think bones or tissues.
What is -malacia?
It’s all about the nose.
What is rhin/o?
If it means outside, you’d use this prefix.
What is extra-?
This one means self or own.
What is aut/o?
This suffix means to measure.
What is -meter?
ENT stands for this type of specialist.
What is Otolaryngologist?
This combining form refers to the roof of your mouth.
What is palat/o?
You’d hear this suffix in a word that refers to voice or sound.
What is -phonia?
This one means crooked or twisted.
What is scoli/o?
This prefix means no or without.
What is a-?
A combining form meaning eardrum.
What is tympan/o?
You’d use this suffix for a surgical puncture to remove fluid.
What is -centesis?
A breathing support machine that uses steady air pressure.
What is CPAP?
It means throat, and you might use it when referring to a sore throat.
What is pharyng/o?
This suffix means paralysis.
What is -plegia?
This one refers to rock or stone, especially in lung disease.
What is silic/o?
This prefix means two.
What is bi-?
This suffix means pertaining to.
What is -al?
This form relates to sound, like what you hear in music.
What is phon/o?
It refers to breathing, whether fast, slow, or stopped.
What is -pnea?
This combining form means poison.
What is tox/o?
You’d use this prefix when something is heavy or thick.
What is pachy-?
A record of something ends with this suffix.
What is -gram?
This pair of combining forms both refer to the lungs or air
What are pneum/o and pneumon/o?
This suffix means spitting, often used in terms like hemoptysis.
What is -ptysis?
This combining form relates to hearing.
What is audi/o?
This prefix means one.
What is mon/o?
This suffix means process of measuring.
What is -metry?
This form also means lungs, and sounds like “pulmonary.”
What is pulmon/o?
This one means bursting forth of blood.
What is -rrhagia?
This form refers to the ear.
What is ot/o?
Surgical repair ends with this suffix.
What is -plasty?
If you're talking about the chest cavity, use this combining form.
What is thorac/o?
A condition with discharge or flow may end in this suffix.
What is -rrhea?
This form refers to the larynx.
What is laryng/o?
Hardening of tissue is indicated by this suffix.
What is -sclerosis?
This form refers to the windpipe.
What is trache/o?
A narrowing of a passage or vessel uses this suffix.
What is -stenosis?
If you're referring to the retina, use this form.
What is retin/o?