1. Ch. 3 Adding to the Foundation Roots and Combining Forms
External Anatomy
Ch. 3 Adding to the Foundation
Roots and Combining Forms

2. The foundation or basic meaning of a word.
Let’s Review
Root
Combining Vowel
Combining Form
The foundation or basic meaning of a word.
Usually but not always an “o” that is placed between the root and a suffix to help make pronunciation easier.
A root with the combining vowel added, attaching the root to a suffix or another root.

3. Blephar/o: eyelid or eyelash
Pronunciation
blef’ahr-o
Blepharospasm abnormal contraction or twitching of the eyelid

4. Brachi/o: arm or foreleg
Pronunciation
bra’ke-o
The brachialis (brachialis anticus) is a muscle in the upper arm that flexes the elbow joint.

5. Bucc/o:
Pronunciation
buk’o
cheek
Buccal mucosal surface

6. Angle at either end of the slit between the eyelids
Medial canthus
Canth/o:
Pronunciation
kan’tho
Angle at either end of the slit between the eyelids

7. Capit/o:
head
Decapitation
Pronunciation
kap’it-o

8. Carp/o:
wrist
Pronunciation
karp’o
Carpus

9. Cephal/o: head Pronunciation sef’al-o
Cephalic vein – vein towards the head
Hydrocephalus - fluid on the brain

10. Cervic/o:
Pronunciation
ser’vik-o
neck
Cervical bones

11. Cheil/o, chil/o: lip Pronunciation kile’o
Cheilosis (also called cheilitis) is a painful inflammation and cracking of the corners of the mouth.

12. Eyelash, small hair like process
Pronunciation
sil’ee-o
Cilia
Cili/o
Eyelash, small hair like process

13. Cor/e, cor/o:
pupil
Anisocoria
Pronunciation
kor’ee, kor’o

14. Dactyl/o:
Digit, toe
Polydactyl
Pronunciation
dak’til-o

15. Dent/i, dent/o: tooth or teeth
Pronunciation
dent’ee, dent’o
tooth or teeth
dentist

16. Derm/a, derm/o, dermat/o:
skin
Pronunciation
derm’a, derm’o, derm’at-o
Dermatosis – skin condition

17. Dors/i, dors/o:
back
dorsal
Pronunciation dor’see, dor’so

18. facial
Pronunciation
fa’she-o
Faci/o:
face

19. Gingiv/o:
gums
Gingiva
Pronunciation
jin’jiv-o

20. Gloss/o: tongue Pronunciation glos’o
Glossophobia the fear of public speaking

21. Gnath/o: jaw Pronunciation nath’o
Gnathophyma involves swelling of the chin

22. Irid/o: Iris of the eye Pronunciation ir’id-o
Iridology the study of the iris of the eye

23. Labi/o:
lips
labia
Pronunciation
lay’be-o

24. laparotomy
Pronunciation
lap’ahr-o
Lapar/o:
flank, abdomen

25. Later/o:
side
Pronunciation
lat’er-o
lateral

26. Lingu/o:
tongue
sublingual
Pronunciation
ling’wo

27. Mamm/a, mamm/o: mammary gland Pronunciation mam’ah, mam-o
Mammary gland or teet
Pronunciation
mam’ah, mam-o
Mamm/a, mamm/o:
mammary gland

28. Nasogastric tube
Pronunciation
naze-o
Nas/o:
nose

29. Occipital bone
Pronunciation
ok-sip’it-o
Occipit/o:
back of the head

30. Ocul/o: eye Pronunciation ock’ule-o
Ocular Dexter – right eye, ocular sinister – left eye, ocular uniter – both eyes
Pronunciation
ock’ule-o

31. Odont/o: tooth or teeth Pronunciation oh-don’t’o
Odontology – the scientific study of the structure and disease of teeth

32. Omphal/o: navel or umbilicus
Pronunciation
om’fah-lo
navel or umbilicus
Omphalocele repair is surgery to repair a birth defect in the wall of the belly

33. Onych/o:
Pronunciation
on’ik-o
nail or claw
Onychyectomy – de-clawing

34. Ophthalm/o: eye or eyes
Pronunciation
of-thal’mo
Ophthalmology – the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

35. Or/o:
mouth
Oral cavity
Pronunciation
or’o

36. Ot/o:
Pronunciation
oh’toe
ear
Otoscope

37. Nipple or nipple shaped
Papilloma a small wartlike growth on the skin or on a mucous membrane, derived from the epidermis and usually benign.
Papill/o:
Pronunciation
Pah-pill’o
Nipple or nipple shaped

38. Phall/o:
penis
Pronunciation
fal’o

39. Pil/o: hair Pronunciation pile’o
Pilocystic - denoting a dermoid cyst containing hair

40. Pod/o: foot or foot shaped
Pronunciation
Pod’o
foot or foot shaped
Pododermatitis inflammation of the skin on the feet

41. Rhin/o:
nose
Rhinitis – nasal inflammation
Pronunciation
rine’o

42. sew,-mat’o, sew-mat’ik-o
Somatology is defined as the study or science of the human body as a branch of anthropology.
Pronunciation
sew,-mat’o, sew-mat’ik-o
Somat/o, somatic/o:
body

43. Steth/o:
chest
Pronunciation
steth’o
stethoscope

44. Stom, stomat/o: mouth Pronunciation sto’mah-toe
Stomatology is the study of the structure, function and diseases of the oral cavity.
Pronunciation
sto’mah-toe

45. ankle or edge of the eyelid
Tarsus
Pronunciation
tahr’so
Tars/o:
ankle or edge of the eyelid

46. Thorac/o: chest or thorax
Pronunciation
tho’rah-ko
Thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to gain access into the pleural space of the chest.

47. Trich/o: hair or hair like
Pronunciation
trik’o
trichobezoar

48. Ventr/i, ventr/o: belly Pronunciation ven’tree, ven’tro
Ventrum or ventral aspect
Pronunciation
ven’tree, ven’tro

49. Questions?