Word Parts and Structural Terms
Combining Forms
ankyl/o: stiff, bent
aponeur/o: aponeurosis
arthr/o: joint
burs/o: bursa
carp/o: carpals, wrist
chondr/o: cartilage
clavic/o: clavicle, collarbone
clavicul/o: clavicle, collarbone
cost/o: ribs
crani/o: cranium
disk/o: intervertebral disk
femor/o: femur, upper leg bone
fibul/o: fibula, lower leg bone
humer/o: humerus, upper arm bone
ili/o: ilium
ischi/o: ischium
kinesi/o: movement, motion
kyph/o: increased convexity of the spine
lord/o: bent forward, increased concavity of the spine
lumb/o: loin, lumbar region of the spine
mandibul/o: mandible, lower jawbone
maxill/o: maxilla, upper jawbone
menisc/o: meniscus, crescent
myel/o: spinal cord
oste/o: bone
patell/o: patella, kneecap
pelv/i: pelvis, pelvic bone
pelv/o: pelvis, pelvic bone
petr/o: stone
phalang/o: phalanges, bones of finger and toes
pub/o: pubis
rachi/o: vertebral spine, vertebral column
radi/o: nerve root
scapul/o: scapula, shoulder blade
scoli/o: crooked, curved
spondyl/o: vertebra, spine, vertebral column
stern/o: sternum, breastbone
tars/o: tarsals, ankle bones
ten/o: tendon
tendin/o: tendon
tend/o: tendon
tibi/o: tibia, lower leg bone
uln/o: ulna, lower arm bone
vertebr/o: vertebra, spine, vertebral column
Prefixes
a-: absence of, without
ab-: away from
ad-: toward
brady-: slow
dys-: painful, difficult, abnormal, labored
hyper-: above, excessive
inter-: between
intra-: within, in
poly-: many, much
sub-: below, under
supra-: above
sym-: together, joined
syn-: together, joined
Suffixes
-al: pertaining to
-algia: pain
-ar: pertaining to
-asthenia: weakness
-centesis: surgical puncture to aspirate fluid
-clasia: break
-clasis: break
-clast: break
-desis: surgical fixation, fusion
-ectomy: excision, surgical removal, cutting out
-gram: the record, radiographic image
-graphy: process of recording, radiographic imaging
-ic: pertaining to
-itis: inflammation
-lysis: loosening, separating, dissolution
-malacia: softening
-oid: resembling
-oma: tumor
-osis: abnormal condition
-penia: abnormal reduction
-physis: growth
-plasty: surgical repair
-rrhaphy: suturing, repairing
-sarcoma: malignant tumor
-schisis: split, fissure
-scopy: process of viewing, visual examination
-tomy: incision, cut into
-trophy: nourishment, development
Structural Terms Built from Word Parts
skull: bones of head, made up of cranium and facial bones
maxilla: upper jaw
mandible: lower jaw
vertebral column: made up of bones called vertebrae (pl.) or vertebra (s.) through which the spinal cord runs. The vertebral column protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and provides points of attachment for ribs and muscles.
clavicle: collarbone
scapula: shoulder blade
acromion process: extension of the scapula, which forms the superior point of the shoulder
sternum: breastbone
xiphoid process: lowest portion of sternum
ribs: 12 sets contained in the thoracic cage that protect the heart and lungs
humerus: bone in upper arm
radius: bone that runs thumb-side of the forearm
ulna: bone that runs on the side of the little finger of the forearm
carpals: wrist bones
metacarpals: bones in the palm of hand
phalanges: finger and toe bones
illium: largest part of the hip bone; upper, wing-shaped part on each side of the pelvis
ischium: lower, posterior portion of the pelvis on which one sits
pubis: anterior portion of pelvis
pelvis: made up of three bones fused together (also called pelvic bones and hip bones)
acetabulum: large socket in the pelvic bones that holds the head of the femur
femur: thigh bone, also referred to as the upper leg bone; the longest and strongest bone in the human body
patella: kneecap
tibia: medial bone and main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg
fibula: lateral, smaller of the lower leg bone
metatarsals: foot bones
tarsals: ankle bones
calcaneus: heel bone of foot