Common Root And Musculoskeletal Terms

Front 1

Root:
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
Word Association:

Back 1

adeno (gland)
ah +dee+ no
adenoma (gland tumor)
Greek (aden)
adenoids
gland, sweat gland, sweaty dinosaur, a dino, adeno

Hint 1

Nice-to-Know Information
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Glands are organs, cells, or a group of cells that produce a secretory substance. Did you know that insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas, which is also an organ considered to be a gland? Peptide is a protein molecule. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth, because it would be rapidly deactivated by protein-digesting enzymes in the digestive tract.

Front 2

Root: calculi (stone)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
Word Association:

Back 2

cal + cue + lie
calculosis (stones)
Latin (calculi; meaning pebble)
calculator
stone, counting stones, math, calculus, calculi

Hint 2

Nice-to-Know Information
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Stones are any abnormal concentration within the body, usually composed of salts, acids, or cholesterol. Did you know that bile, stored in the gallbladder, is mostly a cholesterol-insoluble fatty substance? When this substance is too concentrated, it may crystallize and form what are commonly called gallstones. Kidney stones are formed in the urinary tract from the salt residue of minerals.

Front 3

Root: cele (tumor, cyst; hernia)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
celestial (heavenly)
Word Association:

Back 3

sell
hydrocele (water cyst, tumor)
Greek (kele; tumor, swelling)
celestial (heavenly)
tumor, two more, sale, cele

Hint 3

Nice-to-Know Information
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A cyst is an abnormal pouch of fluid or solids brought on by infection or clogged ducts. A hernia is the bulge of an organ through the wall of a sac that normally holds it in place. And a Tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue, usually of unknown origin

Front 4

Root: cyto (cell)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage: N/A
Word Association:

Back 4

sigh + toe
cytology (cells, study of)
Greek (kytos; cell)
Everyday Usage: N/A
cell, jail cell, the hole, site, hole, cyto

Hint 4

Nice-to-Know Information
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A cell is the smallest structural unit of all animals and plants. It is responsible for growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Did you know that cancer cells reproduce at a faster rate than normal cells? Radiation is used to kill off cells by inhibiting reproduction, thereby destroying cancer cells before normal cells.

Front 5

Root: glyco (sweet, sugar)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage: N/A
Word Association:

Back 5

gl + eye + co
glycosuria (sugar in the urine)
Greek (glyks)
Everyday Usage: N/A
sugar, doughnut, "O", gee like "O", glyco

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Hint 5

Nice-to-Know Information
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Sugar is a sweet-tasting carbohydrate, which is a molecule that's the main source of energy. Did you know that diabetes is a hereditary disease caused by insufficient insulin, which allows glucose to accumulate? At the beginning of the 19th century, physicians were unsure of the cause of diabetes and treated it with laudanum, an opium-based preparation.

Front 6

Root: homeo, homo (similar, same, like)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
Word Association:

Back 6

hoe + me + oh
homeostasis (same environment)
Greek (hemores; similar)
homogenize
same, same home, home, homeo

Hint 6

Nice-to-Know Information
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The word homeo is often used to classify people by various groups. Homeostasis is the body's state of stability, with all parts of the body working together to maintain normal function.

Front 7

Lesson 1 Ch 3
Root:
lingua (tongue) Root Pronunciation:
ling + wha
Medical Term:
linguiform (tongue-shaped)
Origin:
Latin (linguae; tonguelike) Everyday Usage:
linguistic
Word Association:
tongue, eat, pasta, linguini, lingua

Back 7

Root:
lingua (tongue) Root Pronunciation:
ling + wha
Medical Term:
linguiform (tongue-shaped)
Origin:
Latin (linguae; tonguelike) Everyday Usage:
linguistic
Word Association:
tongue, eat, pasta, linguini, lingua

Hint 7

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Nice-to-Know Information
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The tongue is an organ with taste buds that assists in chewing and shaping food for swallowing. Morning mouth is caused by reduced salivation during sleep, which allows projections on the tongue to trap food and bacteria.

Front 8

Root:
lip (fat) Root Pronunciation:
lip
Medical Term:
lipoma (fat tumor)
Origin:
Greek (lipos; fat) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
fat, fatty, fatty food, passes through your lips, lips

Back 8

Root:
lip (fat) Root Pronunciation:
lip
Medical Term:
lipoma (fat tumor)
Origin:
Greek (lipos; fat) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
fat, fatty, fatty food, passes through your lips, lips

Hint 8

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Nice-to-Know Information
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Fat is a molecule used as a reserve food or long-term fuel. It provides the body with insulation, protection, and cushioning. Did you know that fats provide approximately twice the amount of energy (calories) as carbohydrates and are therefore a good source of reserve energy?

Front 9

Root:
lith (stone) Root Pronunciation:
lith as in fifth
Medical Term:
lithotripsy (stone dissolve)
Origin:
Greek (lithos; stone) Everyday Usage:
monolith
Word Association:
stone, speaking with stones in your mouth, lisp, lith

Back 9

Root:
lith (stone) Root Pronunciation:
lith as in fifth
Medical Term:
lithotripsy (stone dissolve)
Origin:
Greek (lithos; stone) Everyday Usage:
monolith
Word Association:
stone, speaking with stones in your mouth, lisp, lith

Hint 9

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Nice-to-Know Information
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(See calculi.)

Front 10

Root: madaro (falling hair)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage: N/A
Word Association:

Back 10

ma + dare + oh
madarosis (loss of eyelashes or eyebrows) :
Greek (falling)
Everyday Usage: N/A
falling hair, hair cut, sharp cut, arrow, mad arrow, madaro

Hint 10

Nice-to-Know Information
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Madarosis is the loss of eyelashes or the hair of the eyebrows. Alopecia is a term used in referring to general hair loss. Male pattern baldness is a condition caused by genetics and is influenced by testosterone.

Front 11

Root: psych (mind)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
Word Association:

Back 11

sike
psycho (mind; study of psychology; mental processes)
Greek (psyche; mind)
psycho
mind, circuit, cycle, psych

Hint 11

Nice-to-Know Information
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The mind has to do with the mental or psychological. Psychotherapy is the treatment of emotional, behavioral, personality, and mental disorders.

Front 12

Root:
pyo (pus) Root Pronunciation:
pie + oh
Medical Term:
pyogenic (pus producing)
Origin:
Greek (pyon; pus) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
pus, yellow ooze, yellow, lemon, lemon pie, pie, pyo

Back 12

Root:
pyo (pus) Root Pronunciation:
pie + oh
Medical Term:
pyogenic (pus producing)
Origin:
Greek (pyon; pus) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
pus, yellow ooze, yellow, lemon, lemon pie, pie, pyo

Hint 12

Nice-to-Know Information
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Pus is white-blood-cell-based fluid, usually yellow in color and associated with inflammation or infection. Did you know that healing wounds itch because damaged superficial nerves send an itching impulse as they regenerate?

Front 13

Root:
radi (rays) Root Pronunciation:
ray + dee
Medical Term:
radiology (rays, study of)
Origin:
Latin (radius; rays) Everyday Usage:
radiation
Word Association:
rays, 4 letters, d is 4th letter, ray + d, radi

Back 13

Root:
radi (rays) Root Pronunciation:
ray + dee
Medical Term:
radiology (rays, study of)
Origin:
Latin (radius; rays) Everyday Usage:
radiation
Word Association:
rays, 4 letters, d is 4th letter, ray + d, radi

Hint 13

Nice-to-Know Information
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A ray is any narrow beam of light. X rays are the bombardment of low-level radiation through the body that is then recorded onto a silver-based plate. On a horrific scale, the process is similar to the radiation burning of shadows into the concrete when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII.

Front 14

Root:
thermic (heat) Root Pronunciation:
ther + mick
Medical Term:
thermobiosis (exists at high temperature)
Origin:
Greek (therme; heat) Everyday Usage:
thermostat
Word Association:
heat, temperature, thermometer, thermic

Back 14

Root:
thermic (heat) Root Pronunciation:
ther + mick
Medical Term:
thermobiosis (exists at high temperature)
Origin:
Greek (therme; heat) Everyday Usage:
thermostat
Word Association:
heat, temperature, thermometer, thermic

Hint 14

Nice-to-Know Information
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Heat, obviously, is the condition of warmth. Heat is lost from the body in a number of ways: 55% through radiation, 24% through skin evaporation, 15% by convection and conduction, 2% from respirations, and 1% from urine and feces.

Front 15

Lesson 1 Ch 4
Root: arthro (joint) Root Pronunciation:
are + throw
Medical Term:
arthritis
(joint inflammation)
Origin:
Greek (arthron; joint) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
joint, arm bend, throw, r + throw, arthro

Back 15

Root:
arthro (joint) Root Pronunciation:
are + throw
Medical Term:
arthritis
(joint inflammation)
Origin:
Greek (arthron; joint) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
joint, arm bend, throw, r + throw, arthro

Hint 15

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Nice-to-Know Information
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A joint, or articulation, is a point of juncture between two bones. The sound made by cracking your knuckles is caused by pulling a joint tight, causing ligaments and muscles to snap across the associated bony prominences, or by air creating a vacuum when the joint is pulled apart.

Front 16

Root:
carpo (wrist) Root Pronunciation:
car + poe
Medical Term:
carpoptosis (wrist dropping)
Origin:
Greek (karpos; wrist bones) Everyday Usage:
carpenter
Word Association:
wrist, drive car with wrists, carpool, carpo

Back 16

Root:
carpo (wrist) Root Pronunciation:
car + poe
Medical Term:
carpoptosis (wrist dropping)
Origin:
Greek (karpos; wrist bones) Everyday Usage:
carpenter
Word Association:
wrist, drive car with wrists, carpool, carpo

Hint 16

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Nice-to-Know Information
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The wrist is the joint or region lying between the hand and the forearm. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve by the swelling of surrounding tissue.

Front 17

Root:
chondro (cartilage) Root Pronunciation:
con + droh
Medical Term:
chondromalacia (cartilage, soft)
Origin:
Greek (chondros; cartilage) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
cartilage, cart, apart, apartment, condo, chondro

Back 17

Root:
chondro (cartilage) Root Pronunciation:
con + droh
Medical Term:
chondromalacia (cartilage, soft)
Origin:
Greek (chondros; cartilage) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
cartilage, cart, apart, apartment, condo, chondro

Hint 17

Nice-to-Know Information
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Cartilage is specialized connective tissue that provides support and aids movement of joints. Did you know that connective tissue is supportive, protective, fibrous tissue? The most abundant tissue, it is named connective tissue because it connects other tissues.

Front 18

Nice-to-Know Information
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Cartilage is specialized connective tissue that provides support and aids movement of joints. Did you know that connective tissue is supportive, protective, fibrous tissue? The most abundant tissue, it is named connective tissue because it connects other tissues.

Back 18

Nice-to-Know Information
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Cartilage is specialized connective tissue that provides support and aids movement of joints. Did you know that connective tissue is supportive, protective, fibrous tissue? The most abundant tissue, it is named connective tissue because it connects other tissues.

Hint 18

Nice-to-Know Information
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Twelve pairs of ribs form the thoracic cage. They are attached to the sternum, whose primary function is to protect the lungs and heart. Rib pairs 1 through 7 are attached to the sternum and vertebrae and are called true ribs. Eight through 10 are false ribs, since they attach to the sternum with cartilage. Eleven and 12 are floating ribs, attached to the vertebrae only.

Front 19

Root:
cranio (skull) Root Pronunciation:
crane +knee + oh
Medical Term:
craniotomy (skull incision)
Origin:
Greek (kranion) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
skull, houses brain, rhymes with brain, crane, cranio

Back 19

Root:
cranio (skull) Root Pronunciation:
crane +knee + oh
Medical Term:
craniotomy (skull incision)
Origin:
Greek (kranion) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
skull, houses brain, rhymes with brain, crane, cranio

Hint 19

Nice-to-Know Information
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The skull is the bony framework of the head. Did you know that the white bones of laboratory specimens have been lightened in color? Living bones vary from pink or beige to light brown.

Front 20

Root:
dactyl (finger) Root Pronunciation:
dact + till
Medical Term:
dactylitis (finger inflammation)
Origin:
Greek (daktylos; finger) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
finger, web fingers, duck, duck tail, dactyl

Back 20

Root:
dactyl (finger) Root Pronunciation:
dact + till
Medical Term:
dactylitis (finger inflammation)
Origin:
Greek (daktylos; finger) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
finger, web fingers, duck, duck tail, dactyl

Hint 20

Nice-to-Know Information
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A finger is also known as a digit. It's one of five terminals of the hand, including the thumb. The bones of the fingers are called phalanges, with two in each thumb and three in each finger.

Front 21

Root:
ili (hip) Root Pronunciation:
ill + lee
Medical Term:
iliosacral (ilium and sacrum)
Origin:
Latin (ilium; flank)
Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
hip, cool, temperature, ill, ill + e ili

Back 21

Root:
ili (hip) Root Pronunciation:
ill + lee
Medical Term:
iliosacral (ilium and sacrum)
Origin:
Latin (ilium; flank)
Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
hip, cool, temperature, ill, ill + e ili

Hint 21

Nice-to-Know Information
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The hip is the fleshy part of the body around the pelvis. The hipbone is an irregular bone formed by fusion of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Front 22

Root:
manus (hand) Root Pronunciation:
man + us
Medical Term:
manicure (hand care)
Origin:
Latin (manus; hand) Everyday Usage:
manual
Word Association:
hand, help, man (verb), manus

Back 22

Root:
manus (hand) Root Pronunciation:
man + us
Medical Term:
manicure (hand care)
Origin:
Latin (manus; hand) Everyday Usage:
manual
Word Association:
hand, help, man (verb), manus

Hint 22

Nice-to-Know Information
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The hand is the end of the human arm past the wrist containing the palm and fingers. Did you know that to remove a ring from a swollen finger, you can use thread or a suture fed through the inside of the ring and then wrapped around the swollen, soapy finger. Pull the thread from the back side, causing the ring to move forward.

Front 23

Root:
myel (bone marrow) Root Pronunciation:
my + el
Medical Term:
myeloma (marrow tumor)
Origin:
Greek (myelos; marrow) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
marrow, tomorrow, distance, mile, myel

Back 23

Root:
myel (bone marrow) Root Pronunciation:
my + el
Medical Term:
myeloma (marrow tumor)
Origin:
Greek (myelos; marrow) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
marrow, tomorrow, distance, mile, myel

Hint 23

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Nice-to-Know Information
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Marrow is soft tissue in the interior of bones. The human body is comprised of 62% water, while bones are 20% water (located in the marrow). This is why bones are much stronger than other tissues.

Front 24

Root:
myo (muscle) Root Pronunciation:
my + oh
Medical Term:
myoedema (muscle swelling)
Origin:
Greek (mys; muscle) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
muscle, contract, spread, mayonnaise, mayo, myo

Back 24

Root:
myo (muscle) Root Pronunciation:
my + oh
Medical Term:
myoedema (muscle swelling)
Origin:
Greek (mys; muscle) Everyday Usage:
N/A
Word Association:
muscle, contract, spread, mayonnaise, mayo, myo

Hint 24

Nice-to-Know Information
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Muscles are fibers that produce movement by contracting and dilating. We have over 650 muscles. This is an approximate figure because scholars disagree about whether to count muscles individually or in pairs

Front 25

Root:
ortho (straighten) Root Pronunciation:
or + thoh
Medical Term:
orthopedic (concerning deformities)
Origin:
Greek (orthos; straight) Everyday Usage:
Orthodox
Word Association:
straighten, hammer, Thor, or Thor, ortho

Back 25

Root:
ortho (straighten) Root Pronunciation:
or + thoh
Medical Term:
orthopedic (concerning deformities)
Origin:
Greek (orthos; straight) Everyday Usage:
Orthodox
Word Association:
straighten, hammer, Thor, or Thor, ortho

Hint 25

Nice-to-Know Information
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The word straighten is used in reference to surgical procedures requiring realignment of bones and appendages. Did you know that rickets is a bone disease caused primarily from vitamin D deficiency due to poor diet, inability to absorb vitamin D, or too little sunlight? It is most common in children with darker pigmentation because their skin does not absorb ultraviolet light as easily.

Front 26

Root: osteo (bone)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage: N/A
Word Association:

Back 26

ah + stee + oh
osteoplast (bone surgery)
Greek (osteon; bone) Everyday Usage: N/A
bone, shell, oyster, osteo

Hint 26

Nice-to-Know Information
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Bone is the hard tissue that forms the skeleton. The largest bone in the body is the femur (thigh), and the smallest is the stapes, a bone in the middle ear.

Front 27

Root: pedi (foot)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage:
Word Association:

Back 27

pee + dee
pedicure (foot care)
Origin:
Latin (pes; foot)
pedal
foot, pedal, pedia

Hint 27

Nice-to-Know Information
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The foot is the end of the leg past the ankle in humans that contains the toes and sole. Did you know that "flat foot" refers to an abnormal flatness in the arch or sole of the foot? It is a congenital condition of unknown cause.

Front 28

Root: spondyl (vertebra)
Root Pronunciation:
Medical Term:
Origin:
Everyday Usage: N/A
Word Association:

Back 28

spawn + dill
spondylitis (vertebrae inflammation)
Greek (spondylos; vertebra) Everyday Usage: N/A
vertebra, spine, spin, spindle, spondyl

Hint 28

Nice-to-Know Information
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A vertebra is any of the bone segments of the spinal column.Vertebra comes from the Latin word vertere,which means to turn on or pivot.