Dental Terminology - Combining Forms

Front 1

adeno-

Back 1

gland

Front 2

adreno-

Back 2

adrenal gland

Front 3

angio-

Back 3

vessel

Front 4

ano-

Back 4

anus

Front 5

arterio-

Back 5

artery

Front 6

arthro-

Back 6

joint

Front 7

balano-

Back 7

glans penis

Front 8

blepharo-

Back 8

eyelid

Front 9

broncho-

Back 9

bronchus (windpipe)

Front 10

cantho-

Back 10

canthus (angle at either end of slit between eyelids)

Front 11

capit-

Back 11

head

Front 12

cardi-, cardio-

Back 12

heart

Front 13

carpo-

Back 13

wrist

Front 14

cephalo-

Back 14

head

Front 15

cerebello-

Back 15

cerebellum (part of brain)

Front 16

cerebro-

Back 16

cerebrum (part of brain)

Front 17

cheilo-

Back 17

lip (mouth)

Front 18

chole-

Back 18

bile
(NOTE: chole- + cyst meaning "bladdder," = gallbladder; chole- + doch, meaning "duct," = choledocho,or common bile duct.

Front 19

chondro-

Back 19

cartilage

Front 20

chordo-

Back 20

cord or string (generally) used in connection with the vocal cord or spermatic cord

Front 21

cilia-

Back 21

hair (Latin)

Front 22

cleido-

Back 22

collarbone

Front 23

coccygo-

Back 23

coccyx (end of bone of the spinal column)

Front 24

colpo-

Back 24

vagina

Front 25

cordo-

Back 25

cord (usually vocal cord)

Front 26

coxa-

Back 26

hip (Latin)

Front 27

cranio-

Back 27

head

Front 28

cysto-

Back 28

sac, cyst, or bladder (most often used in connection with the urinary bladder)

Front 29

cyto-

Back 29

cell

Front 30

dacryo-

Back 30

tear (used commonly in relation to tear duct or sac)

Front 31

dento-, donto-

Back 31

tooth

Front 32

derma-

Back 32

skin

Front 33

duodeno-

Back 33

duodenum (part of small intestine)

Front 34

emia-

Back 34

blood

Front 35

encephalo-

Back 35

brain

Front 36

entero-

Back 36

intestines

Front 37

fascia-

Back 37

sheet or band of fibrous tussues (Latin)

Front 38

fibro-

Back 38

fibers

Front 39

gastro-

Back 39

stomach

Front 40

genu-

Back 40

knee (Latin)

Front 41

gingivo-

Back 41

gums

Front 42

glomerulo-

Back 42

glomerulus (often a structure of the kidney)

Front 43

glosso-

Back 43

tongue

Front 44

gnatho-

Back 44

jaw

Front 45

hem-, hema-, hemo-, hemato-

Back 45

blood

Front 46

hepato-

Back 46

liver

Front 47

hilus-

Back 47

pit or depression in an organ where vessels and nerves enter (Latin)

Front 48

histio-

Back 48

tissue

Front 49

hystero-

Back 49

uterus (NOTE: This term may also pertain to hysteria.)

Front 50

ileo-

Back 50

ileum (part of small intestine)

Front 51

ilio-

Back 51

flank or ilium (bone of pelvis)

Front 52

jejuno-

Back 52

jejunum (part of small intestine)

Front 53

kerato-

Back 53

cornea or horny layer of the skin

Front 54

labio-

Back 54

lips (either of mouth or vulva)

Front 55

lacrimo-

Back 55

tears (used also in connection with tear ducts or sacs)

Front 56

laparo-

Back 56

loin or flank (also refers to abdomen)

Front 57

laryngo-

Back 57

larynx

Front 58

linguo-

Back 58

tongue

Front 59

lympho-

Back 59

lymph

Front 60

masto-

Back 60

breast

Front 61

meningo-

Back 61

meninges (coverings of the brain and spinal cord)

Front 62

metra-, metro-

Back 62

uterus

Front 63

morpho-

Back 63

form

Front 64

myelo-

Back 64

bone marrow and spinal cord (NOTE: Use of this term will determine which tissue is meant.)

Front 65

myo-

Back 65

muscle (NOTE: The Latin word for muscle is mus.)

Front 66

myringo-

Back 66

eardrum

Front 67

naso-

Back 67

nose

Front 68

nephro-

Back 68

kidney

Front 69

neuro-

Back 69

nerve

Front 70

oculo-

Back 70

eye

Front 71

odonto-

Back 71

tooth

Front 72

omphalo-

Back 72

navel or umbilicus

Front 73

onycho-

Back 73

nails

Front 74

oophoro-

Back 74

ovary

Front 75

ophthalmo-

Back 75

eye

Front 76

ora-, oro-

Back 76

mouth

Front 77

orthio-, orchido-

Back 77

testis

Front 78

os-

Back 78

bone or mouth

Front 79

osteo-

Back 79

bone

Front 80

oto-

Back 80

ear

Front 81

ovario-

Back 81

ovary

Front 82

palato-

Back 82

palate of mouth

Front 83

palpebro-

Back 83

eyelid

Front 84

pectus-

Back 84

breast, chest, or thorax (Latin)

Front 85

pharyngo-

Back 85

pharynx

Front 86

phlebo-

Back 86

eyelid

Front 87

pilo-

Back 87

hair

Front 88

pleuro-

Back 88

pleura of lung (relates also to side or rib)

Front 89

pneumo-, pneumono-

Back 89

lungs (also used in referring to air or breath

Front 90

procto-

Back 90

rectum

Front 91

pyelo-

Back 91

pelvis of kidney

Front 92

pyloro-

Back 92

pylorus (part of stomach just before duodenum)

Front 93

rhino-

Back 93

nose

Front 94

sacro-

Back 94

sacrum

Front 95

salpingo-

Back 95

fallopian tube or oviduct

Front 96

sialo-

Back 96

saliva- (used in connection with a salivary duct or gland)

Front 97

splanchno-

Back 97

viscera

Front 98

spleno-

Back 98

spleen

Front 99

stoma-

Back 99

mouthh

Front 100

tarso-

Back 100

instep of foot; ankles (also edge of eyelid)

Front 101

teno-, tenonto-

Back 101

tendon

Front 102

thoraco-

Back 102

thorax or chest

Front 103

thyro-

Back 103

thyroid

Front 104

trachelo-

Back 104

neck, particularly the neck of the uterus or bladder

Front 105

tracheo-

Back 105

trachea

Front 106

unguis-

Back 106

nail

Front 107

uretero-

Back 107

ureter

Front 108

urethro-

Back 108

urethra

Front 109

uro-

Back 109

urine, urinary

Front 110

utero-

Back 110

uterus

Front 111

vaso-

Back 111

vessel

Front 112

veno-

Back 112

vein

Front 113

ventriculo-

Back 113

ventricle of heart or brain

Front 114

viscero-

Back 114

viscera