Medical Terminology - Common Word Roots/stems

Reviewed by Editorial Team
The ProProfs editorial team is comprised of experienced subject matter experts. They've collectively created over 10,000 quizzes and lessons, serving over 100 million users. Our team includes in-house content moderators and subject matter experts, as well as a global network of rigorously trained contributors. All adhere to our comprehensive editorial guidelines, ensuring the delivery of high-quality content.
Learn about Our Editorial Process
| By Thames
T
Thames
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 6820 | Total Attempts: 9,511,256
| Questions: 30
Quiz Flashcard
Please wait...
Question 1 / 30
0 %
0/100
Score 0/100
1. What does the term 'duoden/o' refer to?

Explanation

The term 'duoden/o' specifically refers to the first part of the small intestine, where most of the digestion and absorption of nutrients occur. It is important in the digestive process.

Submit
Please wait...
About This Quiz
Medical Terminology - Common Word Roots/Stems - Quiz

This quiz focuses on common word roots and stems used in medical terminology, enhancing understanding of medical vocabulary crucial for healthcare professionals. It targets key skills in decoding... see morecomplex medical terms, essential for effective communication and documentation in medical settings. see less

2. What does 'jejun/o' refer to?

Explanation

Jejunum is the second part of the small intestine, located between the duodenum and the ileum. It plays a crucial role in the absorption of nutrients from digested food.

Submit
3. What does ile/o refer to?

Explanation

Ileum is the third and final part of the small intestine, not to be confused with large intestine, stomach, or esophagus.

Submit
4. What is the medical term formed from the combining form esophag/o?

Explanation

The correct answer is 'Esophagus', which refers to the muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach for the passage of food.

Submit
5. What is the term for the medical condition cholecyst/o?

Explanation

The term cholecyst/o specifically refers to the gall bladder, not the pancreas, liver, or spleen.

Submit
6. What is the medical term for the gums?

Explanation

The correct medical term for gums is 'gingiv/o'. The other options, epidermis, esophagus, and liver, refer to different parts of the body and are not related to the gums.

Submit
7. What organ does the term 'enter/o' refer to?

Explanation

The term 'enter/o' specifically refers to the intestine. While the other options are also organs in the body, they are not represented by the term 'enter/o'.

Submit
8. What is the meaning of the medical term col/o?

Explanation

The prefix col/o specifically refers to the large intestine in medical terminology.

Submit
9. What is the meaning of the term 'cheil/o'?

Explanation

The term 'cheil/o' specifically refers to lips in medical terminology.

Submit
10. What is the medical term for 'hepat/o'?

Explanation

The prefix 'hepat/o' specifically refers to the liver in medical terminology. The correct answer is 'liver'.

Submit
11. What does the term 'stomat/o' refer to?

Explanation

The term 'stomat/o' specifically refers to the mouth in medical terminology.

Submit
12. What does pylor/o refer to?

Explanation

The term 'pylor/o' is commonly associated with the pyloric valve, which is a muscular valve located between the stomach and the small intestine. It controls the flow of partially digested food from the stomach to the small intestine.

Submit
13. What does the combining form 'proct/o' refer to?

Explanation

The combining form 'proct/o' specifically refers to the rectum, not the colon, stomach, or esophagus.

Submit
14. What does the term 'sigmoid/o' refer to?

Explanation

The term 'sigmoid/o' commonly refers to the sigmoid colon, which is the S-shaped part of the large intestine.

Submit
15. What does the combining form gastr/o refer to?

Explanation

The combining form gastr/o specifically refers to the stomach. It is commonly used in medical terminology to indicate a relationship with the stomach.

Submit
16. Dent/o

Explanation

The term 'dent/o' specifically refers to teeth, not hair, nails, or skin.

Submit
17. Pharyng/o

Explanation

The correct answer 'throat' is derived from the combining form pharyng/o, which specifically refers to the throat. The incorrect answers do not correspond to the term pharyng/o.

Submit
18. What does the term 'gloss/o' within lingu/o refer to?

Explanation

The term 'gloss/o' is a combining form that specifically pertains to the tongue within the context of linguistics.

Submit
19. What does the combining form cyst/o refer to?

Explanation

The combining form cyst/o specifically refers to the bladder.

Submit
20. What does nephr/o and ren/o refer to in medical terminology?

Explanation

The prefixes nephr/o and ren/o both refer to the kidney in medical terminology. The incorrect answers provided refer to other organs in the body, making them incorrect choices for this question.

Submit
21. What is the translation of 'meat/o'?

Explanation

In medical terminology, 'meat/o' refers to an opening.

Submit
22. What does the term 'pyel/o' refer to?

Explanation

The term 'pyel/o' specifically refers to the renal pelvis, which is a part of the kidney where urine collects before it flows into the ureter.

Submit
23. What does the term 'lith/o' refer to in medical terminology?

Explanation

In medical terminology, the term 'lith/o' is commonly used to refer to 'stone', as in lithotripsy - a medical procedure to break down kidney stones.

Submit
24. What is the term gluc/o glyc/o referring to?

Explanation

Gluc/o and glyc/o are prefixes referring to sugar. The correct answer is sugar.

Submit
25. What is the term for the structure that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder?

Explanation

The ureter is the structure that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The bladder is the organ that stores urine. The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

Submit
26. What does the combining form 'urethr/o' refer to in medical terminology?

Explanation

The combining form 'urethr/o' specifically refers to the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The other options do not match the definition of the combining form.

Submit
27. What is the medical term for the combining form ur/o?

Explanation

The combining form ur/o is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to the urine or urinary system.

Submit
28. What does the root word 'nat/o' refer to?

Explanation

The root word 'nat/o' is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to birth, such as in words like prenatal (before birth) or postnatal (after birth). The incorrect answers do not have any connection to the root word 'nat/o'.

Submit
29. What does the combining form 'mast/o' or 'mamm/o' refer to?

Explanation

The combining form 'mast/o' or 'mamm/o' specifically refers to the breast.

Submit
30. Salping/o

Explanation

The term 'salping/o' specifically refers to the fallopian tube, which is part of the female reproductive system.

Submit
View My Results

Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Aug 4, 2025 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Aug 04, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Aug 04, 2025
    Quiz Created by
    Thames
Cancel
  • All
    All (30)
  • Unanswered
    Unanswered ()
  • Answered
    Answered ()
What does the term 'duoden/o' refer to?
What does 'jejun/o' refer to?
What does ile/o refer to?
What is the medical term formed from the combining form esophag/o?
What is the term for the medical condition cholecyst/o?
What is the medical term for the gums?
What organ does the term 'enter/o' refer to?
What is the meaning of the medical term col/o?
What is the meaning of the term 'cheil/o'?
What is the medical term for 'hepat/o'?
What does the term 'stomat/o' refer to?
What does pylor/o refer to?
What does the combining form 'proct/o' refer to?
What does the term 'sigmoid/o' refer to?
What does the combining form gastr/o refer to?
Dent/o
Pharyng/o
What does the term 'gloss/o' within lingu/o refer to?
What does the combining form cyst/o refer to?
What does nephr/o and ren/o refer to in medical terminology?
What is the translation of 'meat/o'?
What does the term 'pyel/o' refer to?
What does the term 'lith/o' refer to in medical terminology?
What is the term gluc/o glyc/o referring to?
What is the term for the structure that carries urine from the kidneys...
What does the combining form 'urethr/o' refer to in medical...
What is the medical term for the combining form ur/o?
What does the root word 'nat/o' refer to?
What does the combining form 'mast/o' or 'mamm/o' refer to?
Salping/o
Alert!

Advertisement