GLOSSARY OF COMBINING FORMS IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: List 1 Words Beginning with A-B

A combining form is a root with a combining vowel.  The root is the foundation of all words.  All medical terms have at least one root, and it isn't uncommon for them to have several roots.  The combining vowel links a root to another root or suffix.  The vowel o is commonly used as a combining vowel.  The word hematology, for example, shows how the combining vowel links the root hemat- to the suffix -logy.  Combining vowels have no meaning.  They are just the lock blocks of medical terminology.

 There are some rules about combining forms and when to use them.  Medical terminology has its own grammar.

 1.  Drop the combining vowel before a suffix that begins with a vowel. For example, gastritis.  Gastr/o is a combining form, and
-itis is a suffix.  Since the suffix begins with a vowel, you will drop the combining vowel and just use the root gastr-.

 2.  Use the combining vowel to connect two roots, even if the second root begins with a vowel.  It is important to know what a prefix is, a root, and a suffix is in a medical term.  It will help you keep your rules straight, since the rules for suffixes and roots are different here.  The term gastroenterology has two roots and a suffix.  The second root enter- begins with a vowel.  However, since the rule for roots and suffixes is different, you keep the combining vowel that connects the root gastr- to the root enter-.

 3.  When you have two roots that refer to parts of the body, which word goes first is determined by anatomic position.  Again, the word gastroenterology is a good example for this rule.  Gastr/o means "stomach".  Enter/o means "small intestine".  The stomach comes first in digestion in anatomy, and therefore it comes first in the word.

 Combining forms make up a very extensive list in medical terminology.  Since roots are the base of all words, it naturally is the longest list compared to prefixes and suffixes.  Therefore, I will split it up, dividing words into alphabetical lists.  This list will deal with all combining forms beginning with the letters "a" or "b".

 I've already done a glossary of prefixes in medical terminology.  To view that, go here:
http://jessicalgray.blogspot.com/2014/12/medical-terminology-prefix-glossary.html

 COMBINING FORM                          MEANING

 A

 ABDOMIN/O                                          Abdomen

 ACANTH/O                                             Spiny, thorny

 ACETABUL/O                                         acetabulum (hip socket)

 ACOUS/O                                                hearing

 ACR/O                                       extremities, top, extreme point

 ACROMI/O                                              acromion (extension of
                                                                 shoulder bone)

 ACTIN/O                                                  light

 ACU/O                                                      sharp, severe, sudden

 ADEN/O                                                   gland

 ADENOID/O                                            adenoids

 ADIP/O                                                     fat

 ADREN/O, ADRENAL/O                          adrenal gland

 AER/O                                                       air

 AGGLUTIN/O                                           clumping, sticking
                                                                   together

 ALB/O, ALBIN/O                                       white

 ALBUMIN/O                                              albumin (protein)

 ALGES/O                                                    sensitivity to pain

 ALL/O                                                         other

 ALVEOL/O                                                  alveolus, air sac, small
                                                                    sac

 AMBLY/O                                                   dim, dull

 AMNI/O                            amnion (sac surrounding the embryo)

 AMYL/O                                                      starch

 AN/O                                                           anus

 ANDR/O                                                      male

 ANEURYSM/O                                            aneurysm (widened
                                                                     blood vessel)

 ANGI/O                                                       vessel (blood)

 ANIS/O                                                         unequal

 ANKLY/O                                                    stiff

 ANTER/O                                                    front

 ANTHRAC/O                                               coal

 ANTHR/O                                                    antrum of the stomach

 ANXI/O                                                        uneasy, anxious

 AORT/O                                                       aorta (largest artery)

 APHTH/O                                                    ulcer

 APONEUR/O                                               aponeurosis (type of
                                                                     tendon)

 APPEND/O, APPENDIC/O                         appendix

 AQUE/O                                                       water

 ARTER/O, ARTERI/O                                   artery

 ARTERIOL/O                              arteriole (small artery)

 ARTHR/O, ARTICUL/O                                joint

 ASBEST/O                                                     asbestos

 ATEL/O                                                         incomplete

 ATHER/O                                     plaque (fatty substance)

 ATRI/O                                                          atrium (upper heart
                                                                       chamber)

 AUDI/O, AUDIT/O                                       hearing

 AUR/O, AURICUL/O                                    ear

 AUT/O                                                           self, own

 AXILL/O                                                        armpit

 AZOT/O                                                         urea, nitrogen

 B

 BACILL/O                                                     bacilli (bacteria)

 BACTERI/O                                                   bacteria

 BALAN/O                                                       glans penis

 BAR/O                                                            weight, pressure

 BARTHOLIN/O                                              Bartholin glands

 BAS/O                                       base, opposite of acid

 BI/O                                                                life

 BIL/I                                                               bile, gall

 BILIRUBIN/O                                                 bilirubin

 BLEPHAR/O                                                   eyelid

 BOL/O                                                             cast, throw

 BRACHI/O                                                       arm

 BRONCH/O, BRONCHI/O                              bronchial tube

 BRONCHIOL/O                                               bronchiole

 BUCC/O                                                           cheek

 BUNION/O                                                       bunion

 BURS/O                                                            bursa (sac of fluid
                                                                          near joints)

 BYSSIN/O                                                          cotton dust

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