These combining forms usually appear at the beginning of terms, but they may certainly sometimes appear within or at the end of a term also. Use this handy table for reference.
| Form | Meaning |
| Masto – | breast |
| Meningo – | meninges (coverings of the brain and spinal cord) |
| Metra, metro – | uterus |
| Morpho – | form |
| Myelo – | bone marrow and also spinal cord (Note: The use of this term will determine which tissue is meant.) |
| Myo – | muscle (Note: The Latin word for muscle is mus.) |
| Myringo – | eardrum |
| Naso – | nose |
| Nephro – | kidney |
| Neuro – | nerve |
| Oculo – | eye |
| Odonto – | tooth |
| Omphalo – | navel or umbilicus |
| Onycho – | nails |
| Oophoro – | ovary |
| Ophthalmo – | eye |
| Orchio, orchido – | testis |
| Oro – | mouth |
| Os – | bone - or mouth |
| Osteo – | bone |
| Oto – | ear |
| Ovario – | ovary |
| Palato – | palate of mouth |
| Palpebro – | eyelid |
| Pectus – | breast, chest, or thorax (Latin) |
| Pharyngo – | pharynx |
| Phlebo – | vein |
| Pilo – | hair |
| Pleuro – | pleura of lung (relates also to side or rib) |
| Pneumo or pneumono – | lungs (also used in referring to air or breath) |
| Procto – | rectum |
| Pyelo – | pelvis of kidney |
| Pyloro – | pylorus (part of stomach just be fore duodenum) |
| Rhino – | nose |
| Sacro – | sacrum |
| Salpingo – | fallopian tube or oviduct |
| Sialo – | saliva (used in connection with a salivary duct or gland) |
| Splanchno – | viscera |
| Spleno – | spleen |
| Sterno – | sternum |
| Stoma – | mouth |
| Tarso – | instep of foot; ankle (also edge of eyelid) |
| Teno, tenonto – | tendon |
| Thoraco – | thorax or chest |
| Thyro – | thyroid |
| Trachelo – | neck, particularly the neck of the uterus |
| Tracheo – | trachea |
| Unguis – | nail |
| Uretero – | ureter |
| Urethro – | urethra |
| Uro – | urine; urinary |
| Utero – | uterus |
| Vaso – | vessel |
| Veno – | vein |
| Ventriculo – | ventricle, either of heart or brain |
| Viscero – | viscera |
The list below covers just a few areas of interest that are, in fact, the foundations for learning the language of medicine - medical terminology. | Take a Spelling or Transcription Test Medword's Medical Word Spelling Test Go Medword's Medical Transcription Test Go Take a Prefixes Test Go Take a Suffixes Test Go |
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