Med Term Chapter 1 & 2: Basic Word Elements – Flashcards
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skin
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dermatos cutis
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word root dermatos (Gr)
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dermat (skin)
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cutis
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skin
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word root cutis (L)
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cutane (skin)
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kidney
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nephros (Gr) word root = nephr renes (L) word root = ren
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mouth
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stomatos (Gr) word root = stomat oris (L) word root = or
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combining forms
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created when a word root is combined with a vowel; usually an O (sometimes an i)
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suffix
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word element placed at the end of a word that changes the meaning of the word
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a ______ usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), symptom, surgical or diagnostic procedure, or part of speech
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suffix
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word root = erythr
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combining form = erythr/o meaning = red
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gastr/
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gastr/o stomach
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hepat/
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hepat/o liver
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immun/
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immun/o immune, immunity, safe
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nephr/
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nephr/o kidney
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oste/
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oste/o bone
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suffix = -itis = medical word =
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gastr/itis inflammation of the stomach
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gastr/o
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stomach
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-megaly
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enlargement
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gastr/o + -megaly =
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gastr/o/megaly enlargement of the stomach
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gastr/o + -oma =
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gastr/oma tumor of the stomach
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hapatitis
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inflammation of the liver
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hepat/o
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liver
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hepatomegaly
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enlargement of the liver
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hepatoma
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tumor of the liver
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prefix
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word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root
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Adding or changing a ______ changes the meaning of the word
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prefix
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The ______ usually indicates a number, time, position, direction or negation
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prefix
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three steps for defining medical words, use gastroenteritis as an example
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1. define the suffix, or last part of the word -itis = inflammation 2. define the first part of the word (which may be a word root, combining form, or prefix). in gastroenteritis, the combining form gastr/o means stomach 3 define the middle parts of the word. in this case, the word root enter means instestine
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an-
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without, not
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hyper-
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excessive, above normal
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intra-
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in, within
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para-
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near, beside; beyond
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poly-
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many, much
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esthes
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feeling
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therm
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heat
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muscul
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muscle
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nas
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nose
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ur
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urine
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-ia
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condition
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pertaining to
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-ar -al
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anesthesia
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condition of not feeling
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hyperthermia
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condition of excessive heat
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intramuscular
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pertaining to within the muscle
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paranasal
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pertaining to (area) near the nose
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polyuria
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condition of much urine
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enter/
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intestine
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Rule #1 in building medical words
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A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel; hepat (liver) + -itis = hepatitis
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Rule #2 in building medical words
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a combining form (root) links a suffix that begins with a consonant hepat/o + -cyte (cell) = hepatocyte (liver cell)
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Rule #3 in building medical words
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a combining form links a root to another root to form a compound word. Rule holds true even if the next root begins with a vowel, as in osteoarthritis. oste/o + chondr (cartilage) + -itis = osteochondritis (inflammation of bone and cartilage)
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arthrodesis
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fixation of a joint
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dermatitis
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inflammation of the skin
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dentist
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specialist of the teet
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gastrectomy
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excision of the stomach
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chondritis
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inflammation of cartilage
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hepatoma
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tumor of the liver
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muscular
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pertaining to muscles
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gastria
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condition of the stomach
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osteoma
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tumor of the bone
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nephr
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kidney
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arthr
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joint
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oste/o/arthr
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bone, joint
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cholangi/o
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bile vessel
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suffixes are also used to
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denote singular and plural forms of a word as well as a part of speech
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hemat
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blood
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-emesis
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vomiting hematemisis - vomiting of blood
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arthr
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joint
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-itis
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inflammation arthritis - inflammation of a joint
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-centesis
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surgical puncture
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-dynia
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pain
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arthrocentesis
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surgical puncture (of a joint)
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inflammation of stomach and intestine
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gastroenteritis
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osteoarthritis
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inflammation of bone and joint
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encephal/o
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brain
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mening
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meninges
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inflammation of the brain and meninges
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encephalomeningitis
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arthr/o/centesis
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puncture of a joint space with a needle and the w/drawal of fluid May also be performed to obtain samples of synovial fluid for diagnostic purposes, instill medications and remove fluid from joints to relieve pain
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-clasis
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to break; surgical fracture
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oste/o/clasis
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surgical fracture of a bone to correct a deformity
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-desis
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binding, fixation (of a bone or joing)
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arthr/o/desis
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binding together of a joint -surgical procedure to fuse bones across the joint space in a degenerated, unstable joint
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append/ectomy
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excision of the appendix
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-lysis
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separation; destruction; loosening
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thromb/o/lysis
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destruction of a blood clot
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thromb/o
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blood clot -drug therapy is usually used to dissolve a blood clot
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-pexy
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fixation (of an organ)
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mast/o/pexy
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fixation of the breast -elective surgery, performed to affix sagging breasts in a more elevated position, commonly improving their shape
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mast/o
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breast
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-plasty
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surgical repair
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rhin/o/plasty
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surgical repair of the nose
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rhin/o
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nose
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-rrhaphy
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suture
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my/o/rrhaphy
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suture of a muscle
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my/o
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muscle
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-stomy
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forming an opening (mouth)
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trache/o
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trachea (windpipe)
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trache/o/stomy
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forming an opening into the trachea
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-gram
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record, writing
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electr/o/cardi/o/gram
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record of the electrical activity of the heart
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electr/o
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electricity
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cardi/o
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heart
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-graph
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instrument for recording
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cari/o/graph
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instrument for recording electrical activity of the heart
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-graphy
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process of recording
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angi/o/graphy
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process of recording blood vessles
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angi/o
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vessel (usually blood vessels after injection of a contract medium)
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-meter
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instrument for measuring the pelvis
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pelv/i
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pelvis
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-metry
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act of measuring pelv/i/metry = act or process of measuring the dimension of the pelvis
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-scope
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instrument for examing
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end/o/scope
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instrument for examining within -endoscope is a flexible or rigid instrument consisting of a tube and optical system for observing the inside of a hollow organ or cavity
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endo-
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in, within
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-scopy
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visual examination
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endo/scopy
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performed to visualize a body cavity or canal using a specialized lighed instrument called an endoscope
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-algia
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pain
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neur/algia
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pain of a nerve the pain of neurolgia usually occurs along the path of a nerve
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-dynia
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pain
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ot/o/dynia
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pain in the ear; earache
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ot/o
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ear
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-cele
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hernia, swelling
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hepat/o/cele
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hernia of the liver
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hepat/o
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liver
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-ectasis
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dilation, expansion
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bronchi/ectasis
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dilation or expansion of one or more bronchi -Associated with various lung conditions and is commonly accompanied by chronic infection
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bronchi
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bronchus (plural, bronchi)
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-edema
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swelling
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lymph/edema
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swelling and accumulation of tissue fluid
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hyper/emesis
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excessive vomiting
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hyper-
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excessive, above normal
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-emia
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blood condition
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an/emia
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blood condition caused by a decrease in red blood cells
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erythrocytes
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red blood cells
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-gen -genesis
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forming, producing, origin
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carcin/o/gen
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forming or origin of cancer
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carcin/o
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cancer
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carcin/o/genesis
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carcinogenesis is the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells, commonly as a result of chemical, viral, or radioactive damage to genes
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-iasis
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abnormal condition (produced by something specific)
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chol/e/lith/iasas
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abnormal condition of gallstones -presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct
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chol/e
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bile, gall
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lith
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stone, calculus
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-malacia
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softening
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chondr/o/malacia
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softening of the articular cartilage, usually involving the patella
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chondr/o
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cartilage
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-megaly
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enlargement
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cari/o/megaly
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enlargement of the heart
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-oma
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tumor
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neur/oma
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-Tumor composed of nerve tissue -Benign tumor composed chiefly of neurons and nerve fibers, usually arising from a nerve tissue. -It may also be a swelling of a nerve that usually results from compression
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-osis
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abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells)
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cyan/osis
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-Dark blue or purple discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane -Indicates a deficiency of oxygen of muscle
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cyan
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blue
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-pathy
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disease
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my/o/pathy
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Disease of muscle
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-penia
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decrease, deficiency
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erythr/o/penia
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Decrease in red blood cells
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erythr/o
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red
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-phagia
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eating, swalling
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dys/phagia
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inability or difficulty in swallowing
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-phasia
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speech
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a/phasia
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absence or impairment of speech
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a-
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without, not
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-phobia
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fear
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hem/o/phobia
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fear of blood
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hem/o
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blood
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-plasia -plasm
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formation, growth
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dys/plasia
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abnormal formation or growth of cells, tissues, or organs -general term for abnormal formation of an anatomic structure
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neo/plasm
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New formation or growth of tissue; Abnormal formation of new tissues, such as a tumor or growth
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-plegia
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paralysis
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hemi/plegia
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paralysis of one side of the body; Affects the right or left side of the body and is usually caused by a brain injury or stroke
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hemi-
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one half
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-ptosis
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prolaps, downward displacement
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blephar/o/ptosis
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Drooping of the upper eyelid
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blephar/o
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eyelid
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-rrhage -rrhagia
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bursting forth (of)
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hem/o/rrhage
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bursting forth of blood; loss of a large amount of blood within a short period, either externally or internally
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Men/o/rrhagia
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Profuse discharge of blood during menstruation
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men/o
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menses, menstruation
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-rrhea
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discharge, flow
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dia/rrhea
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Abnormally frequent discharge or flow of fluid fecal matter from the bowel
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dia-
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through, across
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-rrhexis
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rupture
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arteri/o/rrhexis
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Rupture of an artery
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arteri/o
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artery
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-sclerosis
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Abnormal condition of hardening
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arteri/o/sclerosis
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Abnormal condition of hardening of an artery
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-spasm
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involuntary contraction, twitching
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blephar/o/spasm
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twitching of the eyelid
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-stenosis
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narrowing, stricture
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arteri/o/stenosis
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abnormal narrowing of an artery
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arteri/o
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artery
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-toxic
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poison
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hepat/o/toxic
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poisonous to the liver
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-trophy
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nourishment, development
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dys/trophy
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Bad nourishment; Abnormal condition caused by improper nutrition or altered metabolism
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-ac -al -ar -ary -eal -ic -ical -ile -ous -tic
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pertaining to
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cardi/ac
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pertaining to the heart
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neur/al
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pertaining to a nerve
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muscul/ar
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pertaining to muscle
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pulmon/ary
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pertaining to the lungs
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esophag/eal
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pertaining to the chest
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thorac
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chest
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path/o/log/ical
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pertaining to the study of disease
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log
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study of
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path/o
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disease
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pen/ile
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pertaining to the penis
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pen
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penis
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poster/ior
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pertaining to the back of the body
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poster (posterior)
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pertaining to back (of body), behind
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cutane/ous
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pertaining to the skin
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acous/tic
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pertaining to hearing
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acous
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hearing
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-esis -ia -ism
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condition
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pneumon/ia
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infection of the lung usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or diseases
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pneumon
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air; lung
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hyper/thyroid/ism
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condition characterized by overactivity of the thyroid gland
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-iatry
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medicine; treatment
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pod/iatry
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Specialty concerned with treatment and prevention of conditions of the feet
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pod
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foot
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-ician -ist
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Specialist
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Obstetr/ician
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Physician who specializes in the branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and childbirth
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obstetr
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midwife
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hemat/o/log/ist
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Physician who specializes in the treatment of disorders of blood and blood-forming tissues
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-y
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condition; process
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neur/o/path/y
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Disease condition of the nerves
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-icle -ole -ule
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small, minute
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ventr/icle
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small cavity, as of the brain or heart
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ventr
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belly, belly side
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arteri/ole
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the smallest of the arteries; minute artery; arteries narrow to form arterioles (small arteries), which branch into capillaries (the smallest blood vessels)
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ven/ule
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small vein continuous with a capillary
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ven
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vein
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Incision of the perineum
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episi/o/tomy
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excision (of all or part) of the colon
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colectomy
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surgical puncture of a joint (to remove fluid)
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arthr/o/centesis
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excision of the spleen
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splenectomy
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forming an opening (mouth) into the colon
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col/o/stomy
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instrument to cut bone
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oste/o/tome
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incision of the tympanic membrane
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tympan/o/tomy
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forming an opening (mouth) into the trachea
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trache/o/stomy
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excision of a breast
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mast/ectomy
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incision to remove a stone or calculus
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lith/o/tomy
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excision of hemorrhoids
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hemorrhoid/ectomy
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forming an opening (mouth) into the colon:
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colostomy
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excision of the colon:
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colectomy
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instrument to cut bone:
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osteotome
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surgical puncture of a joint:
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arthrocentesis
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incision to remove a stone:
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lithotomy
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excision of a breast:
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mastectomy
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incision of the tympanic membrane:
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tympanotomy
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forming an opening (mouth) into the trachea:
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tracheostomy
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excision of the spleen:
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splenectomy
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fixation or binding of a joint
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arthrodesis
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surgical repair of the nose
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rhinoplasty
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surgical repair of tendons
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tenoplasty
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suture of a muscle
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myorrhaphy
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fixation of a (pendulous) breast
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mastopexy
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suture of the bladder
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cystorrhaphy
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surgical fracture of a bone
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osteoclasis
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crushing of a stone
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lithotripsy
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separation of intestinal (adhesions)
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enterolysis
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crushing a nerve
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neurotripsy
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surgical repair of the nose
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rhinoplasty
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fixation of a joint
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arthrodesis
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suture of a muscle
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myorrhaphy
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suture of the bladder
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cystorrhaphy
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repair of tendons
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tenoplasty
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surgical fracture of a bone
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osteoclasis
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crushing stones
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lithotripsy
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separation of the intestinal (adhesions)
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enterolysis
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crushing a nerve
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neurotripsy
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instrument to cut the skin
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dermatome
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opening into the trachea
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tracheostomy
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incision to remove a stone or calculus
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lithotomy
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incision of the trachea
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tracheotomy
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excision of the colon
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colectomy
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suture of the stomach wall
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gastrorrhaphy
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fixation of the uterus
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hysteropexy
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to break or surgically fracture a bone
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osteoclasis
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loosening of nerve (tissue)
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neurolysis
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suture of a muscle
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myorrhaphy
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incision of the tympanic membrane
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tympanotomy
