Which combining form means the same as nephr/o?
a. aden/o b. cyst/o c. cardi/o d. ren/o
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: d. ren/o
Explanation (300 words):
The combining form “nephr/o” comes from the Greek word nephros, which means kidney. In medical terminology, it is commonly used to refer to conditions, functions, or structures related to the kidneys. For example, nephrology is the study of kidney diseases, and nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of a kidney.
The correct answer, “ren/o”, is another combining form that also means kidney, but it is derived from the Latin word renes. This form is often used interchangeably with nephr/o, although certain terms may prefer one over the other based on convention. For example, renal failure is more commonly used than nephric failure, and nephrologist is more common than renologist.
To understand why the other choices are incorrect:
- a. aden/o refers to a gland (from Greek aden), as in adenoma (a glandular tumor).
- b. cyst/o refers to the urinary bladder or a fluid-filled sac, as in cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).
- c. cardi/o refers to the heart, as in cardiology (study of the heart and its diseases).
Both nephr/o and ren/o are used in different contexts:
- Nephrectomy (surgical removal of a kidney)
- Renal artery (artery that supplies the kidney)
- Nephritis (inflammation of the kidney)
- Renal cortex (outer part of the kidney)
In summary, both nephr/o and ren/o mean kidney, but they have Greek and Latin origins respectively. Knowing both terms is helpful because medical terminology often blends Greek and Latin roots. Thus, the correct matching combining form is d. ren/o.