What is the meaning of the medical combining form lith/o?

Prepare for the West-MEC Medical Assisting Technical Skills Assessment. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with comprehensive hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the medical combining form lith/o?

Explanation:
Lith/o means stone. It’s used in medical terms to refer to stones that can form in the body, such as nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) and cholelithiasis (gallstones), and in procedures like lithotripsy (breaking stones apart). This precise meaning is why the correct interpretation is “stone.” Other options point to different roots: bone uses oste/o, skin uses derm/o, and there isn’t a standard combining form for metal in this context, so they don’t fit with lith/o’s meaning.

Lith/o means stone. It’s used in medical terms to refer to stones that can form in the body, such as nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) and cholelithiasis (gallstones), and in procedures like lithotripsy (breaking stones apart). This precise meaning is why the correct interpretation is “stone.” Other options point to different roots: bone uses oste/o, skin uses derm/o, and there isn’t a standard combining form for metal in this context, so they don’t fit with lith/o’s meaning.

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