Q

QuestionAnatomy and Physiology

In the context of anatomy and medical terminology, a word root often refers to the core part of a word that carries the primary meaning. Word roots can be combined with various prefixes and suffixes to form more complex terms.

Let's examine each option to determine if it is a word root related to the liver: A. -megaly This is a suffix that means "enlargement." It is not a word root. B. hepatom This is not a word root. It appears to be a combination of the word root "hepat/o" and the suffix "-om," which is used to indicate a tumor. However, "hepatom" is not a standard term in anatomy or medical terminology. C. hepat/o This is the correct answer. "Hepat/o" is the word root for "liver" in anatomical and medical terminology. The slash (/) is used to indicate that the word root can be used with or without the vowel. D. hepatomegaly This is not a word root. It is a term that means "enlargement of the liver." It consists of the word root "hepat/o," the suffix "-omegaly" (enlargement), and the combining vowel "-o-." E. hepat This is the word root for "liver" in anatomical and medical terminology. It is very similar to option C, but with the slash omitted. Since the slash indicates that the word root can be used with or without the vowel, both "hepat" and "hepat/" are technically correct. However, option C is the more complete answer, as it acknowledges the variability in usage.