Podiatry Medical Assistant Practice Test

Root words in medical terminology tell you what body part is involved. Osteo- is the combining form that means bone, and you’ll see it in terms like osteoblast (bone-forming cell) or osteoporosis (porous bone). Derm- means skin, as in dermatitis or dermatology. Suture refers to a seam or joint line (in the skull, sutures are where bones meet), but it does not denote bone itself. Sterile means free from microorganisms, not a bone-related term. So the root meaning bone is osteo-.