Which combining form means the back region of the body?

Which combining form means the back region of the body?

• A. Lumb/o
• B. Myel/o
• C. Edema
• D. Diagnosis

Answer: (A)

Combining forms are used in medical terms to name a body part or region. The one that means the back region is lumb/o, which refers specifically to the lumbar area of the back (the lower back between the ribs and pelvis). This is why it appears in terms describing that region, such as lumbar. The other options don’t point to the back: myel/o refers to the spinal cord (or bone marrow in some contexts), edema means swelling, and diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease. So lumb/o is the correct combining form for the back region.

Combining forms are used in medical terms to name a body part or region. The one that means the back region is lumb/o, which refers specifically to the lumbar area of the back (the lower back between the ribs and pelvis). This is why it appears in terms describing that region, such as lumbar. The other options don’t point to the back: myel/o refers to the spinal cord (or bone marrow in some contexts), edema means swelling, and diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease. So lumb/o is the correct combining form for the back region.