Which combining form denotes the stomach?

• A. polyp/o
• B. gastr/o
• C. dermat/o
• D. somn/o

Answer: (B)

Combining forms are roots with a connecting vowel used to join with suffixes to build medical terms. For the stomach, the combining form is gastr/o, which comes from the Greek word for stomach. This form appears in words like gastr/ic (pertaining to the stomach) and gastr/itis (inflammation of the stomach), and in gastrectomy (surgical removal of part or all of the stomach). The other options point to different body parts or concepts: polyp/o refers to polyps, dermat/o to the skin, and somn/o to sleep. So gastr/o is the correct combining form denoting the stomach.