Which combining form indicates disease or suffering?

• A. Path/o
• B. Epitheli/o
• C. Tympan/o
• D. Diverticul/o

Answer: (A)

The combining form path/o denotes disease or suffering. It comes from Greek pathos meaning suffering or disease, and it’s used in terms like pathology (the study of disease) and pathogen (an agent that causes disease). The other roots point to parts or structures—epitheli/o to epithelium (the lining tissue), tympan/o to the eardrum or tympanic cavity, and diverticul/o to a diverticulum (a pouch in the colon). So path/o is the best fit for indicating disease or suffering.