Which combining form means knowledge or diagnosis?

• A. andr/o
• B. gno/o
• C. pulmon/o
• D. hepat/o

Answer: (B)

Knowledge or diagnosis is conveyed by the combining form gno/o (often seen as gnos/o). It comes from Greek gnōsis meaning knowledge, and it appears in medical terms like diagnosis (the process of identifying a disease), prognosis (foreknowledge of the likely course), and diagnostic (pertaining to identifying a disease). The other roots point to body parts—andr/o for male, pulmon/o for lung, hepat/o for liver—so they do not relate to knowledge or diagnosing.