Which root denotes the heart?

Which root denotes the heart?

• A. Tympan-
• B. Bucc(o)-
• C. Cor-
• D. Umbilic-

Answer: (C)

Think of roots as the building blocks that carry the main meaning of a term. The root cor- comes from Latin cor, cordis, meaning heart. That direct connection to the heart is what makes it the correct choice for this question. Tympan- points to the eardrum, bucc(o)- to the cheek, and umbilic- to the navel, so they don’t convey heart-related meaning. (Note: in many modern terms you’ll also see cardi- from Greek used for heart, but for this item the Latin root cor- is the one that denotes the heart.)

Think of roots as the building blocks that carry the main meaning of a term. The root cor- comes from Latin cor, cordis, meaning heart. That direct connection to the heart is what makes it the correct choice for this question. Tympan- points to the eardrum, bucc(o)- to the cheek, and umbilic- to the navel, so they don’t convey heart-related meaning. (Note: in many modern terms you’ll also see cardi- from Greek used for heart, but for this item the Latin root cor- is the one that denotes the heart.)