Which root means peritoneum?

• A. pariet/o
• B. palat/o
• C. peritone/o
• D. nas/o

Answer: (C)

Root meanings in medical terminology point to a specific body part. For the peritoneum, the combining form is peritone/o. The peritoneum is the serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers its organs. When you attach suffixes, you get terms like peritoneal (relating to the peritoneum), peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum), or peritoneoscopy (visual examination of the peritoneum). The other roots refer to different structures: pariet/o means wall (as in the parietal layer), palat/o means palate, and nas/o means nose. So, the root that means peritoneum is peritone/o.