The combining form ather/o means what?

• A. Plaque, fatty substance
• B. Joint
• C. Inflammation
• D. Fungus

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing what ather/o refers to in medical terms. Ather/o designates yellow, fatty plaque that can build up inside arteries. This plaque buildup is what leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where arteries become narrowed and stiff from the fatty deposits. That’s why the correct meaning is plaque, fatty substance.

This root is different from other common bases: joint healing from arthr/o, inflammation from -itis, and fungus from myc/o. Each of those would point to a different concept, not the fatty arterial plaque described by ather/o.