Which pairing is correct?

• A. Ather/o — joint
• B. Arthr/o — joint
• C. Col/o — inflammation
• D. -itis — tumor

Answer: (B)

Medical word parts show what body part a term refers to and what condition or process is described. Arthr/o is the combining form that means joint, as in arthritis, which is inflammation of a joint. That makes arthr/o the correct pairing for a joint reference.

The other options mix up meanings: ather/o relates to fatty plaque (as in atherosclerosis), not joints; col/o refers to the colon, not inflammation or tumors by itself; and the suffix -itis means inflammation, not a tumor (tumors are usually indicated by -oma or other roots like onc/o).