The prefix meaning 'covering' is

• A. Alveol-
• B. Oment-
• C. Oophor-
• D. Radi-

Answer: (B)

The concept here is how medical terms signal a covering by referring to the tissue that provides that covering. The omentum is a folded sheet of peritoneum that drapes over and covers the abdominal organs, acting as a protective covering. Because of that function, the combining form oment- is used to indicate something relating to the omentum, i.e., a covering. The other options point to structures that are not coverings—the alveolus (air sac), the ovary, and a term related to rays or radius—so they don’t convey a covering. That makes oment- the best choice.