Which of the following pairings is correct?

• A. Mal- means Bad
• B. Thromb- means Light
• C. Glom- means Ball
• D. Vestibule- means Glue

Answer: (C)

Understanding these items hinges on knowing what the word parts (roots) mean. Glom- comes from the Greek glomus, meaning a ball or round mass. That shows up in terms like glomerulus, which is a ball-shaped cluster of capillaries in the kidney. So pairing glom- with Ball directly reflects how the root is used in anatomy, making it the best match.

Thromb- is tied to a clot, not a light, so its pairing with light is incorrect. Vestibule refers to an entrance or vestibular space, not glue. Mal- means bad, which is a correct meaning for that prefix, but it’s a separate concept from the ball-shaped idea represented by glom-.