Final answer:
A root is the basic element of a word that carries its main meaning. In the word cardiomyopathy, 'cardio' is a root that refers to the heart. Other words like 'respiration,' 'chest,' and 'pulse' are formed by combining prefixes, roots, and/or suffixes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the word cardiomyopathy, 'cardio' is a root. A root is the basic element of a word that carries its main meaning. It is the part of a word that cannot be further divided into smaller elements. In this case, 'cardio' refers to the heart.
'Myo' refers to muscles, 'pathy' refers to a disease or disorder, and 'logy' refers to the study of something. When combined, these roots create the word cardiomyopathy, which refers to a disease or disorder of the heart muscles.
Similarly, in the words 'respiration,' 'chest,' and 'pulse,' there are no distinct roots. Instead, these words are formed through a combination of prefixes, roots, and/or suffixes.