hyster/o
uterus
From Greek hystera, womb
Meaning
What does hyster/o mean?
hyster/o is a root meaning uterus. It comes from Greek hystera, womb.
Inside words it is spelled hyster.
Hysteria comes from the same word, after an old false belief that the womb caused it; do not mix up hyster/o with hist/o, tissue.
In real words
Medical words with hyster/o
hysterectomy
surgical removal of all or part of the uterus
hysteroscopy
looking inside the uterus with a thin lighted scope passed through the vagina and cervix
hysterosalpingogram
an x-ray taken after dye is put into the uterus, showing its cavity and whether the fallopian tubes are open
ovariohysterectomy
surgical removal of both the ovaries and the uterus; the usual term for spaying a female animal
hysterorrhexis
rupture of the uterus, a tear through its wall, an emergency that usually happens during labor
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with hyster/o
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 7.2: Word Components Related to the Female Reproductive System
- Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean
- hystero- - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Female reproduction
hyster/o is one of 13 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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