kerat/o
cornea; hard, horny tissue
From Greek keras (stem kerat-), horn
Meaning
What does kerat/o mean?
kerat/o is a root meaning cornea; hard, horny tissue. It comes from Greek keras (stem kerat-), horn.
Inside words it is spelled kerat.
Context decides the sense: cornea in eye words (keratitis, keratoplasty), horny tissue in skin words (keratosis).
In real words
Medical words with kerat/o
inflammation of the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, from infection or other causes
a corneal transplant, in which damaged corneal tissue is replaced with healthy donor tissue
a horny growth of keratin on the skin, such as a wart
hyperkeratosis
thickening of the outer layer of the skin, which is made of keratin, as in corns and calluses
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- Word Parts and Structural Terms – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
- 3.1 – Introduction to the Integumentary System – Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e
- 3.2 Word Components Related to the Integumentary System – Medical Terminology 2e
- KERATO- Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
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Eyes and ears
kerat/o is one of 11 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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