phag/o
eating, swallowing
From Greek phagein, to eat, devour
Meaning
What does phag/o mean?
phag/o is a root meaning eating, swallowing. It comes from Greek phagein, to eat, devour.
Inside words it is spelled phag or phage.
At the start of a word it is phag/o (phagocyte); at the end it becomes -phage (macrophage) or -phagia (dysphagia).
In real words
Medical words with phag/o
an immune cell, such as a neutrophil or macrophage, that surrounds and kills microbes and clears away dead cells
the process by which a phagocyte engulfs and destroys bacteria, other foreign particles and dead cells · In the dictionary
a large white blood cell that engulfs and kills microbes, removes dead cells and rouses other immune cells · In the dictionary
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with phag/o
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 11.2 Word Components Related to the Lymphatic and Immune Systems – Medical Terminology 2e
- Guide to Common Medical Terminology
- PHAGO- Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
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Lymph and immunity
phag/o is one of 8 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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