thym/o
thymus gland
From Greek thymos, warty growth; the thymus
Meaning
What does thym/o mean?
thym/o is a root meaning thymus gland. It comes from Greek thymos, warty growth; the thymus.
Inside words it is spelled thym.
In psychiatry thym/o can mean mood or mind (dysthymia, from a different Greek word); in immunity words it means the thymus.
In real words
Medical words with thym/o
a tumor of the thymus, the lymphatic organ in the chest behind the breastbone
surgical removal of the thymus gland
a lymphocyte that develops in the thymus and goes on to become a T cell
relating to the thymus
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with thym/o
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 11.1 – Introduction to the Lymphatic and Immune Systems – Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e
- Guide to Common Medical Terminology
- thymo- - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Lymph and immunity
thym/o is one of 8 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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