spleno-

1. a combining form representing spleen in compound words:

   splenomegaly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spleno-¹

Combining form representing Greek splḗn spleen

Words That Use Spleno-

What does spleno- mean?

Spleno- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word spleen, an organ in the abdomen that helps regulate blood and is part of the immune system. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Spleno- comes from the Greek splḗn, meaning “spleen.”

What are variants of spleno-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, spleno- becomes splen-, as in splenectomy.

Examples of spleno-

A medical term you may be familiar with that features the combining form spleno- is splenotomy, meaning “incision into the spleen.”

The spleno- part of the word means “spleen,” as we know. The second part of the word, -tomy, refers to the “cutting” or “incision” of an organ. Splenotomy, then, literally translates to “spleen incision.”

What are some words that use the combining form spleno-?

• splenocele
• splenography
• splenohepatomegaly
• splenopexy
• splenoptosis
• splenotoxin

What are some other forms that spleno- may be commonly confused with?

• spondylo-
• spermo-
• splanchno-
• steno-

Break it down!

The combining form -pathy is often used to mean “disease.” With this in mind and based on the meaning of spleno-, what is splenopathy?