sacro-

1. a combining form representing sacrum in compound words:

   sacroiliac.

Example Sentences

The Treasury holds many things of value and interest besides the Sacro Catino already described.

From Project Gutenberg

Tall lines of slender cypress trees guard either side of the steep ascent or sacro monte which leads to it.

From Project Gutenberg

In presentations of the lower extremities also the same, excepting that they are sacro iliac and so on, instead of occipito.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course the ladies would go up to the other convent, and his great size was no longer adapted to the climb to the Sacro Speco.

From Project Gutenberg

The most important of them are at Varallo, on the Sacro Monte and in the church at its foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use sacro-

What does sacro- mean?

Sacro- is a combining form used like a prefix representing sacrum. The sacrum is a bone in the lower back made up of fused vertebrae and forming part of the pelvis. Sacro- is used in medical and scientific terms, especially in anatomy.

Sacro- ultimately comes from the Latin phrase os sacrum, meaning “holy bone.” Os means “bone” (see our Words That Use osteo- article) and sacrum means “holy.” The Latin word sacrum is related to the English word sacred as well as sacrament and sacrosanct. Why this bone was originally thought to be “holy” is much disputed.

What are variants of sacro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, sacro- becomes sacr-, as in sacralgia.

Examples of sacro-

One term in anatomy that features the combining form sacro- is sacrococcygeal, meaning “of, relating to, or affecting the sacrum and coccyx.”

Sacrococcygeal is indeed an intimidating-looking word, but we can put our knowledge of root words to use and break it down. As we’ve seen, sacro- refers to the sacrum. The second part of the word, -coccygeal is from the adjective form of coccyx. The coccyx is a bone at the bottom of the spine below the sacrum, commonly known as the tailbone. So, sacrococcygeal concerns the sacrum and coccyx bones in the body.

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

• sacroanterior position
• sacroiliac
• sacrolumbar
• sacroposterior position
• sacrospinal
• sacrosciatic
• sacrovertebral

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

• saccharo-
• sarco-

Break it down!

The sacrovertebral is an adjective concerning what two parts of the body?