thrombo-

1. a combining form with the meanings “blood clot,” “coagulation,” “thrombin,” used in the formation of compound words:

   thrombocyte.

thrombo-

combining_form

1. indicating a blood clot

   thromboembolism

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrombo-¹

< Greek, combining form of thrómbos clot, lump

Word History and Origins

Origin of thrombo-¹

from Greek thrombos lump, clot

Words That Use thrombo-

What does thrombo- mean?

Thrombo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “blood clot,” “coagulation,” and “thrombin.” Thrombin is an enzyme in blood plasma that causes the clotting of blood. Thrombo- is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

Thrombo- comes from the Greek thrómbos, meaning “clot, lump.”

What are variants of thrombo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, thrombo- becomes thromb-, as in thrombasthenia.

Examples of thrombo-

One example of a medical term that features the combining form thrombo- is thrombophilia, a disorder in which a person has an increased tendency to get thrombosis, or blood clotting in the circulatory system.

As we have learned, thrombo– means “blood clot.” The second half of the word, -philia, might also look familiar. It means “unnatural attraction, tendency,” from the Greek philía “friendship, affinity.” Thrombophilia literally translates to “tendency for blood clots.”

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

• thromboangiitis
• thrombocyte
• thromboclasis
• thromboembolism
• thrombokinase
• thrombolysis
• thrombopenia

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

• rhombo-
• thermo-

Break it down!

Platelets are a type of blood cell that is important for clotting blood. The combining form -cyte is used in scientific terms to mean “cell.”

With the meanings of thrombo- and -cyte in mind, what is another term for platelet?