cyst

The combining form cyst- is a combining form used like a suffix meaning “cyst,” which is a scientific term for a bladder, sac, or vesicle. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and pathology.

The form cyst- comes from Greek kýstis, meaning “bag,” “pouch,” or “bladder.”

What are variants of cyst-?

The form cyst- is a variant of cysto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

A rare variant of cysto- is cysti-, as in cystiform.

When used as a suffix, the combining form cyst- becomes -cyst, as in oocyst. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

One example of a term from pathology that features the form cyst- is cystalgia, “pain in the bladder.”

Here, the form cyst- is used to mean “bladder”—specifically, the urinary bladder. The -algia portion of the word means “pain,” from Greek álgos. Cystalgia literally translates to “bladder pain.”

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

• cystadenoma
• cystectomy
• cystic
• cystitis
• cystoid
• cystoma

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

• cis-
• crypto-
• cyclo-
• cyno-
• cyto-

The suffix -oid means “resembling” or “like.” Keeping this in mind, what does cystoid mean?