hystero-

Hystero- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word uterus, also known as the womb, where offspring are conceived and gestate in mammals. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Hystero- comes from the Greek hystéra, meaning “womb,” “uterus.” If that Greek word looks familiar, it might be because you recognize another one of its derivatives: hysteria, “an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc.” The ancient Greeks believed that this behavior was particular to women and caused by disturbances in the uterus. Learn more about this surprising (and problematic) etymology at our entry for hysteric.

Related to the Greek hystéra is the Latin uterus, source of the related combining form utero-. The combining form metro- can also indicate uterus.

What are variants of hystero-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, hystero- becomes hyster-, as in hysterectomy.

An example of a medical term that features the combining form hystero- is hysterotomy, also known as uterotomy, “the operation of cutting into the uterus,” as in a C-section.

The first part of the word, hystero-, means “uterus.” What about -tomy? It is a combining form meaning “incision, cutting.” Hysterotomy literally translates to “uterus incision.”

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

• hysterocele
• hysteroepilepsy 
• hysterogram
• hysterograph
• hysterolith
• hysterolysis
• hysterometer

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

• histo-
• hydro-
• hypo-

The combining form -gram can refer to types of medical images, like x-rays. With this in mind, what is a hysterogram?