lapar-

Lapar- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “abdominal wall.” It is used in a few medical terms.

Lapar- comes from the Greek lapára, meaning “flank.” Literally, it means “soft part,” as in the part of the body between the ribs and the hip.

Lapar- is a variant of laparo-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use laparo- article.

The combining form lapar- is used in the term laparectomy, meaning “excision of strips of the abdominal wall and suturing of the wounds so as to correct laxity of the abdominal muscles.”

The first part of the word, lapar-, means “abdominal wall.” The combining form -ectomy means “excision.” Putting it together, laparectomy literally translates to “excision of the abdominal wall.”

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

• lept-
• lymph-

Perhaps you have heard of a lap band, another term for a gastric band, “an adjustable band fitted inside the stomach to reduce its capacity as an aid to losing weight.” Lap band is a common way to refer to a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band.

A laparoscope (which uses the counterpart to lapar-, laparo-) is a type of fiberoptic instrument, passed through a small incision in the abdominal wall and used to examine the abdominal cavity or perform minor surgery. Its adjective form is laparoscopic.