naso-

Naso- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “nose.” It is used in some medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Naso- comes from the Latin nāsus, meaning “nose.” Nasal, meaning “of or relating to the nose,” also comes from this Latin root. In fact, English’s own word nose is ultimately related to the Latin nāsus.

The Greek word for “nose” is rhī́s, source of the combining form rhino- and rhin-, which you can learn more about at our Words That Use articles for the terms.

One example of a medical term that features the combining form naso- is nasoscope, “an instrument for examining the nasal passages.” It’s also known as a rhinoscope, using rhino-, the Greek equivalent of naso-.

The combining form naso- means “nose,” as we’ve seen. So, what about the -scope portion of the word? It means “instrument for viewing.” Nasocope literally translates to “nose-viewing instrument.”

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

• nasogastric
• nasolabial
• nasolacrimal
• nasology
• naso-oral
• nasosinusitis

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

• meso
• narco-
• noso-

The combining form -logy is used in the names of sciences, bodies of knowledge, and areas of studies. What is nasology?