neuro-

Neuro– is a combining form used like a prefix that literally means “nerve.” The form is also used figuratively to mean “nerves” or “nervous system.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Neuro– comes from Greek neûron, meaning “nerve.” Neûron is a distant relative of sinew, which is of Old English origin, and nerve, which is of Latin origin. To learn more, check out the entries for both words.

What are variants of neuro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, neuro– becomes neur–, as in neuroid. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about neur-.

One example of a medical term that uses neuro– is neurocyte, more commonly called a neuron, meaning “a specialized, impulse-conducting cell that is the functional unit of the nervous system.”

The neuro– part of the word means “nerve,” and the –cyte part of the word means “cell,” from Greek kýtos. Neurocyte literally translates to “nerve cell.”

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

• neuroblast
• neurocardiac
• neurochemistry
• neurogram
• neurohistology
• neurology (using the equivalent form of neuro– in Latin)
• neuromere
• neuropathy

What are some other forms that neuro– may be commonly confused with?

• nitro-
• non-
• nona-
• normo-

The combining form –logy is used to name areas of study or branches of science. With this in mind, what is neurology?