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Cephalo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “head.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms.

Cephalo- comes from the Greek ����󲹱�ḗ, meaning “head.”

What are variants of cephalo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, cephalo- becomes cephal-, as in cephalalgia.

Corresponding forms of cephalo- combined to the end of words are –cephaly, –cephalic, and –cephalous, which you can learn more about in our 51�Թ�s That Use articles for each form.

Also deriving from ����󲹱�ḗ are the combining forms encephalo- and encephal-, meaning “brain.”

Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use encephalo- and encephal- articles.

A scientific term you may have heard of that features cephalo- is cephalopod, a name for a class of mollusks that include the cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.

Cephalopod is based on the New Latin Cephalopoda, which is ultimately based on the Greek ����󲹱�ḗ and ���ú��, meaning “foot.” The latter root, ���ú��, is the source of -pod, a combining form meaning “one having a foot.” A cephalopod literally translates to “head-foot,” a reference to the appearance of the animals. Ever see an octopus? It definitely looks like their legs (tentacles) are attached to a big head.

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

• cephalocele
• cephalogyric
• cephalohematoma
• cephalometer
• cephalometry
• cephalopathy

The combining form –odynia means “pain.” With this and the meaning of cephalo- in mind, what is an everyday word for cephalodynia?