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Uro- is a combining form used like a prefix that has two unrelated senses.

The first is “urine.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology. In some terms, such as urostomy, uro- is used to denote the urinary tract, the system for removing urine from the body. This ur- comes from Greek ��û���Dz�, meaning “urine.” Other combining forms that mean “urine,” such as urino- and urin-, come from the Latin for “urine,” ū��ī��(��).

The second is “tail.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy and zoology. This ur- ultimately comes from Greek �dzܰ�á, meaning “tail.” The name of the uroboros, a mythological symbol of the snake eating its own tail, comes from this same Greek word.

What are variants of uro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, both uro- combining forms become ur-; ur- with the sense “urine” forms uremia, while ur- with the sense “tail” forms urite. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use ur- article.

An example of a medical term you may have come across that features the combining form uro- is urology, “the scientific, clinical, and especially surgical aspects of the study of the urine and the genitourinary tract in health and disease.”

The first portion of the word, uro-, here means “urine.” The -logy portion of the word may also look familiar; it is used to name sciences or bodies of knowledge. Urology therefore means “the science of urine.”

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

• urocele
• urochrome
• urocystitis
• uroedema
• urolith
• uropathy
• urostomy

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

• ortho-
• urano-
• urethro-
• utero-

Break it down!

The combining form -pathy has a variety of meanings, including “disease.” With this in mind, what kind of medical condition is uropathy?

One example of a term from zoology that features the form uro- to mean “tail” is uromere, meaning “any segment of the abdomen of an arthropod.” Arthropods constitute a phylum of animals including insects and spiders.

The combining form uro- in terms from zoology means “tail,” while the -mere portion of the word means “part,” from Greek ��é���Dz�. Uromere literally translates to “tail part.”

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

• urodele (using the equivalent form of uro- in French)
• uropod
• urostyle

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

• ortho-
• urano-
• urethro-
• utero-

Break it down!

Lobsters have an appendage known as a uropod that they use to help move around. Given that -pod means “having a foot,” what does uropod mean?