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Uter- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word uterus, also known as the womb, where offspring are conceived and gestate in mammals. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.

Uter- comes from the Latin uterus, meaning “womb” and “matrix.” Matrix? Find out the connection at our entry for matrix.

Related to the Latin uterus is the Greek ���������, source of the related combining form hystero-. The combining form metro- can also indicate uterus.

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

Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use utero- article.

A medical term that features the combining form uter- is uteralgia, “pain in or near the uterus.”

As we have seen, uter- represents “uterus.” The second part of the word, -algia, is a combining form meaning “pain.” Uteralgia literally translates to “uterus pain.”

What are some words that use or are related to the combining form uter-?

• uterine
• (using the equivalent form of uter- in New Latin)

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

• ultra-
• uretero-

The suffix -itis is used to name diseases, particularly inflammation of an organ. With this in mind, what does the medical condition of involve?