Osteo- (prefix)


Combining form meaning bone. From the Greek “osteon”, bone. Appears for instance in osteoarthritis, osteochondroma osteodystrophy, osteogenesis, osteomyelitis, osteopathy, osteopetrosis, osteoporosis, osteosarcoma, etc.

Read Also:

  • Osteoarthritis

    A type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. Also known as degenerative arthritis.

  • Osteoarthropathy

    Any disease of the bones and joints. From osteo-, bone + -arthro-, joint, + pathy, disease.

  • Osteoblast

    A cell that makes bone. It does so by producing a matrix that then becomes mineralized. Bone mass is maintained by a balance between the activity of osteoblasts that form bone and other cells called osteoclasts that break it down.

  • Osteoblastoma

    A noncancerous tumor in bone tissue. Osteoblastomas are small and are seen most frequently in children and young adults. Symptoms include pain and bone-mass reduction. Treatment includes surgery, sometimes followed by chemotherapy.

  • Osteochondritis dissecans

    A condition in which a fragment of bone in a joint is deprived of blood and separates from the rest of the bone, causing soreness and making the joint give way. Diagnosis is made via X-ray. Treatment usually involves casting, although if the fragment has detached completely, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary. Abbreviated OCD and […]


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