jejuno-

Jejuno- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the jejunum, the middle portion of the small intestine. It is used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and surgery.

Jejuno- comes from the Latin jējūnus, meaning “fasting, empty of food,” as the jejunum was thought to be empty after death. And, both surprisingly and perhaps ironically, the word dinner and dine also ultimately derive from the Latin jējūnus, as does the adjective jejune, meaning “dull or immature.”

What are variants of jejuno-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, jejuno- becomes jejun-, as in jejunitis.

One medical term that features the combining form jejuno- is jejunotomy, “incision into the jejunum.”

The jejuno- part of the word represents the jejunum, as we’ve seen. What about the -tomy portion of the word? It means “cutting, incision,” from the Greek -tomia. Jejunotomy literally translates to “jejunum incision.”

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

• jejunocolostomy
• jejunoileal
• jejunoileostomy
• jejunojejunostomy
• jejunoplasty
• jejunostomy

The combining form -plasty often means “surgical repair.” What does the medical procedure of a jejunoplasty involve?