arthro-

Arthro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “joint” or “jointed.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms.

Arthro- comes from the Greek árthron, meaning “a joint.” Related to arthro- and deriving from a Greek word based on árthron is arthritis, “acute or chronic inflammation of the joint.”

What are variants of arthro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, arthro- becomes arthr-, as in arthralgia.

An example of a word you may have encountered that features anthro- is arthropod, a scientific name for such creepy crawlies as insects, spiders and other archanids, and crustaceans.

We have learned already that the prefix arthro- means “joint.” What about the –pod part of the word? It means “foot,” from the Greek poús.

So, arthropod literally translates to “jointed foot.” Indeed, arthopods have a segmented body, jointed limbs, and usually a chitinous shell that undergoes moltings.

Another creature, the octopus, is also derived in part from the Greek poús, meaning “foot.” Can you guess why? Discover the answer at our entry on octopus.

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

• Arthrobacter
• arthrodysplasia
• arthrography
• arthrolith
• arthrolysis
• arthropathy
• arthroplasty
• arthrosclerosis
• arthroscope
• arthrotomy

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

• anthropo-
• arterio-

The combining form –meter means “measure.” With that in mind, what does an arthrometer measure?