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-megaly
- a combining form meaning “irregular enlargement†of the organ of the body specified by the initial element:
cardiomegaly.
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˜yÐÄvlogs That Use -megaly
What does -megaly mean?
The combining form -megaly is used like a suffix meaning “irregular enlargement†of an organ or part of the body. It is used in many medical terms, especially in pathology.
The form -megaly ultimately comes from the Greek ³¾Ã©²µ²¹²õ, meaning “great, large.â€
What are variants of -megaly?
The combining form -megalia, as in cardiomegalia, is a rare variant of -megaly. Corresponding forms of -megaly combined to the beginning of words is megalo- and megal-. Learn more at our ˜yÐÄvlogs That Use articles for the forms.
A variant of megalo- that you may be familiar with is mega-, as in megaphone or megabyte. Mega- is also used as a unit of measure prefix to indicate a fact of one million (e.g. megahertz).
Examples of -megaly
One example of a medical term that features the combining form -megaly is cardiomegaly, meaning “abnormal enlargement of the heart.â€
The combining form cardio- means “heart,†from the Greek °ì²¹°ù»åò¹. As we know, -megaly means “irregular enlargement.†Cardiomegaly literally translates to “abnormally large heart.â€
What are some words that use the combining form -megaly?
- acromegaly (using the equivalent form of -megalia in New Latin)
- adrenomegaly
- cephalomegaly
- dermatomegaly
- gastromegaly
- hepatomegaly
- nephromegaly
- trichomegaly
What are some other forms that -megaly may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form gastro- means “stomach.†What does the medical condition of gastromegaly involve?
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