�y��vlog

Leuko- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “white” or “white blood cell.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

Leuko- comes from the Greek ����ܰ�ó��, meaning “white, bright.” One of the most familiar words related to leuko- is leukemia, cancers of the bone marrow that prevent the normal manufacture of blood cells. The English word leukemia comes immediately from the German ����ܰ�ä������, in turn based on the Greek ����ܰ�ó��.

What are variants of leuko-?

The combining form leuco-, as in leucocyte, is a common variant of leuko-. When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, leuko– becomes leuk–, as in leukapheresis.

Leukopenia, meaning “a decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood,” is one example of a medical term that features the form leuko-. (Technically, leukopenia uses the New Latin equivalent of leuko-).

Leuko- means “white blood cell,” as we’ve seen. The -penia part of the word means “lack, deficiency,” from the Greek ����í��, meaning “poverty, need.” Putting it together, leukopenia literally translates to “white blood cell deficiency.”

Learn more about -penia in our �y��vlogs That Use article on the combining form.

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

• leukoblast
• leukocyte
• leukoderma (using the New Latin equivalent of leuko-)
• leukodystrophy
• leukolysin
• leukomyelopathy
• leukonecrosis
• leukorrhea

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

• lepto-
• lipo-

The combining form -cyte means “cell.” With this in mind, what is a leukocyte?