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Tricho- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hair.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms.

Tricho- comes from the Greek �ٳ��í��, meaning “hair.” Another combining form meaning “hair,” and especially “bristles,” is chaeto-, which you can learn more about in our �y��vlogs That Use article for the form.

What are variants of tricho-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, tricho- becomes trich-, as in trichitis.

One example of a scientific term that features the combining form tricho- is tricholith, “a small mass of hair”—that is, a hairball.

The first part of the word, tricho-, means “hair.” What about the -lith portion of the word? The combining form -lith means “stone,” from the Greek ��í�ٳ�Dz�. In pathology, such a “stone” can denote various types of small masses or concretions. Tricholith literally translates to “hair stone.”

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

• trichobezoar
• trichocyst
• trichodiscoma
• trichoepithelioma
• trichoglossia
• trichopathy

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

• dicho-
• tracheo-
• trache-
• tropho-

In a few instances, tricho- is used to mean “three parts,” from the Greek �ٰ�í����, source of trichotomy. This rare use of tricho- is modeled on dicho- (“in two parts”), which you can learn more about in our �y��vlogs That Use article for this form.

The combining form -pathy is often used to denote “disease.” With this in mind, what does the medical condition of trichopathy involve?