Omph

Omph is a linguistic term that appears primarily as a bound form in medical and anatomical terminology, derived from the Greek word omphalos meaning “navel” or “umbilicus.” In English, the combining forms omphalo- and omphal- are the standard ways this root appears in modern terms, and they are used to denote relations to the navel or umbilical region.

In medical terminology, omphalo- or omphal- appear in a number of conditions and procedures. Omphalocele, for example, is a congenital defect in which abdominal contents herniate into the umbilical cord at birth. Omphalitis refers to inflammation of the umbilical stump, typically in newborns. Omphaloplasty describes surgical procedures to repair or reconstruct the navel. The adjective omphal(ic) and related forms are used to describe anything pertaining to the navel, as in omphalointestinal or omphaloscopic contexts.

Etymology-wise, omphalos is the ancient Greek word for the navel, and the medical suffixes and prefixes omphalo- and omphal- are derived from this root. A well-known term that uses the full root is omphaloskepsis, the humorous or scholarly term for “navel gazing.”

Usage notes suggest that omph by itself is not commonly used as an independent word in contemporary English; instead, it functions as part of longer morphemes that convey anatomical or medical meaning. The root remains primarily of interest in etymology, anatomy, and related anatomical vocabulary. See also omphalos and related forms such as omphal- and omphalo-.