hemo

Hemo is a combining form used in medical and scientific terms to signify blood. It comes from the Greek haima meaning blood and functions as a prefix in many compound terms describing blood-related processes, components, or conditions. In contemporary English, the prefix is often written as hemo-, as in hemodynamics (the study of blood flow), hemodialysis (a process to filter the blood externally), and hemostasis (the stopping of bleeding). In British English, the form haemo- is sometimes used in the same way, producing terms such as haemodynamics or haemostasis.

Hemo- is related to other blood-related combining forms, notably hemat- and heme. Hemat- forms appear in terms about blood as a tissue or system (hematology, hematopoiesis), while heme refers to the iron-containing component of hemoglobin. Although they share a common root, hem- vs. hemat- vs. hemo- emphasize different aspects of blood and are used in distinct sets of terms.

Hemo is not a standalone word; it serves as a prefix that modifies another word to convey a blood-related meaning. Its usage helps differentiate concepts involving blood flow, blood components, and blood-related diseases from other biological topics.

See also: hematology, heme, hemodynamics, hemostasis, hematopoiesis, hemochromatosis.