neph

Neph is a shorthand term primarily encountered in medical contexts and as a shorthand for the kidney in various terms. It is derived from the Greek nephros, meaning kidney, and in modern medical language the combining form nephro- is preferred when forming words related to kidney function or disease. The standalone word neph is uncommon; more often, nephro- is used, and neph- may appear as an abbreviated form in notes or shorthand.

In practice, nephrology is the branch of medicine dealing with the kidneys; a nephron is the microscopic functional unit of the kidney; nephritis refers to inflammation of the kidneys; nephropathy denotes kidney disease; nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney; nephrotoxicity describes kidney-toxic effects. Other related terms include nephrogram, nephrometry, nephrosclerosis, and nephrolithiasis, illustrating the breadth of kidney-related terminology.

Etymology and usage: The root nephro- comes from Greek nephros; in English, the form nephro- is common in medical compounds, while neph alone is rare outside of rapid shorthand. The term neph may appear in scholarly shorthand or in cross-references but should not be mistaken for a separate, widely recognized word in standard medical dictionaries.