troch

Troch is a combining form derived from the Greek word trochos, meaning wheel. In scientific terminology, it appears as a root in a number of related terms and structures, often reflecting a wheel-like or pulley-like feature.

In anatomy and medicine, the term appears in trochlea, a pulley-shaped structure that guides tendons or bones. The human elbow contains a trochlea of the humerus that articulates with the ulna, and the term trochlear is used to describe related anatomical features and nerves, such as the trochlear nerve.

In zoology and embryology, troch- appears in references to trochophore, a wheel-bearing larval stage found in certain mollusks and annelids. This larva helped name the larger grouping Trochozoa, a proposed clade including these animals and their relatives, named for the characteristic larval form.

In mathematics and geometry, a trochoid is a curve traced by a point on a circle rolling along a line or another circle. This concept connects to the broader use of troch-/trocho- to signify wheel-like motion or rotation.

In malacology and taxonomy, Trochus is a genus of top-shell sea snails, and the family Trochidae is commonly referred to as the top shells. The term is thus found in various species names and higher taxonomic groups.

Notes: Troch itself is not typically used as a standalone lexical item in modern English; it functions primarily as a morpheme. When encountered, it usually appears in combination with other elements as trocho-, rather than alone.