Biology Prefixes K-L

karyo- [from Greek karya nut, kernel] Nucleus, kernel, nut (karyotype).

kata- or kath- Rare variant spellings of cat-.

kerat- or kerato- [from Greek keras horn] (1) horn, horny (keratin); (2) cornea (keratoconjunctivitis).

kin- or kine- or kino- [from Greek kinesis movement] Denotes movement or action. (kinocilium).

kinesi- or kinesio- [from Greek kinesis movement] Movement, motion (kinesialgia, kinesiology).

kinet- or kineto- [from Greek kinesis movement] Movement, motion (kinetochore).

kolp- Variant spelling of colp-.

koly- [from Greek kolyo to hinder, prevent] Denotes inhibition or hindrance (kolypeptic).

konio- [from Greek konios dusty] Denotes dust (koniology, koniometer).

kry- Rare variant spelling of cry-.

krypt- or krypto- [from Greek kryptos hidden, secret] Hidden, covered, invisible (Kryptopterus = a genus of mostly transparent catfish).

kyo- [from Greek kyesis conception, pregnancy] Denotes pregnancy (kyogenic).

kyph- or kypho- [from Greek kyphos bent forwards, hunchbacked, stooping] Humped, hunchbacked (kyphosis).

kyt- Variant spelling of cyt-.

labi- or labio- [from Latin labium lip] Denotes lip (labiate).

lacrim- or lacrimo- or lachrym- or lachrymo- [from Latin lacrima tear] Relating to tears or the tear duct (lachrymiform, lacrimotomy).

lact- [from Latin lacte, lactis milk] (1) milk (lactose); (2) lactic acid (lactate).

lacun- [from Latin lacuna hollow, pit, cavity] Hole, pit, cavity (lacunaria).

lag- or lago- [from Greek lagos hare] Hare (lagomorph).

lagen- [from Latin lagena flask, bottle] Denotes a bottle (lageniform).

lan- or lani- or lano- [from Latin lana wool] Denotes wool (lanolin, lanosus).

laparo- [from Greek lapara abdomen, flank] Abdomen (laparoscopy). Particularly denotes operations involving an incision into the abdomen.

laryng- or laryngo- [from Greek larynx larynx] Denotes larynx (laryngoscope).

lasi- [from Greek lasios shaggy, wooly] Shaggy (Lasiurus = a genus of hairy-tailed bats).

later- or lateri- or latero- [from Latin latus, lateris side, flank] Side, flank (laterodorsal).

lati- [from Latin latus, lata, latum wide, broad; spacious] Wide, broad (latifoliate).

laur- or lauro- [from Latin laurus bay-tree, laurel] (1) denotes laurel (lauric); (2) derived from, or allied to lauric acid (lauramide)

leio- or lio- [from Greek leios smooth] Smooth (leiomyoma).

lenti- [from Latin lenticula lentil, lens-shaped vessel] Denotes a lens (lentiform).

leon- [from Latin leo, leonis lion] Lion (Leonotis = a genus of plants with the common name Lion's ear).

lepid- or lepido- [from Greek lepis flake, scale] Denotes flakes or scales (lepidophyte).

lepr- [from Latin lepra, leprae leprosy] Leprosy (leprology).

lept- or lepto- [from Greek leptos fine, small, thin, weak, delicate] Denotes fine, small, thin, weak (leptotene).

leuc- or leuco- or leuk- or leuko- [from Greek leukos light, bright, clear, white] White, colorless (leukocyte).

levo- or levulo- [from Latin laevus left, on the left hand] Left, toward the left (levoversion).

lien- or lieno- [from Latin lien, lienis spleen] Denotes the spleen (lienopancreatic).

lign- or ligni- or ligno- [from Latin lignum, ligni wood, timber, firewood] Wood or lignin, which is a component of wood (lignification).

ligul- [from Latin lingula small tongue, small strap] Tongue- or strap-shaped (ligulate).

limn- or limni- or limno- Freshwater lakes/ponds (limnoplankton).

lingu- or lingua- or lingui- or linguo- [from Latin lingula tongue] Relating to the tongue, tonguelike (linguiform, lingual).

lip- or lipo- [from Greek liparos greasy, fatty, oily] Fat, fatty, fatty tissue (liposome).

lith- or litho- [from Greek lithos stone] Stone (lithotripsy).

loch- or locho- or lochio- [from Greek locheyo to bear, bring forth] Pertaining to lochia (lochiometritis).

log- or logo- [from Greek logos explanation, law, theory, reasoning, speech] Denotes word, thought, or speech (logomania).

loma- [from Greek loma fringe] Hem, fringe (Lomatium).

lonch- or loncho- [from Greek lonche lance, spearhead] Denotes lance (Arnica lonchophylla).

longi- [from Latin longus long, tall, far] Long (longifolia).

loph- [from Greek lophos crest] Denotes a crest (Lophodytes).

lucid- [from Latin lophos shining, clear, bright] Light, shining, clear (luciferin).

ludovici- In taxonomic names: refers to Louis or Louisiana (Artemisia ludoviciana).

lun- or luna- [from Latin luna, lunae moon] Refers to the moon (lunate).

lusitan- Refers to Portugal, which was the ancient Roman province of Lusitania (Lusitanosaurus).

luteo- [from Latin luteus yellow] Yellow, especially light yellow, greenish yellow (Luteovirus).

lyc- or lyco- [from Greek lykos wolf] Wolf (Lycopodiophyta).

lymph- or lympho- or lymphangi- or lymphangio or lymphatico or lymphato- or lymphoid- [from Latin lympha water, water nymph] Denotes lymph, lymphatic tissue, or the lymphatic system (lymphectasia, lymphocyte, lymphoidectomy).

lyr- [from Latin lyra lyre] Lyre (lyriform).

lys- or lyso- [from Greek lysis loosing, breaking up, parting, releasing] Denotes lysis (lysogeny, lysosome).