Which prefix means 'tear'?

Which prefix means 'tear'?

• A. Helio-
• B. Iso-
• C. Lapar-
• D. Dacry-

Answer: (D)

In medical terms, the prefix that ties directly to tears comes from the word for tear itself. Dacry- (or its variant dacryo-) comes from Greek and is used to mean tear or the tear-producing/draining structures. You’ll see it in terms like dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the tear gland) and dacryocystitis (inflammation of the tear sac), which helps connect the concept to the lacrimal system. The other prefixes don’t relate to tears: helio- is the sun, iso- means equal or same, and lapar- refers to the abdomen or flank area. So the prefix meaning tear is dacry-.

In medical terms, the prefix that ties directly to tears comes from the word for tear itself. Dacry- (or its variant dacryo-) comes from Greek and is used to mean tear or the tear-producing/draining structures. You’ll see it in terms like dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the tear gland) and dacryocystitis (inflammation of the tear sac), which helps connect the concept to the lacrimal system.

The other prefixes don’t relate to tears: helio- is the sun, iso- means equal or same, and lapar- refers to the abdomen or flank area. So the prefix meaning tear is dacry-.