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Metrorrhagia.com

Lesson 2

Metrorrhagia word breakdown

Two word parts. One common trap.

By the Metrorrhagia.com editorial teamUpdated Medical review pending
Illustration of two hands fitting a plum and a gold puzzle piece together, representing combining word parts.

Educational content for students. Not medical or coding advice. Having symptoms? See the patient guide.

On this page
  1. The two parts
  2. The "rrh" suffix family
  3. Building related terms
metr/oroot · combining formuterus
+
-rrhagiasuffixbursting forth; excessive flow of blood
=
metrorrhagiatermbleeding from the uterus, outside the expected period
Labeled schematic front view of the uterus showing the fundus, body, endometrium (lining), myometrium (muscle wall), uterine cavity, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and upper vagina.
Metr/o means uterus: metrorrhagia is bleeding from the uterus at irregular times, between expected periods. Schematic, not to scale.

The two parts

metr/o: uterus

The combining form metr/o (also metri/o) means uterus, from Greek mētra, womb. The same meaning appears in endometrium (endo- "within" + metri- "uterus" + -um: the lining inside the uterus) and endometriosis. Two other combining forms also mean uterus: hyster/o (hysterectomy) and uter/o (uterine).

Common mistake

metr/o in gynecology means uterus. It is not the "metr-" of measurement in words like metric or thermometer, which comes from a different Greek word (metron, measure).

-rrhagia: bursting forth of blood

The suffix -rrhagia (also -rrhage) means excessive flow or "bursting forth," usually of blood, from Greek rhēgnynai, to burst. Compare hemorrhage and epistaxis. The doubled "rr" appears when the suffix attaches to a combining form: metr/o + -rrhagia → metrorrhagia.

The "rrh" suffix family

Students often confuse four suffixes that all start with rrh:

SuffixMeaningExample
-rrhagia / -rrhagebursting forth, excessive flow (usually blood)menorrhagia, hemorrhage
-rrheaflow, dischargeamenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leukorrhea
-rrhaphysurgical suturingcolporrhaphy, herniorrhaphy
-rrhexisruptureamniorrhexis
Illustration of a library corner with shelves of books, an open dictionary and a magnifying glass.
Most medical word parts come from Greek and Latin.
TermPartsLiteral meaning
menorrhagiamen/o (month, menstruation) + -rrhagiaexcessive menstrual flow
menometrorrhagiamen/o + metr/o + -rrhagiaexcessive flow during and between periods
amenorrheaa- (without) + men/o + -rrheaabsence of menstrual flow
dysmenorrheadys- (painful, difficult) + men/o + -rrheapainful menstruation
oligomenorrheaolig/o (few, scanty) + men/o + -rrheainfrequent menstruation
polymenorrheapoly- (many) + men/o + -rrheaabnormally frequent menstruation
hypomenorrheahypo- (below) + men/o + -rrheascanty menstrual flow
metritismetr/o + -itis (inflammation)inflammation of the uterus
endometriumendo- + metri/o + -umlining within the uterus

Practise these with the flashcards, or see more in the glossary.