What does steno- mean in medical terms?

steno-

Meaning: narrow, constricted

Type: Prefix

A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what steno- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using steno-

stenosis
steno- (narrow) + sis (condition) = an abnormal narrowing of a passage or opening
stenotic
steno- (narrow) + tic (relating to) = relating to an abnormal narrowing

Shortened forms

Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.

Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.