What does py mean in medical terms?
py
Meaning: pus
Type: Word root · Body system: Whole Body & General Terms
A word root is the core of a word; prefixes and suffixes attach around it. On this page: what py means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using py
pyuria
py (pus) + -uria (in the urine) = presence of pus in the urine
py (pus) + -uria (in the urine) = presence of pus in the urine
pyogenic
py (pus) + -genic (producing) = producing pus
py (pus) + -genic (producing) = producing pus
empyema
em- (in) + py (pus) + -ema (condition) = a collection of pus in a body cavity
em- (in) + py (pus) + -ema (condition) = a collection of pus in a body cavity
More Whole Body & General Terms roots
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.