Word roots: metr/o vs hyster/o

Hello,

I teach medical terminology and my students are working on a word-building exercise using the word roots metr/o and hyster/o which both mean “uterus”. They are confused as to when either of those should be used…..for example, why is hysterectomy correct, but metrectomy is not correct? Or metrorrhagia rather than hysterorrhagia? My guess was that perhaps we use hyster/o when we are talking about procedures, and metr/o when we are referring to a diagnosis. Does anyone have a good answer to their question?

Thanks so much,
Deborah
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