What it means
The root in words about the ilium. The iliac crest is the top edge of the hip bone, which can be felt at the waist; it is a landmark for injections in the hip (ventrogluteal site) and a site for bone marrow samples. The iliac arteries supply the pelvis and legs. Spelled with an "i," unlike ile/o, which means the ileum of the small intestine.
Remember it
ilIum is the hIp; ilEum is in the Eating (digestive) tract.
At a glance
| Also written | ilio- |
|---|
Easy to confuse with
ile/o
A word root that means the ileum, the last part of the small intestine.
Related terms
bone marrow
The soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.
ilium
The large, wing-shaped upper part of each hip bone.