Which root word represents the medical concept of poison?

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The root word "tox/o" is derived from the Greek word "toxikon," which means "poison." In medical terminology, it is commonly used to refer to any substance that can cause harmful effects on the body or can be toxic. This root is often found in terms such as "toxicology," the study of poisons and their effects, and "toxin," which denotes a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms.

The other root words represent different concepts: "hem/o" pertains to blood, as seen in terms like "hemoglobin" and "hematocrit"; "erythr/o" refers specifically to red blood cells, originating from the term "erythrocyte"; and "thromb/o" relates to blood clots, which can be seen in vocabulary like "thrombosis" or "thrombus." Each of these roots has its distinct meaning in the medical field, separate from the notion of poison associated with "tox/o."

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