podo-, pod-, -poda, -pod, -pode, -podium, -podia, -podial, -podous, -pody

(Greek: foot, feet)

pododermatitis
1. Inflammation of the pododerm.
2. An infectious bacterial disease of sheep, goats, and cattle that is associated with warm, wet, unhygienic conditions, characterized by lameness due to erosion of the horny structures and inflammation of the related soft parts of the foot.
pododynamometer
An instrument for measuring the strength of the muscles of the foot or leg.
pododynia
Pain in the heel and sole of the foot.
podogramic
A reference to an imprint of the sole of the foot, showing the contour and the condition of the arch, or an outline tracing.
podograph
A device for taking an outline of the foot and an imprint of the sole.
podohydrosis
The excessive sweating of the feet.
Podokesaurus
Identified as being a “swift-footed lizard” from Early Jurassic North America a small carnivorous dinosaur and was considered to be one of the earliest known dinosaurs to inhabit the eastern United States.

This nomenclature (Podokesaurus, “swift-footed lizard”) is no longer recognized by scientists because they found that it described an animal that was previously given another name which is Coelophysis; named by US paleontologist Mignon Talbot in 1911.

podologist
A specialist in the treatment of feet.
podology
1. The science that refers to the morphology and physiology of the foot; also, a treatise on the foot.
2. The specialty concerned with the diagnosis and medical, surgical, mechanical, physical, and adjunctive treatment of the diseases, injuries, and defects of the feet.
3. The medical study of feet and their treatment.
podomancy, pedoscopy
Divination (fortune telling) from the interpretations of signs derived by examining the feet.
podomechanotherapy
Treatment of foot conditions with mechanical devices; e.g., arch supports, orthoses, etc.
podometer
An instrument for measuring the distance covered in walking; also, pedometer.
podopathy (s) (noun) (no pl)
A nonstandard term for any disease of the foot: Mr. Tall asked his doctor what the causes were for podopathy because his feet were hurting and he was having problems with walking, even when walking a short distance.
podoscaph
A canoe-shaped float attached to the foot, or a pair of these, for moving on water; also, a water-velocipede, or boat propelled by treadles (pedals) like a bicycle.
podosomes
Immune cells that perambulate or "sprint" to infection sites in the body to ward off invading pathogens.

These microscopic assemblies seem to form "feet" on the bottom surface of the leading edge of migrating cells which indicate a location consistent with the idea that they help cells move.

Cell biologists have discovered structures on a variety of migratory cells, including immune cells called macrophages and osteoclasts which help maintain bone by dissolving away areas that need repair. In all cases, the structures appear when the cells make contact with a surface. This suggests that they might be involved in cell adhesion, and thus in cell motility, because cells have to stick to the surface over which they are migrating in order to move.

—"Podosomes and Invadopodia Help Mobile Cells Step Lively" by Jean Marx; Science, June 30, 2006; pages 1868-1869.

Related "foot, feet" units: melo-; ped-; planta-; -pus.