Affixes

A sarcoma is a malignant tumour of certain soft tissues; sarcoidosis is a chronic disease which causes lymph nodes in many parts of the body to enlarge; the sarcolemma (Greek, from lepein, to peel) is the fine transparent tubular sheath which envelops the fibres of skeletal muscles; a sarcomere (Greek meros, part) is a structural part of striated muscle. Sarcophagus, a stone coffin, derives from the same root (Greek sarkophagos, flesh-consuming, from ‑phagos, eating) because the stone was believed to consume the flesh of the corpse within it, as does sarcasm, the use of irony to mock or convey contempt (Greek sarkazein, tear flesh).