kerato-

kerato- 1 Prefix referring to the cornea, as in keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and keratoplasty (corneal transplant). 2 Prefix referring to the nails, hair, or skin tissue, as in keratin (a protein found in the upper layer of the skin, hair, and nails, and in animal horns) and keratosis (a localized horny overgrowth of the skin).