3 Understanding Prefixes

Learning Objectives Define and spell the prefixes commonly used in medical terminology. Identify prefixes in medical terms. Use prefixes to build medical terms.

Common Prefixes a- ab- bi- endo- hyper- hypo- a- = without or absence of ab- = away from bi- = two endo- = within hyper- = excessive, abnormally high, above hypo- = deficient, abnormally low, below

Common Prefixes (cont.) intra- post- pre- sub- intra- = within post- = to follow after pre- = to come before sub- = under, beneath, below

Common Prefixes (cont.) anti- = against anti- con- contra- meta- bi/o = life -ic = pertaining to antibiotic anti- = against, opposite of con- = with, together, jointly contra- = counter, against meta- = after or change

Prefixes That Indicate Number or Quantity ambi- bi- di-, dipl- hemi- mono- ambi- = both bi- = two di-, dipl- = double hemi- = half mono- = one

Diplopia (double vision) Source: Alex Melnick / Shutterstock.com

Prefixes That Indicate Number or Quantity (cont.) multi- nulli- pan- poly- poly- = many arter/o = artery -itis = inflammation multi- = many, more than once, or numerous nulli- = none pan- = all poly- = excessive, over, many polyarteritis

Prefixes That Indicate Number or Quantity (cont.) primi- quadri- semi- tetra- tri- uni- primi- = first quadri- = four semi- = half or partial tetra- = four tri- = three uni- = one

Prefixes That Indicate Location or Timing ab- ad- ana- ante- ab- = away from ad- = toward ana- = up, toward ante- = before, to come before

Prefixes That Indicate Location or Timing (cont.) dia- dis- ec-, ecto- endo- dia- = through dis- = apart, away ec-, ecto- = outside, out endo- = within

Figure 3.1 Endogastric procedure using an endoscope to observe the internal stomach lining.

Prefixes That Indicate Location or Timing (cont.) ep-, epi- eso- ex-, exo- extra- ep-, epi- = upon, over, above, on top eso- = inward ex-, exo- = outside or away from extra- = outside

Prefixes That Indicate Location or Timing (cont.) hypo- infer- inter- intra- para- hypo - = below infer- = below inter- = between intra- = within para- = alongside; abnormal

Prefixes That Indicate Location or Timing (cont.) peri- post- pre- sub- super-, supra- sym-, syn- peri- = around post- = to follow after pre- = before, to come before sub- = below super-, supra- = above sym-, syn- = together, joined

The epidermis is on top of the dermis, and the hypodermis (or subcutaneous layer) is below the dermis. Figure 3.2 Skin Layers

Prefixes That Indicate a Specific Quality about a Term a-, an- brady- circum- dys- eu- heter-, hetero- a-, an- = without or absence of brady- = slow circum- = around dys- = bad, abnormal, painful, difficult eu- = normal or good heter-, hetero- = different

Prefixes That Indicate a Specific Quality about a Term (cont.) hyper- hypo- macro- mal- mega-, megalo- hyper- = excessive, abnormally high, above hypo- = deficient, abnormally low, below macro- = large mal- = bad mega-, megalo- = large, great

Prefixes That Indicate a Specific Quality about a Term (cont.) micro- neo- pseudo- tachy- trans- ultra- tachy- = rapid cardi/o = heart -ia = condition of micro- = small neo- = new pseudo- = false tachy- = rapid, fast trans- = through, across, beyond ultra- = beyond normal tachycardia

Figure 3.3 Ultrasound imaging. Source: Photodisc/Thinkstock In this noninvasive procedure, inaudible sound waves are bounced through the body, detected by a sensor, and interpreted by a computer to reveal internal structures such as a fetus within the uterus. Figure 3.3 Ultrasound imaging. Source: Photodisc/Thinkstock

Prefix Quiz peri- a. through ante- b. around dis- c. apart dia- d. alongside para- e. before peri- answer is b. ante- answer is e. dis- answer is c. dia- answer is a. para- answer is d.