PREFIXES &SUFFIXES

Prefix Attaches directly to the beginning of a word Meaning of prefix always remains the same Prefix changes meaning of root to which it is attached Not all words have prefixes

Prefixes Remember Meaning of prefix does not change Prefix does change meaning of the word Not all medical words have a prefix Prefixes express numbers, measurements, position, direction, negatives, and color

Prefixes are the head of words , derived from pre- meaning before. They are found at the beginning of words and modify their meanings. Examples anti / biotic anti / septic

Prefixes are word components Ex: ant (i) – notice the hyphen end of the prefix. This denotes that a prefix is not a complete word and another word component must be attached. antiseptic antibody 2. Prefixes determine the meaning Consider the following word; Ex: If the prefix Hyper – means excessive: hyper / glycemia means ............................

Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express numbers None, one, two, three, four Single, double, half Prefixes express measurement Quantities such as much, many, excessive Multiples without specific numbers

Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express position and/or direction Used to describe a location May be between, under, around, away from May be upon, over, within, near, middle May be below, behind, above, across

Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express color Prefixes express negatives Color in reactions Color of growths or rashes Color of body fluids Red, blue, green, yellow White, black, gray, purple Prefixes express negatives May indicate not, without, lack of, against

prefix meaning example Anti- against antibacterial Ab- from, away from Abduction Ad- to, towards, near adduction Peri- around, surrounding pericardium Hyper- over, above, excessive beyond hypertension

Mal- ill, bad, poor malnutrition Hypo- deficient hypoglycemia Bi- two bilateral Tri- three tricyclic Poly- many, much polyuria Post- after, behind postpartum Pro- before, in front of prothrombin

Sub- under, below subcutaneous Retro- behind, backward, back retroperitoneal Inter- Between, among interscapular Ex- Out, out of, away from excision Intra- In, within intraoperative Bio- life Biology Phono- Sound, voice phonograph Quadri- four quadriplegia

Ante- against antecubital Dys- bad, difficult Dyspnea Meta- beyond metastasis Re- back regurgitation

Prefixes from Greek and Latin Greek Latin Meaning hemi semi half,partial hexa sexi six hepta septem seven hyper super, supra over hypo sub under Prefixes from Greek and Latin

Prefixes can change the meaning of a word to a negative form Ex: Normal Normal ab /normal away from

Word Prefix Negative word hydrate de balanced un indication contra infect dis toxin anti

Suffixes Remember Every medical word has an ending Meaning of suffix does not change Suffix does change meaning of the word Every medical word has an ending Either a suffix or a complete word Suffixes make a word a noun or an adjective

Suffix: Rule If suffix begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u,y) Root will attach directly to it If suffix begins with a consonant Root will need a combining vowel Before attaching to the suffix

Suffix: Rule Example Word: cardiogram Breakdown of word: cardi/o/gram Root = cardi Combining vowel = o Suffix = gram Note: Suffix begins with a consonant Combining vowel is needed

Suffix: Rule Example Word: cardialgia Note: Suffix begins with a vowel Breakdown of word: cardi/algia Root = cardi Suffix = algia Note: Suffix begins with a vowel Combining vowel is not needed

Suffixes: Rule When suffix begins with a consonant Combining vowel is needed to attach suffix to word root Example: cephalodynia Breakdown of word: cephal / o / dynia Root = cephal Combining vowel = o (is needed) Suffix = dynia (begins with consonant)

Suffixes: Rule When suffix begins with a vowel Combining vowel is not needed to attach suffix to word root Example word: cephalalgia Breakdown of word: cephal / algia Root = cephal Combining form = (not needed) Suffix = algia (begins with a vowel)

Suffixes: Rule When defining a medical term Define suffix first Remember When defining a medical term Define suffix first Define prefix second Define word root(s) last

Suffixes Suffixes indicate specialties and/or specialists May be specialist in a field of study May be one who specializes in the study of May be one who treats Suffixes indicate instruments May be an instrument used to view May be an instrument used to measure

Suffixes Suffixes indicate surgical and diagnostic procedures May be surgical puncture May be process of recording May be process of viewing with a scope May be incision into

Medical Suffixes Suffix Meaning -ectomy Surgical excision or removal of -megaly Enlargement -pexy Surgical fixation, put into place -plasty Surgical repair -rrhaphy suture -pathy disease

Suffix Meaning -scope Instrument for examining -scopy Visual examination -stomy Forming a new opening -itis inflammation -tomy Surgical incision into