1. 3
Understanding Prefixes

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

3. 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

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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 Ultrasound imaging. Source: Photodisc/Thinkstock

21. 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.