3 Prefix

Prefixes are located at the beginning of a medical term. The prefix alters the meaning of the medical term. It is important to spell and pronounce prefixes correctly.

Many prefixes that you find in medical terms are common to English language prefixes. A good technique to help with memorization is the following:

  • Start by reviewing the most common prefixes.
  • Consider common English language words that begin with the same prefixes.
  • Compare them to the examples of use in medical terms.
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
a-, an No, not, without, negates the meaning atypical, anoxia
ab- away from; from abduction
ad- toward, at, increase, on, toward adduction
ante- before antepartum
anti- against, opposing antipsychotic
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
bi-,bin- two, twice, double bilateral, binocular
brady- slow bradycardia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
de- from, down, away from dehydrate
dia- through, complete dialysis
dys- painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured dysphagia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
endo- within, in endotracheal
epi- on, upon, over epidermis
eu- normal, good eupnea
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
hemi- half hemicolectomy
hyper- above, excessive hyperthyroidism
hypo- below, incomplete, deficient, under hypoglycemia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
inter- between intercostal
intra- within, in intramuscular
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
macro- large, long macrocephalus
meta- after, beyond, change metacarpal bones
micro- small microscope
multi- many multipara
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
neo- new neonate
nulli- none nulligravida
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
pachy- thick, thickening, thickened pachyderma
pan- all, total pancytopenia
para- beside, beyond, around, abnormal parathyroid glands
per- through percutaneous
peri- surrounding (outer) peripheral vision
poly- many, much polymyositis
post- after postpartum
pre- before prenatal
pro- before prognosis
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
sub- below, under subcutaneous
supra- above suprascapular
sym-, syn- together, joined symphysis
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
tachy- fast, rapid tachycardia
trans- through, across, beyond transdermal
tri- three triceps
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
uni- one unilateral
definition

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Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Language Copyright © 2023 by NSCC; Kimberlee Carter; Marie Rutherford; and Douglas College Biology Department is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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