Common Medical Terminology Prefixes + a word incorporating each prefix Flashcards
ab
away from
abduct: to lead away
a, an
without
anoxia: without oxygen
ad
towards
adduct: to lead towards
albin/o
white
albinism: a congenital absence of pigment
ante
before, in front of
antecubital: before the bend of the elbow
anti
against
antiseptic: preventing the growth of microorganisms
ambi
both, both sides or around
ambidextrous: use of both hands-handedness
bi, bis
two or twice
bilateral: two sides
brady
slow
bradycardia: abnormally slow heartbeat
chlor/o
green
chloroplast: plant cells that contain chlorophyll
contra
against
contraindication: unsafe to not receive treatments (harmful)
crypt
hidden
cryptorchid: undescended testicles
cyan/o
blue
cyanotic: blue discoloration due to deficient O2
de
away, take away
dehydrate: free of H2O or to take away H2O
dia
through
diathermy: to generate heat through the body
di, dis
two, twice, double
diplopia: double vision
dys
difficult, painful
dysphagia: difficulty swallowing
ecto
outer
ectoderm: out layer of cells (embryo)
en, endo
inside
endocarditis: inflammation of the inside linings of the heart
epi
upon/above
ectocornea: inside the cornea
erythro
red
erythrocyte: red blood cell (RBC)
eu
normal
eupnea: normal/unlabored breathing
e, ex, exo
out of, outside
eversion: turning inside out
extra
outside of, beyond
extrahepatic: outside of the liver
hemi
half
hemiplegia: one side of body paralysis
hydro
water
hydrocephalus: high pressure/high CFS in the cranial cavity
hydrophobia: morbid dread of water
hyper
above
hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure
hypo
below, under
hypothermia: abnormally low body temperature
hypotension: abnormally low blood pressure
in
not
inoperable: not able to operate on
in, intra
within, in
intravenous: situated within the veins
infra
below, beneath, under
inframammary: below mammary gland
inter
between
intercostal: space between the ribs
macro
large
macrocephaly: abnormally enlarged head
mal
bad, abnormal
malalignment: bad/incorrect alignment
meta
beyond
metacarpal: beyond the carpals-bone region
micro
small
microdontism: abnormally small teeth
mono
one
monodiplopia: images viewed by one eye
multi
many
multicellular: involving many cells
nulli
none
nulliparity: female not yet having born offspring
ortho
straight, correct
orthopedics: branch of medicine detailing correctness of injury, skeletal, ligaments, tendons
pan
all
panarthritis: inflammation of all structures of joint
para
beside
parathyroid: beside the thyroid (parathyroid gland)
per
through, by means, agency of
percutaneous: performed through the skin
peri
around
periarterial: referring to tissues around the arteries
poli/o
gray
poliomyelitis: inflammation of the myelin sheaths (nerves) graying
poly
too much, many
polyuria: too much urination
post
after
postmortem: after death
pre
before
predisposition: susceptible to a disease
primi
first
primigravid: first time pregnancy
pseudo
false
pseudoarthrosis: false joint
quad, quadra
four
quadrant: four sections/four quarters
re
back, again
reduce: restore to normal alignment
retro
behind
retrosternal: behind the sternum
semi
half
semicomatose: half-conscious/not fully conscious
sub
under
subclavian: under the clavicle
super
above
superficial: at or on the surface
supra
above
suprarenal: above the kidney
syn
together, joined
syndactylism: fusion of fingers or toes
tacky/tachy
rapid, swift
tackycardia: rapid heartbeat
tetra
four
tetradactyl: four fingers or toes
trans
across
transection: cut across
tri
three
trigemini: occurring in threes
un
not
unconscious: lacking awareness of environment
uni
one
unilateral: occurring on once side
xanth/o
yellow
xanthopia: visual disturbance-objects appear yellow
