Common Prefixes

Question 1

a-, an-

Answer 1

without, lack of

apnea - without breath, asthenia - lack of strength/weakness, anemia - lack of blood

Question 2

ab-

Answer 2

away from

abnormal - away from the normal

Question 3

acr-

Answer 3

pertaining to extremity

acromegaly - enlargement of the bones of the distal parts

Question 4

ad-

Answer 4

to, toward

adhesion - something stuck to

Question 5

ante-

Answer 5

before, forward

antenatal - occurring or formed before birth

Question 6

anti-

Answer 6

against, opposed to

antipyretic - against fever

Question 7

auto-

Answer 7

self

autointoxication - poisoning by a toxin generated within the body

Question 8

bi-

Answer 8

two

bilateral - two sided

Question 9

brady-

Answer 9

slow

bradycardia - slow heartbeat

Question 10

circum-

Answer 10

around, about

circumflex - winding around

Question 11

contra-

Answer 11

against, opposite

contralateral - on the opposite side

Question 12

di-

Answer 12

twice, double

diplopia - double vision

Question 13

dia-

Answer 13

through, completely

diagnosis - knowing completely

Question 14

dys-

Answer 14

with pain or difficulty

dyspnea - difficulty breathing

Question 15

e-, ex-

Answer 15

from, out of

excise - to cut out or remove completely or surgically

Question 16

ecto-

Answer 16

out from

extopic - out of place

Question 17

em-

Answer 17

in

empyema - pus in the chest

Question 18

endo-

Answer 18

within

endometrium - within the uterus

Question 19

epi-

Answer 19

upon, on

epidermis - outer layer of the skin

Question 20

eu-

Answer 20

normal, good

eupnea - normal breathing

Question 21

exo-

Answer 21

outside

exogenous - produced outside the body

Question 22

extra-

Answer 22

outside, in addition

extrasystole - premature contraction of the heart

Question 23

hemi-

Answer 23

half

hemiplegia - paralysis of one side of the body

Question 24

hyper-

Answer 24

excessive, above normal

hyperplasia - excessive formation

Question 25

hypo-

Answer 25

deficient, below normal

hypotension - low blood pressure

Question 26

in-

Answer 26

not

inferior - beneath or lower

Question 27

infra-

Answer 27

below

infrascapular - below the scapula

Question 28

inter-

Answer 28

between

intercostal - between the ribs

Question 29

iso-

Answer 29

equal

isotonic - having equal tension

Question 30

para-

Answer 30

by the side of

parathyroid - beside the thyroid

Question 31

per-

Answer 31

through

percutaneous - through the skin

Question 32

peri-

Answer 32

around

pericardium - fibroserous sac surrounding the heart

Question 33

poly-

Answer 33

many

polycystic - containing many cysts

Question 34

post-

Answer 34

after, behind

postpartum - after childbirth

Question 35

pro-

Answer 35

before

prognosis - forecast of the outcome of a disease

Question 36

quadri-

Answer 36

four

quadrant - quarter of an area

Question 37

retro-

Answer 37

backward

retroflexion - bending backward

Question 38

semi-

Answer 38

half

semiflexion - partial flexion

Question 39

sub-

Answer 39

below, less than

subacute - moderately sharp

Question 40

supra-

Answer 40

above

supraclavicular - above the clavicles

Question 41

sym-

Answer 41

with, together

symphysis - growing together

Question 42

tachy-

Answer 42

fast

tachycardia - fast heartbeat

Question 43

trans-

Answer 43

across

transfusion - pouring across

Question 44

tri-

Answer 44

three

tricuspid - have three cusps

Question 45

uni-

Answer 45

one

unilateral - one sided