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Medical Terminology > Common Prefixes > Flashcards

Common Prefixes Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

A-

A

Without, not, no

Example- apnea (without breathing)

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2
Q

Ab-

A

From, away from

Example - aberrant (wandering away from)

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3
Q

Ad-

A

Toward, increase

Example - adduct (movement toward the midline of the body)

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4
Q

alb-

A

white

Example - albino (person who has a marked deficiency of pigment in the eyes, hair, and skin; has abnormally white skin)

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5
Q

albin/o

A

white

Example - albinism ( conditions of abnormally white skin; characterized by absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes)

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6
Q

abi-

A

both, both sides’‘Examle - ambidextrous (able to use both hands well)

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7
Q

an-

A

without, not, no

Example - anesthesia (without feeling)

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8
Q

ante-

A

before, in front

Example - antecubital (“the space” in front of the elbow

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9
Q

anti-

A

against

Example - antidote (a drug or other substance that oppoes [works against] the action of a poison

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10
Q

auto-

A

self

Example - autograft ( a graft transferred from one part of a patient’s body to another)

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11
Q

bi-

A

bicuspid

Example - (having two cusps or points)

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12
Q

bio-

A

life

Example - biology (the study of life)

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13
Q

brady-

A

slow

Example- bradycardia (slow heart)

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14
Q

chlor/o

A

green

Example - chlorophyll (green pigment in plants that accomplishes photosynthesis)

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15
Q

circum-

A

around

Example - circumduction (movement around in a circle)

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16
Q

cirrh/o

A

yellow, tawny

Example - cirrosis (chronic degenerative liver disease with resultant yellowness of the liver and skin)

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17
Q

con-

A

together, with

Example congenital (born with )

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18
Q

contra-

A

against

Example - contraindication (against what is indicated)

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19
Q

cyan/o

A

blue

Example - cyanoderma (slightly bluish, grayish, slatelike, or dark discoloration of the skin)

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20
Q

de-

A

down, from

Example - descend (to come down from)

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21
Q

dia-

A

through

Example - diagnosis (knowledge through testing)

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22
Q

dis-

A

free of, to undo

Example - dislocation (the displacement [undoing] of any part of the body from its normal position)

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23
Q

dys-

A

bad, difficult, painful, disordered

Example - dyspnea (difficult breathing) is

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24
Q

ecto-

A

outside

Example - ectopic (outside its normal location–as in an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs in the fallopian tubes instead of in the uterus)

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25
Q

endo-

A

within, inner

Example - endoscope (instrument used to look inside the body)

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26
Q

eosin/o

A

red, rosy

Example - eosinophil (bilobed leukocyte that stains a red, rosy color with an acid dye)

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27
Q

epi-

A

upon, over

Example - epigastric (pertaining to the region over the stomach)

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28
Q

erythr/o

A

red

Example - erythrocyte (mature red blood cell)

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29
Q

eu-

A

well, easily, good, normal

Example - eupnea (normal breathing)

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30
Q

ex-

A

out, away from, outside

Example - exhale (to breath out)

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31
Q

exo-

A

outside, outward

Example - exogenous (originating outside the body)

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32
Q

extra

A

outside, beyond

Example - extrahepatic (outside of the liver)

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33
Q

glauc/o

A

gray, silver

Example - glaucoma (disorder of the eye due to increased intraocular pressure; creates a dull gray gleam of the affected eye)

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34
Q

hemi-

A

half

Example - hemiplegia (paralysis of one side [half] the body)

35
Q

hetero

A

different

Example - heterogeneous (composed of different or unlike substances)

36
Q

homeo-

A

likeness, same

Example - homeostasis (a relative constancy [likeness] in the internal environment of the body)

37
Q

homo-

A

same

Example - homogenesis (having the same origins)

38
Q

hydro-

A

water

Example - hydrocephalus (an abnormal accumulation of fluid [water] within the head)

39
Q

hyp-

A

under, below, beneath, less than normal

Example - hypoxemia (less than normal blook oxygen level)

40
Q

hyper-

A

excessive

Example - hyperemesis (excessive vomiting)

41
Q

hypo-

A

under, below, beneath, less than normal

Example - hypoglycemia (less than normal blood sugar; low blood sugar level)

42
Q

idio-

A

individual

Example - idiosyncrasy (an individual sensitivity to effects of a drug caused by inherited or other bodily constitution factors)

43
Q

im-

A

not

Example - impotence (an adult male’s inability [not able] to achieve penile erection)

44
Q

in-

A

in, inside, within, not

Example - incompetent (not capable)
inborn (acquired during intrauterine life)

45
Q

infra-

A

beneath, below, under

Example - infraorbital (beneath the bony cavity in which the eyeball is located)

46
Q

inter-

A

between

Example - intercostal (between the ribs)

47
Q

intra-

A

within

Example - intravenous (within a vein)

48
Q

jaund/o

A

yellow

Example - jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin)

49
Q

juxta-

A

near, beside

Example - juxtaarticular (pertaining to a location near a joint)

50
Q

leuk/o

A

white

Ezample - leukoplakia (white, hard, thickened patches firmly attached to the mucous membrane in areas such as the mouth, vulva, or penis)

51
Q

melan/p

A

black

Example - melanoma ( a darkly pigmented cancerous tumor)

52
Q

meso-

A

middle

Example - mesoderm (the middle of the three layers of the skin)

53
Q

meta-

A

beyond, after

Example - metacarpals (pertaining to the bones after the carpal [wrist] bones; i.e. the hand bones

54
Q

milli-

A

one-thousandth

Example - milliliter (one-thousandth of a liter)

55
Q

mono-

A

one

Example - monovyte ( a white cell with a singular nucleus

56
Q

multi-

A

many

Example - multipara (to bear manyu “children”)

57
Q

non-

A

not

Example - noninvasive (pertaining to a diagnostic or therapeutic technique that does not require the skin to be broken [not invaded] or a cavity or organ to be entered)

58
Q

pan-

A

all

Example - pancarditis (inflammation of the entire heart [all])

59
Q

para-

A

near, beside, beyond, two like parts

Example - paracervical (near, or beside, the cervix)

60
Q

per-

A

through

Example - percussion (striking through)

61
Q

peri-

A

around

Example perianal (around the anus)

62
Q

poli/o

A

gray

Example poliomyelitis (inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord)

63
Q

poly-

A

many, much, excessive

Example - polyarthritis (inflammation of many joints)
polyuria (the excretion of large amounts of [much] urine)

64
Q

post-

A

after, behind

Example - postcibal (after meals)

65
Q

pre-

A

before, in front

Example - precodial (the region “of the chest wall” in front of the heart)

66
Q

primi-

A

first

Example - primigravida (first pregnancy)

67
Q

pseudo-

A

false

Example - pseudoanorexia (“false anorexia”; a condition i which an individual eats secretly while claiming a lack of appetite and inability to eat)

68
Q

purpur/o

A

purple

Example - purpura (collection of blood beneath the skin in the form of pinpoint hemorrhages appearing as red/purple skin discolorations)

69
Q

quadri-

A

four

Example - quadriplegia (paralysis of all four extremities)

70
Q

re-

A

back, again

Example - reactivate (to make active again)

71
Q

retro-

A

backward, behind

Example - retrocecal (pertaining to the region behind the cecum)

72
Q

rube-

A

red

Example - rubella (a contagious viral disease characterized by fever, coldlike symptoms, and a diffuse, fine red rash [also German measles]

73
Q

semi-

A

half

Example - semiconscious (half conscious)

74
Q

sub-

A

under, below

Example - subcutaneous (under the skin)

75
Q

supra-

A

above, over

Example - suprapubic (above, or over, the pubic area

76
Q

sym

A

joined, together

Example - sympathetic (displaying compassion for another’s grief; literally. “joined in disease”)

77
Q

syn

A

joined, together

Example - syndrome (a group of symptoms joined by common cause; “sunning together”)

78
Q

tachy-

A

rapid

Example - tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

79
Q

trans-

A

across, through

Example - transurethral (across, or through, the urethra)

80
Q

tri-

A

three

Example - triceps (“a muscle” having three heads)

81
Q

ultra-

A

beyond, excess

Example - ultrasound (sound waves at the very high frequency of more then 20,000 vibrations per second)

82
Q

uni-

A

one

Example - uninuclear (“a cell” having one nucleus

83
Q

xanth/o

A

yellow

Example - xanthoderma (any yellow coloration of the skin)

84
Q

-ambi

A

Both, both sides

Medical Terminology (3 decks)

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