Common Prefixes

Question 1

A-

Answer 1

Without, not, no

Example- apnea (without breathing)

Question 2

Ab-

Answer 2

From, away from

Example - aberrant (wandering away from)

Question 3

Ad-

Answer 3

Toward, increase

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

Question 4

alb-

Answer 4

white

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

Question 5

albin/o

Answer 5

white

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

Question 6

abi-

Answer 6

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

Question 7

an-

Answer 7

without, not, no

Example - anesthesia (without feeling)

Question 8

ante-

Answer 8

before, in front

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

Question 9

anti-

Answer 9

against

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

Question 10

auto-

Answer 10

self

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

Question 11

bi-

Answer 11

bicuspid

Example - (having two cusps or points)

Question 12

bio-

Answer 12

life

Example - biology (the study of life)

Question 13

brady-

Answer 13

slow

Example- bradycardia (slow heart)

Question 14

chlor/o

Answer 14

green

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

Question 15

circum-

Answer 15

around

Example - circumduction (movement around in a circle)

Question 16

cirrh/o

Answer 16

yellow, tawny

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

Question 17

con-

Answer 17

together, with

Example congenital (born with )

Question 18

contra-

Answer 18

against

Example - contraindication (against what is indicated)

Question 19

cyan/o

Answer 19

blue

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

Question 20

de-

Answer 20

down, from

Example - descend (to come down from)

Question 21

dia-

Answer 21

through

Example - diagnosis (knowledge through testing)

Question 22

dis-

Answer 22

free of, to undo

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

Question 23

dys-

Answer 23

bad, difficult, painful, disordered

Example - dyspnea (difficult breathing) is

Question 24

ecto-

Answer 24

outside

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

Question 25

endo-

Answer 25

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

Question 26

eosin/o

Answer 26

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

Question 27

epi-

Answer 27

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

Question 28

erythr/o

Answer 28

red Example - erythrocyte (mature red blood cell)

Question 29

eu-

Answer 29

well, easily, good, normal Example - eupnea (normal breathing)

Question 30

ex-

Answer 30

out, away from, outside Example - exhale (to breath out)

Question 31

exo-

Answer 31

outside, outward Example - exogenous (originating outside the body)

Question 32

extra

Answer 32

outside, beyond Example - extrahepatic (outside of the liver)

Question 33

glauc/o

Answer 33

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

Question 34

hemi-

Answer 34

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

Question 35

hetero

Answer 35

different Example - heterogeneous (composed of different or unlike substances)

Question 36

homeo-

Answer 36

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

Question 37

homo-

Answer 37

same Example - homogenesis (having the same origins)

Question 38

hydro-

Answer 38

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

Question 39

hyp-

Answer 39

under, below, beneath, less than normal Example - hypoxemia (less than normal blook oxygen level)

Question 40

hyper-

Answer 40

excessive Example - hyperemesis (excessive vomiting)

Question 41

hypo-

Answer 41

under, below, beneath, less than normal Example - hypoglycemia (less than normal blood sugar; low blood sugar level)

Question 42

idio-

Answer 42

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

Question 43

im-

Answer 43

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

Question 44

in-

Answer 44

in, inside, within, not Example - incompetent (not capable) inborn (acquired during intrauterine life)

Question 45

infra-

Answer 45

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

Question 46

inter-

Answer 46

between Example - intercostal (between the ribs)

Question 47

intra-

Answer 47

within Example - intravenous (within a vein)

Question 48

jaund/o

Answer 48

yellow Example - jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin)

Question 49

juxta-

Answer 49

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

Question 50

leuk/o

Answer 50

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

Question 51

melan/p

Answer 51

black Example - melanoma ( a darkly pigmented cancerous tumor)

Question 52

meso-

Answer 52

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

Question 53

meta-

Answer 53

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

Question 54

milli-

Answer 54

one-thousandth Example - milliliter (one-thousandth of a liter)

Question 55

mono-

Answer 55

one Example - monovyte ( a white cell with a singular nucleus

Question 56

multi-

Answer 56

many Example - multipara (to bear manyu "children")

Question 57

non-

Answer 57

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)

Question 58

pan-

Answer 58

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

Question 59

para-

Answer 59

near, beside, beyond, two like parts Example - paracervical (near, or beside, the cervix)

Question 60

per-

Answer 60

through Example - percussion (striking through)

Question 61

peri-

Answer 61

around Example perianal (around the anus)

Question 62

poli/o

Answer 62

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

Question 63

poly-

Answer 63

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

Question 64

post-

Answer 64

after, behind Example - postcibal (after meals)

Question 65

pre-

Answer 65

before, in front Example - precodial (the region "of the chest wall" in front of the heart)

Question 66

primi-

Answer 66

first Example - primigravida (first pregnancy)

Question 67

pseudo-

Answer 67

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

Question 68

purpur/o

Answer 68

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

Question 69

quadri-

Answer 69

four Example - quadriplegia (paralysis of all four extremities)

Question 70

re-

Answer 70

back, again Example - reactivate (to make active again)

Question 71

retro-

Answer 71

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

Question 72

rube-

Answer 72

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

Question 73

semi-

Answer 73

half Example - semiconscious (half conscious)

Question 74

sub-

Answer 74

under, below Example - subcutaneous (under the skin)

Question 75

supra-

Answer 75

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

Question 76

sym

Answer 76

joined, together Example - sympathetic (displaying compassion for another's grief; literally. "joined in disease")

Question 77

syn

Answer 77

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

Question 78

tachy-

Answer 78

rapid Example - tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

Question 79

trans-

Answer 79

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

Question 80

tri-

Answer 80

three Example - triceps ("a muscle" having three heads)

Question 81

ultra-

Answer 81

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

Question 82

uni-

Answer 82

one Example - uninuclear ("a cell" having one nucleus

Question 83

xanth/o

Answer 83

yellow Example - xanthoderma (any yellow coloration of the skin)

Question 84

-ambi

Answer 84

Both, both sides