Common Prefixes Flashcards
a-
without
aphasia (without speech)
an-
without
anoxia (without oxygen)
anti-
against
antibiotic (against life)
auto-
self
autograft (a graft from one’s own body)
brady-
slow
bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
de-
without
depigmentation (without pigment)
dys-
painful; difficult; abnormal
dysuria (painful urination)
dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
dystrophy (abnormal development)
endo-
within; inner
endoscope (instrument to view within)
endocardium (inner lining of heart)
epi-
above
epigastric (above the stomach)
eu-
normal
eupnea (normal breathing)
ex-
outward
exostosis (condition of outward, or projecting bone)
extra-
outside of
extracorporeal (outside of the body)
hetero-
different
heterograft (graft [like a skin graft] from another species)
homo-
same
homograft (graft [like a skin graft] from the same species)
hyper-
excessive
hypertrophy (excessive development)
hypo-
below; insufficient
hypodermic (below the skin)
hypoglycemia (insufficent blood sugar)
in-
not; inward
infertility (not fertile)
inhalation (to breathe in)
inter-
between
intervertebral (between the vertebrae)
intra-
within
intravenous (within a vein)
macro-
large
macrotia (having large ears)
micro-
small
microtia (having small ears)
neo-
new
neonatology (study of the newborn)
para-
beside; abnormal; two like parts of a pair
paranasal (beside the nose)
paresthesia (abnormal sensation)
paraplegia (paralysis of two like parts of a pair [the legs])
per-
through
percutaneous (through the skin)
peri-
around
pericardial (around the heart)
post-
after
postpartum (after birth)
pre-
before
preoperative (before a surgical operation)
pro-
before
prolactin (before milk)
pseudo-
false
pseudocyesis (false pregnancy)
re-
again
reinfection (to infect again)
retro-
backward; behind
retrograde (to move backward)
retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum)
sub-
under
subcutaneous (under the skin)
tachy-
fast
tachycardia (fast heartbeat)
trans-
across
transurethral (across the urethra)
ultra-
beyond
ultrasound (beyond sound [high-frequency sound waves])
un-
not
unconscious (not conscious)