Common Prefixes In Medical Terminology

Question 1

Prefix

Answer 1

Use at the beginning of a word to indicate location, frequency or number.

Question 2

a-

Answer 2

means without, or away from

ex: aphasia (without speech)

Question 3

an-

Answer 3

means without

ex: anoxia (without oxygen)

Question 4

ante-

Answer 4

means before, or in-front of

ex: antepartum (before birth)

Question 5

anti-

Answer 5

means against

Ex: antibiotic (against life)

Question 6

auto-

Answer 6

means self

Ex: autograft (a graft from one’s own body)

Question 7

brady-

Answer 7

Means slow

Ex: bradycardia (slow heartbeat)

Question 8

dys-

Answer 8

means painful or difficult

Ex: dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

Question 9

endo-

Answer 9

means within or inner

Ex: endoscope (instrument to view within)

Question 10

epi-

Answer 10

Means upon or over

Ex: epigastric (upon or over the stomach)

Question 11

eu-

Answer 11

Means normal or good

Ex: eupnea (normal breathing)

Question 12

Hetero-

Answer 12

Means different

Ex: heterograft (a graft from someone else’s body)

Question 13

Homo-

Answer 13

Means same

Ex: homozygous (having two identical genes)

Question 14

hyper-

Answer 14

Means over or above

Ex: hypertrophy (over development)

Question 15

Hypo-

Answer 15

Means under or below

Ex: hypoglossal (under the tongue)

Question 16

Infra

Answer 16

Means under, beneath, or below

Ex: infraorbital (below, or under the eye socket)

Question 17

Inter-

Answer 17

Means among or between

Ex: intervertebral (between the vertebrae)

Question 18

Intra-

Answer 18

Means within or inside

Ex: intravenous (inside or within a vein)

Question 19

Macro-

Answer 19

Means large

Ex: microcephalic (having a large head)

Question 20

Micro-

Answer 20

Means small

Ex: microcephalic (having a small head)

Question 21

Neo-

Answer 21

Means new

Ex: neonate (newborn)

Question 22

Pan-

Answer 22

Means all

Ex: pancarditis (inflammation of all the heart)

Question 23

Para-

Answer 23

Means beside, beyond, or near

Ex: paranasal (near or alongside the nose)

Question 24

Per-

Answer 24

Means through

Ex: percutaneous (through the skin)

Question 25

Peri-

Answer 25

Means around

Ex: pericardial (around the heart)

Question 26

Post-

Answer 26

Means after

Ex: postpartum (after birth)

Question 27

Pre-

Answer 27

Means before or in-front of

Ex: prefrontal (in front of the frontal bone)

Question 28

Pseudo-

Answer 28

Means false

Ex: pseudocyesis (false pregnancy)

Question 29

Retero-

Answer 29

Means backward or behind

Ex: retrograde (movement in a backward direction)

Question 30

Sub-

Answer 30

Means below or under

Ex: subcutaneous (under or below the skin)

Question 31

Super-

Answer 31

Means above or excess

Ex: supernumerary (above the normal skin)

Question 32

Supra-

Answer 32

Means above

Ex: suprapubic (above the pubic bone)

Question 33

Tachy-

Answer 33

Means rapid or fast

Ex: tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

Question 34

Trans-

Answer 34

Means through or across

Ex: transurethral (across the urethra)

Question 35

Ultra-

Answer 35

Means beyond or excess

Ex: ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves)