commonly used prefixes Flashcards
a-, an-, in-
without, negative
example: amenorrhea - without monthly flow
ab-
from, away from
example: abnormal - away from normal
ad-, ac-, as-, at-
to, toward
example: adduct - carry toward
allo-
other
example: allograft - grafted tissue donated from one person to another
amphi-
both sides, surrounding
example: amphiarthrosis - union between two bones at a joint
aniso-
unequal
example: anisocytosis - abnormal condition of two unequal cells
ante-, pre-
before
example: anterior - front
prenatal - before birth
anti-, ant-, ob-
against
example: antipyretic - agent used against fever
bi-
two
example: bilateral - two sides
bio-
life
example: biology - study of life
brachy-
short
example: brachydactylism - short toes and fingers
brady-
slow
example: bradycardia - slow heart rate
cata-
down
example: catabolism - breakdown of nutrients
cent-
hundred
example: centimeter
chlor-
green
example: chloropsia - green vision
circum-
around
example: circumcision - to cut around
co-, com-, con-
with, together
example: congenital - born together with
contra-
against
example: contraindicated: against indications
cyano-
blue
example: cyanosis - blue colored skin
de-
away from
example: dehydrate - loss of water
dextr-
right
example: dextrocardia - heart displaced to right
dia-
through
example: diarrhoea - flow through
diplo-
double, twofold
example: diplopia - double vision
dis-
apart
example: dissect - to cut apart
dys-
bad, difficult
example: dyspnea - difficult breathing
e, ex-
out, out from
example: excise - to cut out
ect-, exo-, extra-
outside
example: extracorporeal - outside the body
en-
in, on
example: encapsulated - in a capsule
end-
within
example : endoscopy - visualisation within
epi-
upon
example: epidermis - upon skin
eu-
good
example: euhonic - good sound
