Commonly Used Prefixes of Position, Number and Measurement, and Direction Flashcards
endo- (prefixes of position)
in, within. Ex. Endocrine: secrete within. Endocrine describes a gland that secretes directly into the bloodstream.
intra- (prefixes of position)
in, within. Ex. Intramuscular: within the muscle.
epi- (prefixes of position)
above, upon. Ex. Epidermis: upon the skin. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin.
hypo- (prefixes of position)
under, below; deficient. Ex. Hypodermic: pertaining to under the skin. Hypodermic needles are used for subcutaneous injections and to take fluid samples from the body, for example, taking blood from a vein in venipuncture.
infra- (prefixes of position)
under, below. Ex. Infracostal: below the ribs.
sub- (prefixes of position)
under, below. Ex. Subcutaneous: pertaining to under the skin. The subcutaneous tissue is the lowest layer of skin. It binds the dermis to underlying structures.
inter- (prefixes of position)
between. Ex. Intercostal: between the ribs.
retro- (prefixes of position)
backward, behind. Ex. Retroversion: turning backward. Retroversion refers to tipping backward of an organ (such as the uterus) from its normal position.
bi- (prefixes of number and measurement)
two. Ex. Bilateral: pertaining to two sides.
dipl- (prefixes of number and measurement)
double. Ex. Diplopia: double vision.
diplo- (prefixes of number and measurement)
double. Ex. Diplobacteria: bacteria linked together in pairs.
hemi- (prefixes of number and measurement)
one-half. Ex. Hemiplegia: Paralysis on one-half. Hemiplegia is a paralysis of one-half of the body, either the right side or the left side.
hyper- (prefixes of number and measurement)
excessive, above normal. Ex. Hypercalcemia: excessive calcium in the blood.
macro- (prefixes of number and measurement)
large. Ex. Macrocyte: large cell.
micro- (prefixes of number and measurement)
small. Ex. Microscope: instrument for examining small (objects).
mono- (prefixes of number and measurement)
one. Ex. Monotherapy: one treatment. An example of monotherapy is a treatment using only a single drug or a single treatment modality.
uni- (prefixes of number and measurement)
one. Ex. Uninuclear: pertaining to one nucleus.
multi- (prefixes of number and measurement)
many, much. Ex. Multigravida: woman who has been pregnant more than once.
poly- (prefixes of number and measurement)
many, much. Ex. Polyphobia: fear of many things.
quadri- (prefixes of number and measurement)
four. Ex. Quadriplegia: paralysis of four. Quadriplegia is a paralysis of all four extremities, usually caused by an injury to or disease of the cervical spinal cord.
tri- (prefixes of number and measurement)
three. Ex. Triceps: three heads. Triceps describe a muscle having three heads or points of origin.
ab- (prefixes of direction)
from, away from. Ex. Abduction: movement of limb away from (the body). Abduction is a body movement away from the midline or axis of the body.
ad- (prefixes of direction)
toward. Ex. Adduction: movement of limb toward (the body). Abduction is a body movement toward the midline or axis of the body.
circum- (prefixes of direction)
around. Ex. Circumrenal: pertaining to around the kidney.
peri- (prefixes of direction)
around. Ex. Periodontal: pertaining to around a tooth.
dia- (prefixes of direction)
through, across. Ex. Diarrhea: flow through. Diarrhea is a condition of abnormally frequent discharge or flow of fluid fecal matter through the bowel.
trans- (prefixes of direction)
through, across. Ex. Transvaginal: pertaining to across or through the vagina.
ecto- (prefixes of direction)
outside, outward. Ex. Ectogenous: forming outside (the body or structure). An ectogenous infection is one that originates outside of the body.
exo- (prefixes of direction)
outside, outward. Ex. Exotropia: turning outward. Exotropia refers to the turning outward of the eyes.
extra- (prefixes of direction)
outside, outward. Ex. Extracranial: pertaining to the outside of the skull.
para-* (prefixes of direction)
near, beside; beyond. Ex. Paranasal: beside the nose. *Para- may also be used as a suffix meaning to bear (offspring).
super- (prefixes of direction)
upper, above. Ex. Superior: pertaining to above or the upper part of a structure.
supra- (prefixes of direction)
above; excessive; superior. Ex. Suprarenal: pertaining to above the kidney.
ultra- (prefixes of direction)
excess, beyond. Ex. Ultrasonic: pertaining to sound beyond (that which can be heard by the human ear).
a-* (other common prefixes)
without, not. Ex. Amastia: without a breast. Amastia may be a result of a congenital defect, an endocrine disorder, or mastectomy. *The prefix a- is usually used before a consonant.
an-* (other common prefixes)
without, not. Ex. Anesthesia: without feeling. Anesthesia may be partial or complete loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness. *The prefix an- is usually used before a vowel.
anti- (other common prefixes)
against. Ex. Antibacterial: against bacteria. Antibacterials are substances that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth of replication.
contra- (other common prefixes)
against. Ex. Contraception: against conceiving.
auto- (other common prefixes)
self, own. Ex. Autograft: transplantation to self. An autograft is tissue transplanted from one site and grafted to another site of the same person.
brady- (other common prefixes)
slow. Ex. Bradycardia: slow heart rate.
dys- (other common prefixes)
bad; painful; difficult. Ex. Dystocia: difficult childbirth.
eu- (other common prefixes)
good, normal. Ex. Eupnea: normal breathing.
hetero- (other common prefixes)
different. Ex. Heterograft: different transplantation; also called xenograft. A heterograft is a transplant from one species to another.
homo- (other common prefixes)
same. Ex. Homograft: same transplantation. A homograft, also called an allograft, is a graft of tissue or an organ taken from a donor of the same species as the recipient, such as the kidneys, lungs and heart.
homeo- (other common prefixes)
same. Ex. Homeoplasia: formation or growth of same (or similar tissue).
tachy- (other common prefixes)
rapid. Ex. Tachypnea: rapid breathing.
