Medical Prefix

Question 1

What does the prefix ‘A/an’ mean?

Answer 1

Lack of, without, not

Example: Anoxia - an absence of oxygen

Question 2

What does the prefix ‘Ab’ indicate?

Answer 2

From, away from, off

Example: Absorb - to take in liquid or chemical

Question 3

What does the prefix ‘Ad’ mean?

Answer 3

Toward, in the direction of

Example: Adrenal - relating to the ductless glands near the kidneys

Question 4

What does the prefix ‘Ante’ signify?

Answer 4

Before, in front of, prior to

Example: Antenatal - before birth

Question 5

What is the meaning of the prefix ‘Anti’?

Answer 5

Against, opposite, counteracting

Example: Antibacterial - counteracting bacteria

Question 6

What does the prefix ‘Bi’ denote?

Answer 6

Two, twice, double

Example: Bicep - a large muscle that turns the palm upward

Question 7

What does the prefix ‘Co’ mean?

Answer 7

With, together, jointly

Example: Co-occurring - occurring together simultaneously

Question 8

What does the prefix ‘Com’ signify?

Answer 8

With, together

Example: Communicable - a disease that can be transmitted to another; infectious

Question 9

What does the prefix ‘Contra’ indicate?

Answer 9

Against

Example: Contraindicated - a condition suggesting a particular treatment should not be used

Question 10

What does the prefix ‘De’ mean?

Answer 10

From, away from, down

Example: Dehydrated - having lost water from the body

Question 11

What does the prefix ‘Di’ signify?

Answer 11

Two

Example: Diurnal - occurring during the day

Question 12

What does the prefix ‘Dis’ denote?

Answer 12

Separation, taking apart

Example: Dislocated - disturbance of a bone in a joint

Question 13

What does the prefix ‘Dys’ mean?

Answer 13

Abnormal, bad, defective, difficult

Example: Dysplasia - presence of abnormal cells within a tissue

Question 14

What does the prefix ‘Ec’ indicate?

Answer 14

Out, away

Example: Eczema - a group of conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated

Question 15

What does the prefix ‘Ect(o)’ signify?

Answer 15

Outer, outside

Example: Ectopic kidney - a birth defect where the kidney appears in an abnormal location

Question 16

What does the prefix ‘Endo’ mean?

Answer 16

Inside, within

Example: Endoscope - an instrument for viewing the interior of a hollow organ

Question 17

What does the prefix ‘Ex’ denote?

Answer 17

Outside of, external

Example: Excise - to remove

Question 18

What does the prefix ‘Extra’ mean?

Answer 18

Without, outside, beyond

Example: Extrauterine - situated outside the uterus during pregnancy

Question 19

What does the prefix ‘Home(o)’ signify?

Answer 19

Similar

Example: Homeostasis - a state where the body maintains a stable internal environment

Question 20

What does the prefix ‘Hyper’ mean?

Answer 20

Extreme or beyond normal

Example: Hyperextend - to extend a joint beyond its normal range of motion

Question 21

What does the prefix ‘Hypo’ denote?

Answer 21

Below normal

Example: Hypodermic - pertaining to parts beneath the skin

Question 22

What does the prefix ‘Idio’ indicate?

Answer 22

One’s own, self

Example: Idiopathic - the cause of a process is unknown

Question 23

What does the prefix ‘Inter’ mean?

Answer 23

Between, among

Example: Intermuscular - located between muscles

Question 24

What does the prefix ‘Intra’ signify?

Answer 24

Within

Example: Intravenous - medication administered within the vein

Question 25

What does the prefix 'Macro' mean?

Answer 25

Long, large ## Footnote Example: Macroangiopathy - disease of large blood vessels

Question 26

What does the prefix 'Micro' denote?

Answer 26

Millionth, denoting something small, relating to smallness ## Footnote Example: Microdose - technique of behavior change using very small doses

Question 27

What does the prefix 'Mal' mean?

Answer 27

Bad, badly ## Footnote Example: Malabsorb - poor absorption of nutrients

Question 28

What does the prefix 'Mega' signify?

Answer 28

Great, or big ## Footnote Example: Megalocephaly - a condition where a child has an abnormally large head due to malfunction

Question 29

What does the prefix 'Milli' mean?

Answer 29

Thousandth ## Footnote Example: Milligram - a unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a gram

Question 30

What does the prefix 'Mono' denote?

Answer 30

Single ## Footnote Example: Mononucleosis - an acute infection associated with a virus

Question 31

What does the prefix 'Narc' mean?

Answer 31

Numb, sleep ## Footnote Example: Narcotic - a substance that can induce sleep or numbness

Question 32

What does the prefix 'Necro' signify?

Answer 32

Death ## Footnote Example: Necrosis - the death of cells or tissues

Question 33

What does the prefix 'Neo' mean?

Answer 33

New ## Footnote Example: Neonatal - pertaining to the first four weeks after birth

Question 34

What does the prefix 'Oxy' denote?

Answer 34

Sharp, acid, acute, oxygen ## Footnote Example: Oxycodone - a medication used for severe pain

Question 35

What does the prefix 'Papul(o)' mean?

Answer 35

Small elevation or swelling in the skin, a pimple, swelling ## Footnote Example: Papule - a raised area on the skin that is less than 1 cm in diameter

Question 36

What does the prefix 'Path(o)' signify?

Answer 36

Disease ## Footnote Example: Pathogen - a microorganism that can cause disease

Question 37

What does the prefix 'Per' mean?

Answer 37

Through ## Footnote Example: Percutaneous - through the skin

Question 38

What does the prefix 'Peri' denote?

Answer 38

Surrounding, or around something ## Footnote Example: Pericarditis - inflammation of the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart

Question 39

What does the prefix 'Pharmac' mean?

Answer 39

Drug or medication ## Footnote Example: Pharmacologist - a specialist in medications

Question 40

What does the prefix 'Poly' signify?

Answer 40

Denotes many, plurality ## Footnote Example: Polypharmacy - the use of multiple medications by a patient

Question 41

What does the prefix 'Post' mean?

Answer 41

After or behind ## Footnote Example: Postpartum - the period after childbirth

Question 42

What does the prefix 'Pre' denote?

Answer 42

Before in time or physical position ## Footnote Example: Precancerous - a condition that may become cancerous

Question 43

What does the prefix 'Prim' mean?

Answer 43

First, or most important ## Footnote Example: Primary - the first or most significant

Question 44

What does the prefix 'Pro' signify?

Answer 44

Before in position or time ## Footnote Example: Pronation - rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces backward

Question 45

What does the prefix 'Retro' mean?

Answer 45

Back, behind ## Footnote Example: Retroactive - looking back on what has happened

Question 46

What does the prefix 'Semi' denote?

Answer 46

One-half, partly ## Footnote Example: Semiconscious - in a state of partial consciousness

Question 47

What does the prefix 'Trans' mean?

Answer 47

Moving or situated across or through ## Footnote Example: Transcranial - passing across the skull

Question 48

What does the prefix 'Ultra' signify?

Answer 48

Beyond, excessive ## Footnote Example: Ultrasound - imaging produced by sound frequencies within the body