PREFIXES Flashcards
a-
without, not
e.g anaesthesia = loss of sensation
ab-
away from
e.g abnormal = not normal
ad-
to
e.g adhesion = joining of parts to each other
ante-
before
e.g antenatal = before birth
bi-
two, both
e.g bilateral = both sides
co-, con-
together, with
e.g congenital = born with
anti-
against
e.g antipyretic = fever reducing
contra-
against, opposite
e.g contraction = shortening, pulling together
dys-
bad, improper
e.g dypshagia = difficulty in swallowing
ec-
out of
e.g ectropion = turning outward
ect-
outside
e.g ectopic pregnancy = gestation outside of uterine cavity
em-, en-
in, on
e.g empyema =pus in a body cavity
end-
within
e.g endoscope = instrument for examining interior of body cavity
epi-
upon, after, skin in addition
e.g epidermis = outer layer of skin
ex-
out of
e.g exophthalmos = abnormal protrusion of the eyeball
hemi-
half
e.g hemiplegia = paralysis of one side of the body
hypo-
beneath, below
e.g hypoglycaemia = abnormally low concentration of blood glucose
par-, para-
beside, beyond
e.g paramastoid = near the mastoid process
peri-
around, about
e.g pericardium = two membranous sacs which surround the heart
pre-, pro-
before, in front of
e.g precancerous…prognosis = before the development of carcinoma… prediction of end of a disease
retro-
backwards
e.g retroflexion = bending or flexing backwards
semi-
half
e.g semicoma = mild degree of coma
sub-
under, beneath, below
e.g subclavicular = beneath the clavicle
super-, supra-
above, beyond, superior
e.g suprarenal = above the kidney
