prefixes and suffixes Flashcards
a-
lacking, without
e.g. anemia (without blood)
ab-
away from
e.g. abduct (drawn away from the median plane)
ad-, ac-
toward
e.g. adduct (drawn towards the median plane)
-al
of the, pertaining to
e.g. anatomical (pertaining to anatomy)
ante-
before
e.g. antebrachium (forearm)
anti-
against, opposite
e.g. antibiotic (against the living)
apo-
separation or deviation from
e.g. apophysis (a growth away or process)
bi-
double, twice
e.g. bicuspid (having two cusps)
cata-
down, negative
e.g. catabolism (destructive metabolism)
-cle, -cula
diminutive
e.g. tubercle (small nodule)
con-, com-
with, together
e.g. conjugate (linked together)
contra-
against, opposite
e.g. contralateral (opposite side)
dys-
bad, improper
e.g. dystrophy (abnormal growth)
e-, ex-
away from, out of
e.g. efferent (carry away from)
ecto-
outside
e.g. ectoderm (outer germ layer)
endo-
inside
e.g. endocardium (inner layer of heart)
epi-
upon
e.g. epicondyle (upon the condyle)
-ferent
carrying
e.g. afferent (carrying towards)
-form
in the form of
e.g. cuneiform (wedge-shaped)
hyper-
above, beyond
e.g. hyperextension (extension beyond normal)
hypo-
under, below
e.g. hypopharynx (below the pharynx)
in-
in, on
e.g. incision (cutting in)
in-
negative, not
e.g. involuntary (without will)
infra-
beneath
e.g. infraorbital (below the orbit)
inter-
between
e.g. intervertebral (between the vertebrae)
intra-
within
e.g. intravenous (inside the vein)
ipsi-
same, self
e.g. ipsilateral (same side)
-issimus
superlative form; the most
e.g. longissimus (the longest)
-itis
inflammation of
e.g. appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
mes-
middle
e.g. mesoderm (middle germ layer)
meta-
after, beyond
e.g. metacarpal (after the wrist)
neo-
new
e.g. neocortex (recently evolved cortex)
-oid,
resembling, shaped like
e.g. xiphoid (shaped like a sword)
-ole, -olus
diminutive
e.g. malleolus (little hammer)
-osis
process or state
e.g. diverticulosis (having diverticula)
para-
beside
e.g. parotid (next to the ear)
pod-
foot
e.g. arthropod (having joint feet)
post-
after
e.g. postnatal (after birth)
pre-
before
e.g. preaortic (in front of the aorta)
pro-
before
e.g. pronephron (before the final kidney)
retro-
backwards, behind
e.g. retrosternal (behind the sternum)
sub-
beneath
e.g. subclavian (beneath the clavicle)
super-
above
e.g. suprasternal (above the sternum)
trans-
across, through
e.g. transurethral (through the urethra)