Prefixes (Pt. 1)

Question 1

Prefixes

Answer 1

A prefix at the beginning of a medical term adds specific information to the term. A good example uses the suffix meaning development, -trophy.

• hyper- + -trophy = hypertrophy meaning excessive development.
• dys- + -trophy = dystrophy meaning abnormal development.
• a- + -trophy atrophy meaning lack of development.

Question 2

What are the categories can prefixes fit into?

Answer 2

• Prefixes indicating diseases or abnormal conditions
• Prefixes indicating directions or body positions
• Prefixes indicating numbers or quantity measurements
• Prefixes indicating time
• General Prefixex

Question 3

True/False: There is only one definition per prefix

Answer 3

False: a few prefixes have multiple translations. Hypo- can be translated to below or insufficient.

Question 4

a-

Answer 4

without

aphasia = without speech

Question 5

an-

Answer 5

without

anoxia = without oxygen

Question 6

anti-

Answer 6

against

antibiotic = against life

Question 7

brady-

Answer 7

slow

bradycardia = slow heartbeat

Question 8

de-

Answer 8

without

dehydration = without water

Question 9

dys-

Answer 9

painful, difficult, abnormal

dyspnea = painful breathing

Question 10

What is the origin of the prefix dys-?

Answer 10

The prefix dys- comes from the Greek word dus, which has general negative meaning. It can be translated several ways such as “bad, difficult, abnormal, incorrect” and “painful.”

Question 11

pachy-

Answer 11

thick

pachyderma = thick skin

Question 12

tachy-

Answer 12

fast

tachycardia = fast heartbeat

Question 13

ante-

Answer 13

before, in front of

anteorbital = in front of eye socket

Question 14

endo-

Answer 14

within, inner

endoscope = instrument for viewing within

Question 15

epi-

Answer 15

above

epigastic = above stomach

Question 16

ex-

Answer 16

outward

exopthalmos = eyes [bulging] outward

Question 17

extra-

Answer 17

outside of

extraocular = outside of eye

Question 18

hypo-

Answer 18

below

hypograstric = below stomach

Question 19

infra-

Answer 19

below

infraorbital = below eye socket

Question 20

inter-

Answer 20

between

intervertebral = between vertebrae

Question 21

intra-

Answer 21

within

intravenous = inside vein

Question 22

Why are intra- and inter- commonly confused?

Answer 22

Both come from latin words, intra meaning “within” and inter meaning “between.”

Question 23

para-

Answer 23

beside; two like parts of a pair

• paranasal = beside of nose
• paraplegia = paralysis of two like parts of a pair [the legs]

Question 24

peri-

Answer 24

around

periodontal = around tooth

Question 25

retro-

Answer 25

behind

retroperitoneal = behind the peritoneum

Question 26

sub-

Answer 26

beneath, under

subcutaneous = under skin

Question 27

supra-

Answer 27

above

suprapubic = above pubic bone

Question 28

trans-

Answer 28

across

transurethral = across urethra

Question 29

ante- (time)

Answer 29

before

antepartum = before birth

Question 30

neo-

Answer 30

new

neonate = newborn

Question 31

post-

Answer 31

after

postpartum = after birth

Question 32

pre-

Answer 32

before

prementstrual = before menstruation