Word Prefixes Flashcards
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Prim/i-
Definition: First
Example: Primary (PRI-mar-e)
Def of Example: First
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Mon/o-
Definition: One
Example: Monocular (mon-OK-u-lar)
Def of Example: Having one eyepiece or affecting one eye.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Uni-
Definition: One
Example: Unite (u-NITE)
Def of Example: Form into one part.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Hemi-
Definition: Half, One Side
Example: Hemisphere (HEM-ih-sfere)
Def of Example: One half of a rounded structure.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Semi-
Definition: Half, Partial
Example: Semipermeable (sem-e-PER-me-ah-bl)
Def of Example: Partially permeable.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Bi-
Definition: Two, Twice
Example: Binary (BI-nar-e)
Def of Example: Made up of two parts.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Di-
Definition: Two, Twice
Example: Diatomic (di-ah-TOM-ik)
Def of Example: Having two atoms
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Dipl/o
Definition: Double
Example: Diplococci (dip-lo-KOK-si)
Def of Example: Round bacteria (cocci) that grow in groups of two.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Tri-
Definition: Three
Example: Tricuspic (tri-KUS-pid)
Def of Example: Having three cups or points.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Quadr/i
Definition: Four
Example: Quadruplet (kwah-DRUPE-let)
Def of Example: One of four babies born together.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Tetra-
Definition: Four
Example: Tetralogy (tet-RAL-o-je)
Def of Example: A group of four.
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Multi-
Definition: Many
Example: Multicellular (mul-ti-SEL-u-lar)
Def of Example: Consisting of many cells
Prefixes for Numbers
Define: Poly-
Definition: Many, Much
Example: Polymorphous (pol-e-MOR-fus)
Def of Example: Having many forms (morph/o)
Prefixes for Colors
Define: Cyan/o-
Definition: Blue
Example: Cyanosis (si-ah-NO-sis)
Def of Example: Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen.
Prefixes for Colors
Define: Erythr/o-
Definition: Red
Example: Erythrocyte (eh-RITH-ro-site)
Def of Example: Red blood cells (-cyte)
Prefixes for Colors
Define: Leuk/o-
Definition: White, Colorless
Example: Leukemia (lu-KE-me-ah)
Def of Example: Cancer of white blood cells
Prefixes for Colors
Define: Melan/o-
Definition: Black, Dark
Example: Melanin (MEL-ah-nin)
Def of Example: The dark pigment that colors the hair and skin
Prefixes for Colors
Define: Xanth/o-
Definition: Yellow
Example: Xanthoma (zan-THO-mah)
Def of Example: Yellow growth (-oma) on the skin.
Negative Prefixes
Define: A-, An-
Definition: Not, Without, Lack of, Absence
Example: Anhydrous (an-HI-drus)
Def of Example: Lacking water (hydr/o)
Negative Prefixes
Define: Anti-
Definition: Against
Example: Antiseptic (an-tih-SEP-tik)
Def of Example: Agent used to prevent infection (sepsis)
Negative Prefixes
Define: Contra-
Definition: Against, Opposite, Opposed
Example: Contraindicated (kon-trah-IN-dih-ka-ted)
Def of Example: Against recommendations, not advisable
Negative Prefixes
Define: De-
Definition: Down, Without, Removal, Loss
Example: Decalcify (de-KAL-sih-fi)
Def of Example: Remove calcium (calc/i) from
Negative Prefixes
Define: Dis-
Definition: Absence, Removal, Separation
Example: Dissect (di-SEKT)
Def of Example: To separate tissues for anatomic study
Negative Prefixes
Define: In, Im- (used before b, m, p)
Definition: Not
Example: Incontinent (in-KON-tih-nent)
Def of Example: Not able to contain or control discharge or excretions
Negative Prefixes
Define: Non-
Definition: Not
Example: Noncontributory (non-kon-TRIB-u-tor-e)
Def of Example: Not significant, not adding information to a medical diagnosis
Negative Prefixes
Define: Un-
Definition: Not
Example: Uncoordinated (un-ko-OR-dih-na-ted)
Def of Example: Not coordinated, not working together
Prefixes for Direction:
Define: Ab-
Definition: Away from
Example: Abduct (ab-DUKT)
Def of Example: To move away from the midline
Prefixes for Direction:
Define: Ad-
Definition: Toward, Near
Example: Adduct (ad-DUKT)
Def of Example: To move toward the midline
Prefixes for Direction:
Define: Dia-
Definition: Through
Example: Diarrhea (di-ah-RE-ah)
Def of Example: Frequent discharge of fluid fecal matter
Prefixes for Direction:
Define: Per-
Definition: Through
Example: Percutaneous (per-ku-TA-ne-us)
Def of Example: Through the skin
Prefixes for Direction:
Define: Trans-
Definition: Through
Example: Transected (tran-SEKT-ed)
Def of Example: Cut (sectioned) through or across
Prefixes for Degree:
Define: Hyper-
Definition: Over, Excess, Abnormally high, Increased
Example: Hyperthermia (hi-per-THER-me-ah)
Def of Example: High body temperature
Prefixes for Degree:
Define: Hypo-
Definition: Under, Below, Abnormally low, Decreased
Example: Hyposecretion (hi-po-se-KRE-shun)
Def of Example: Underproduction of a substance
Prefixes for Degree:
Define: Olig/o-
Definition: Few, Scanty
Example: Oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPER-me-ah)
Def of Example: Abnormally low number of sperm cells in semen
Prefixes for Degree:
Define: Pan-
Definition: All
Example: Pandemic (pan-DEM-ik)
Def of Example: Disease affecting an entire population
Prefixes for Degree:
Define: Super-
Definition: Above, Excess
Example: Supernumerary (su-per-NU-mer-ar-e)
Def of Example: In excess number
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Equi-
Definition: Equal, Same
Example: Equilibrium (e-kwih-LIB-re-um)
Def of Example: A state of balance, state in which conditions remain the same
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: eu-
Definition: True, Good, Easy, Normal
Example: Euthanasia
Def of Example: Easy or painless death (thanat/o)
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: hetero-
Definition: Other, Different, Unequal
Example: Heterogeneous (het-er-o-JE-ne-us)
Def of Example: Composed of different materials, not uniform
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Homo-, Homeo-
Definition: Same, Unchanging
Example: Homograft (HO-mo-graft)
Def of Example: Tissue transplanted to another of the same species
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Iso-
Definition: Equal, Same
Example: Isocellular (i-so-CEL-u-lar)
Def of Example: Composed of similar cells
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Macro-
Definition: Large, Abnormally large
Example: Macroscopic (mak-ro-SCOP-ik)
Def of Example: Large enough to be seen without a microscope
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Mega-, Megal/o
Definition: Large, Abnormally Large
Example: Megacolon (meg-ah-KO-lon)
Def of Example: Enlargement of the colon
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Micro-
Definition: Small
Example: Microcyte (MI-kro-site)
Def of Example: Very small cell (-cyte)
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Neo-
Definition: New
Example: Neonate (NE-0-nate)
Def of Example: A newborn infant
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Normo-
Definition: Normal
Example: Normovolemia (nor-mo-vol-E-me-ah)
Def of Example: Normal blood volume
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Ortho-
Definition: Straight, Correct, Upright
Example: Orthodontics (or-tho-DON-tiks)
Def of Example: Branch of dentistry concerned with correction and straightening of the teeth (odont/o)
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Poikilo-
Definition: Varied, Irregular
Example: Poikilothermic (poy-kih-lo-THER-mik)
Def of Example: Having variable body temperature (therm/o)
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Pseudo-
Definition: False
Example: Pseudoplegia (su-do-PLE-ji-ah)
Def of Example: False paralysis (-plegia)
Prefixes for Size & Comparison:
Define: Re-
Definition: Again, Back
Example: Reflux (RE-flux)
Def of Example: Backward flow
Prefixes for Time and/or Position:
Define: Ante-
Definition: Before
Example: Antenatal (an-te-na-tal)
Def of Example: Before birth (nat/i)
Prefixes for Time and/or Position:
Define: Pre-
Definition: Before, In font of
Example: Premature (pre-mah-CHUR)
Def of Example: Occurring before the proper time
Prefixes for Time and/or Position:
Define: Pro-
Definition: Before, In front of
Example: Prodrome (PRO-drome)
Def of Example: Symptom that precedes a disease
Prefixes for Time and/or Position:
Define: Post-
Definition: After, Behind
Example: Postnasal (post-NA-sal)
Def of Example: Behind the nose (nas/o)
Prefixes for Position:
Define: Dextr/o-
Definition: Right
Example: Dextrogastria (deks-tro-GAS-tre-ah)
Def of Example: Displacement of the stomach (gastr/o) to the right
Prefixes for Position:
Define: Sinistr/o-
Definition: Left
Example: Sinistromanual (sin-is-tro-MAN-u-al)
Def of Example: Left-handed
Prefixes for Position:
Define: Ec, Ecto-
Definition: Out, Outside
Example: Ectopic (ek-TOP-ik)
Def of Example: Out of normal position
Prefixes for Position:
Define: Ex/o-
Definition: Away from, Outside
Example: Excise (ek-SIZE)
Def of Example: To cut out
Prefixes for Position:
Define: end/o-
Definition: In, Within
Example: Endoderm (EN-do-derm)
Def of Example: Inner layer of a developing embryo
Prefixes for Position:
Define: mes/o-
Definition: Middle
Example: Mesencephalon (mes-en-CEF-ah-lon)
Def of Example: Middle portion of the brain (encephalon), Midbrain
Prefixes for Position:
Define: syn-, sym- (used before b, m, p)
Definition: Together
Example: Synapse (SIN-aps)
Def of Example: A junction between two nerve cells
Prefixes for Position:
Define: Tel/e-, Tel/o-
Definition: End, Far, At a distance
Example: Teletherapy (tel-eh-THER-ah-pe)
Def of Example: Radiation therapy delivered at a distance from the body
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Circum-
Definition: Around
Example: Circumoral
Def of Example: Around the mouth
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Peri-
Definition: Around
Example: Periorbital
Def of Example: Around the orbit (eye socket)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Intra-
Definition: In, Within
Example: Intravascular
Def of Example: Within a vessel (vascul/o)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Epi-
Definition: On, Over
Example: Epithelial
Def of Example: Referring to the epithelium, tissue that covers surfaces.
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Extra-
Definition: Outside
Example: Extrathoracic
Def of Example: Outside the thorax
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Infra-
Definition: Below
Example: Infrascapular
Def of Example: Below the scapula (shoulder blade)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: sub-
Definition: Below, Under
Example: Sublingual
Def of Example: Under the tongue (lingu/o)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Inter-
Definition: Between
Example: Intercostal
Def of Example: Between the ribs (cost/o)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Justa-
Definition: Near, Beside
Example: Juxtaposition
Def of Example: A location near or beside another structure
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Para-
Definition: Near, Beside
Example: Parasagittal
Def of Example: Near or beside a sagittal plane
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Retro
Definition: Behind, Backward
Example: Retrouterine
Def of Example: Behind the uterus
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define: Supra-
Definition: Above
Example: Suprapatellar
Def of Example: Above the patella (kneecap)
Prefixes for Position & Direction:
Define:
Definition:
Example:
Def of Example:
