Word Root: Chapter 3 Flashcards
Prefix
Word element placed at the beginning of the word
- indicates size, quantity, position of, and location
- changes the meaning of the word or word root
- not contained in all medical terms
Prefixes of position
describes a place or location
ex: epi, inter, pre, post, sub
epi
above, upon
ex: epidermis- upon the skin
derm- skin
-is- noun ending
inter
between
ex: intercostal- pertaining to between the ribs
cost- ribs
al- pertaining to
pre
before
ex: preterm- before term labor
post
after
ex: postterm- after term labor
sub, infra
under, below
ex: subcutaneous- pertaining to under the skin
cutane- skin
-ous- pertaining to
submarine is under water
Prefixes of number and measurement
describe an amount, size, or degree of involvement
ex: poly, macro, micro, quadri, tri
poly
multi, much
ex: polyphobia- fear of many things
phobia- fear
macro
large
ex: macrocyte- large cell
micro
small
ex: microscope- instrument for examining small objects
scope- instrument for examining
quadri
four
ex: quadriplegia
plegia- paralysis
tri
three
ex: triceps- a muscle with three heads or three parts of origin
ceps- head
bi
two
primi
first
hemi, semi
one-half
nulli
none
di-, dipl-, diplo-
double
mono-, uni-
one
multi-, poly-
many, much
super-
upper, above
ab-
from, away from
ex: abduction
ad-
toward
ex: adduction (adding to it)
supra-
above; excessive; superior
circum-, peri-
around
dia-, trans-
through, across
endo-, intra-
in, within
ecto-, exo-, extra-
outside, outward
brady-
slow
tachy-
rapid
hetero-
different
pseudo-
false
dys-
bad; painful; difficult
eu-
good; normal
mal-
bad
syn-
union, together, joined
a-, an-
without, not
anti-, contra-
against
homo-, homeo-
same
