prefix
to fix at the beginning of a word Ex. a- = without, absence of
ab-
away from
endo-
within
post-
to follow after
pre-
to come before
sub-
under, beneath, below
anti-
against or opposite of
Ex. anticonvulsive = drug used to stop convulsions
con-
with, together, or jointly
Ex. conjoined = joined together
contra-
counter or against
Ex. Contraception = against conception
meta-
after or change
Ex. metabolism = process by which foods are changed into energy for use by the body
ambi- (number or quantity)
both
Ex. ambidextrous = ability to use both hands equally
bi- (medical specialty)
two
Ex. bifocal = pertaining to two focal points
di- (medical specialty)
double
Ex. diplegia = paralysis of double (two) limbs
dipl- (medical specialty)
double
Ex. diplopia = a person with the condition perceives a single object as two images; double vision
hemi- (medical specialty)
half
Ex. hemiplegia = paralysis of half the body; one side
mono-
Uni- (medical specialty)
one
Ex. monoplegia = paralysis of one limb or muscle/muscle group
Ex. unipara = given birth to one child
multi- (medical specialty)
many, more than once, or numerous
Ex. multipolar neuron = nerve cell that includes branches, called dendrites, at one end of the cell
null/i- (medical specialty)
none
Ex. nullipara = condition of never having given birth or no births
Ex. nulligravida = never having been pregnant or no pregnancies
pan- (medical specialty)
all
Ex. pandemic = a disease occurring over a wide geographic area
Ex. pansinusitis = inflammation of all paranasal sinuses on one or both sides of the nose
poly- (medical specialty)
excessive, over, many
Ex. polyphagia = excessive eating
Ex. polydipsia = excessive thirst
Ex. polyuria = excessive excretion of urine
Ex. polyartheritis = inflammation of many medium and small arteries where they branch
primi- (medical specialty)
first
Ex. primipara = given birth for the first time
Ex. primigravida = pregnant for the first time
quadri-
tetra- (medical specialty)
four
Ex. quadriplegia/
tetraplegia =paralysis of four limbs
semi- (medical specialty)
half or partial
Ex. semiconscious = partially conscious
tri- (medical specialty)
three
Ex. tripara = a woman who has given birth three time
Ex. tricuspid valve = three cusps, which are membranous flaps that control blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle
ab- (location or time)
away from
Ex. abduction = away from the midline of the body
ad- (location or time)
toward
Ex. adduction =toward the midline of the body
ana- (location or time)
up, toward
Ex. anatomy = process of cutting up
pre-
ante- (location or time)
before/to come before
Ex. prenatal/antenatal = before birth
dia- (location or time)
through
Ex. dialysis = to loosen through; procedure that removes uric acid and urea from circulating blood
dis- (location or time)
apart away
Ex. dislocation = dislocated part is apart or away from its normal position in the body
Ec-
ecto- (location or time)
outside or out
Ex. ectopic pregnancy = pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants somewhere outside the uterus
endo- (location or time)
within
Ex. endogastric = within the stomach
ep-
epi- (location or time)
upon, over, above, or on top
Ex. epidermitis - outermost layer of skin over the dermis layer
eso- (location or time)
inward
Ex. esotropia = condition where the eye deviates inward
ex-
exo- (location or time)
outside or away from (outward)
Ex. exotropia = eye deviates away from its normal position
extra- (location or time)
outside
Ex. extracellular, extracorporeal, extrauterine = outside the cell, corporeal, and uterine
infer- (location or time)
below
Ex. inferior = position below another point of reference
inter- (location or time)
betweeen
Ex. Intervertebral = position between the vertebrae
intra- (location or time)
within
Ex. intravenous = pertaining to within a vein
Ex. intradermal = within the layers of the skin
para- (location or time)
alongside or abnormal
Ex. paracusis = indicates abnormal hearing or a disorder in hearing
peri- (location or time)
around
Ex. pericardium = membrane pericardium covers the area around the heart
post- (location or time)
to follow after
Ex. postpartum/postnatal= to follow after birth
hypo- (Specific Quality)
sub- (location or time)
deficient, abnormally, below
Ex. hypodermis/
subcutaneous = below the skin
Ex. hypothyroidism = condition or abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones in the body, causing high blood calcium, reduced energy, and weight gain
super-
supra- (location or time)
above
Ex. superior = position above another point of reference
sym-
syn- (location or time)
together or joined
Ex. syndrome = group of symptoms or signs that occur together
a-
an- (Specific Quality)
without, absence of
Ex. aphasia = without or absence of speaking
Ex. aseptic = sterile; pertaining to without living pathogenic organisms
Ex. anoxia = without oxygen
brady- (Specific Quality)
slow
Ex. bradykinesia = condition of slowing or decreasing movement
circum- (Specific Quality)
around
Ex. circumcision = cut around; surgery to remove the foreskin around the penis
dys- (Specific Quality)
bad. abnormal, painful, or difficult
Ex. dyslexia = learning disability involving impaired reading, spelling, and writing ability
eu- (Specific Quality)
normal or good
Ex. euthanasia/eupepsia = normal or good
heter-
hetero- (Specific Quality)
different
Ex. heterotropia = indicate the eyes are oriented in different directions
hyper- (Specific Quality)
excessive, abnormally high, or above
Ex. hyperacidity, hyperemesis, hyperkinesia, hyperthermia
Ex. hyperthyroidism = excessive levels of thyroid hormones in the body
macro- (Specific Quality)
large
Ex. macrocephaly = process of large head
mal- (Specific Quality)
bad
Ex. malabsorption = bad absorption
mega-
megalo- (Specific Quality)
large or great
Ex. megalocyte = large cell
micro- (Specific Quality)
small
Ex. microcephaly = process of small head
pseudo- (Specific Quality)
false
Ex. pseudocyesis = false pregnancy
tachy- (Specific Quality)
rapid, fast
Ex. tachycardia = abnormally rapid heart rate that is usually defined as more than 100 beats per minute at rest in adults
trans- (Specific Quality)
through, across, or beyond
Ex. transvaginal = through or across the vagina
Ex. transexual = go through the process of crossing over to another gender
Ex. Tranverse = lie across or in a crosswise direction
ultra- (Specific Quality)
beyond normal
Ex. ultrasound = noninvasive diagnostic procedure that provides images of internal structures by bouncing inaudible or beyond normal sound waves through the body
Oligo- (Qunatity)
small/few
Ex. Oligophreny = small/few condition of mind; little amount of intelligable skills