1.3 – Prefix
Prefixes are located at the beginning of a medical term. The prefix alters the meaning of the medical term. It is important to spell and pronounce prefixes correctly.
Many prefixes that you find in medical terms are common to English language prefixes. A good technique to help with memorization is the following:
- Start by reviewing the most common prefixes.
- Consider common English language words that begin with the same prefixes.
- Compare them to the examples of use in medical terms.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| a-, an | No, not, without, negates the meaning | atypical, anoxia |
| ab- | away from; from | abduction |
| ad- | toward, at, increase, on, toward | adduction |
| ante- | before | antepartum |
| anti- | against, opposing | antipsychotic |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| bi-,bin- | two, twice, double | bilateral, binocular |
| brady- | slow | bradycardia |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| de- | from, down, away from | dehydrate |
| dia- | through, complete | dialysis |
| dys- | painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured | dysphagia |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| endo- | within, in | endotracheal |
| epi- | on, upon, over | epidermis |
| eu- | normal, good | eupnea |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| hemi- | half | hemicolectomy |
| hyper- | above, excessive | hyperthyroidism |
| hypo- | below, incomplete, deficient, under | hypoglycemia |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| inter- | between | intercostal |
| intra- | within, in | intramuscular |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| macro- | large, long | macrocephalus |
| meta- | after, beyond, change | metacarpal bones |
| micro- | small | microscope |
| multi- | many | multipara |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| neo- | new | neonate |
| nulli- | none |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| pachy- | thick, thickening, thickened | pachyderma |
| pan- | all, total | pancytopenia |
| para- | beside, beyond, around, abnormal | parathyroid glands |
| per- | through | percutaneous |
| peri- | surrounding (outer) | peripheral vision |
| poly- | many, much | polymyositis |
| post- | after | postpartum |
| pre- | before | prenatal |
| pro- | before | prognosis |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| sub- | below, under | subcutaneous |
| supra- | above | suprascapular |
| sym-, syn- | together, joined | symphysis |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| tachy- | fast, rapid | tachycardia |
| trans- | through, across, beyond | transdermal |
| tri- | three | triceps |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example of use in medical terms |
|---|---|---|
| uni- | one | unilateral |
Attribution
Except where otherwise noted, this chapter is adapted from “Prefix” in Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, licensed under CC BY 4.0. / A derivative of Betts et al., which can be accessed for free from Anatomy and Physiology (OpenStax).
Word part at the beginning of a medical term that changes the meaning of the word root.
not typical
without oxygen
Movement away from the mid line of the body
Movement toward the midline of the body
before childbirth
against (modifying) psychosis
pertaining to both sides
pertaining to two or both eyes
pertaining to a slow heart (rate)
lose a large amount of water from the body
The process of removing substances, purifying, adding, and then returning the purified substance.
An example is hemodialysis, blood is removed from an artery, purified through dialysis, vital substances added, and then the blood is returned through a vein.
difficulty swallowing
pertaining to within the trachea
outer layer of skin, made of closely packed epithelial cells
normal breathing
excision of half of the colon
state of excessive production of thyroid hormone
deficient sugar in the blood
pertaining to between the ribs
pertaining to within the muscle
pertaining to an exceptionally large head or cranium
The bones that extend beyond the carpal bones of the wrist but before the phalanges of the fingers.
instrument to view small particles by enlarging the particles
many births, refers to a woman who has birthed two or more live babies
new birth/ newborn - birth to four weeks.
thick or thickened skin
abnormal reduction or deficiency in all blood cell types
four small endocrine glands that are located beside the thyroid gland
pertaining to through the skin
pertaining to the outer sides of the field of vision
inflammation of many muscles at one time
after birth
before birth
knowledge beforehand. For example stating what the expected outcome is before all the tests are in
pertaining to below the skin
pertaining to above the scapula
growing together
condition of a fast heart (rate)
pertaining to across the skin
Arm muscle has three attachment points (lateral, medial and long) that join the humerus and scapula to the ulna
pertaining to one side