3. Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able
to:
Explain the use of prefixes in medical
terminology.
Explain how a prefix changes the meaning of a
medical word.
Identify prefixes of position, number and
4. Prefix Linking
A prefix is a word element located at the
beginning of a word.
Substituting one prefix for another alters the
meaning of the word.
E.g, in the term macrocyte, macro- is a prefix
(large); -cyte is a suffix (cell). A macrocyte is a
large cell.
By changing the prefix macro- to micro- (small),
6. Prefix Types
Learning the major types of prefixes, such as
prefixes of position, number and measurement,
and direction, as well as some others, will help
you master medical terminology.
7. Prefixes of Position, Number,
Measurement, and Direction
Prefixes are used in medical terms to denote
position, number and measurement, and
direction.
Prefixes of position describe a place or location.
Prefixes of number and measurement describe
an amount, size, or degree of involvement.
Prefixes of direction indicate a pathway or route
8. Prefixes of Position
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Epi- Above, upon epi/gastr/ic :
pertaining to
above the
stomach
Hypo- Under, below,
deficient
hypo/derm/ic :
pertaining to
under the skin
Hypodermic
injections are
given under the
skin.
9. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Sub- sub/nas/al :
under the nose
Inter- Between inter/cost/al :
between the ribs
Post- After, behind post/nat/al :
pertaining to (the
period) after
birth
10. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Pre- before, in front of pre/nat/al :
pertaining to
before birth
Pro- pro/gnosis:
knowing before
Prognosis is the
prediction of the
course and end of a
disease and
the estimated
chance of recovery.
Retro- backward, behind retro/version:
turning backwards
Retroversion refers
to tipping backward
of an organ from its
normal position
11. Prefixes of Number &
Measurement
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Bi- Two bi/later/al:
pertaining to two
sides
Dipl- Double dipl/opia : double
vision
Diplo- diplo/bacteri/al :
bacteria linked
together in pairs
Hemi- One half hemi/plegia :
paralysis of one
half of the body
12. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Hyper- excessive, above
normal
hyper/calc/emia :
excessive
calcium in the
blood
Macro- Large macro/cyte :
large cell
Micro- Small micro/scope :
instrument for
examining small
(objects)
13. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Mono- One mono/therapy:
one treatment
Uni- uni/nucle/ar :
pertaining to one
nucleus
Multi- Many,much multi/gravida:
woman who has
been pregnant
more than once
Poly- poly/phobia: fear
of many things
14. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Primi- first primi/gravida:
woman during
her first
pregnancy
Quadri- Four quadri/plegia:
paralysis of four
limbs
Tri- Three tri/ceps: three
heads
15. Prefixes of Direction
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Ab- From, away from ab/duction :
movement of a
limb away from
(an axis of) the
body
Ad- Toward ad/duction:
movement of a
limb toward (an
axis of)
the body
Circum- Around circum/ren/al:
pertaining to
around the
16. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Peri- peri/odont/al :
pertaining to
around a tooth
Dia- through, across dia/rrhea: flow
through
Trans- trans/vagin/al:
pertaining to
across or
through the
Vagina
17. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Ecto- Outside, outward ecto/gen/ous:
forming outside
the body or
structure
Exo- exo/tropia:
turning outward
(of one or both
eyes)
Extra- extra/crani/al:
outside the skull
18. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Endo- In, within endo/crine :
secrete within
Intra- intra/muscul/ar:
within the
muscle
Para- Near, beside,
beyond
para/nas/al:
beside the nose
19. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Super- Upper, above super/ior:
pertaining to the
upper part of a
structure
Supra- Above, excessive,
superior
supra/ren/al:
pertaining to
above the kidney
Ultra- Excess, beyond ultra/son/ic :
pertaining to
sound beyond
(that which
can be heard by
20. Other Common Prefixes
Many other common prefixes may also be used
to change the meaning of a word.
We will see next slide for a list of some other
common prefixes.
21. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
A- Without, not a/mast/ia:
without a breast
An- an/esthesia:
without feeling
Anti- Against anti/bacteri/al:
against bacteria
Contra- contra/ception:
against
conception or
impregnation
22. prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Brady- Slow brady/cardia:
slow heart rate
Dys- Bad, painful,
difficult
dys/tocia:
difficult
childbirth
Eu- Good, normal eu/pnea: normal
breathing
Hetero- Different hetero/graft:
different
transplant
23. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Homo- Same homo/graft:
same transplant
Homeo- homeo/plasia :
formation of new
tissue similar to
that already
existing in a part
Mal- Bad mal/nutrition:
bad nutrition
24. Prefix Meaning Word Analysis
Pan- All pan/arthr/itis:
inflammation of
all (or many)
joints
Pseudo- False pseudo/cyesis:
false pregnancy
Syn- Union, togethor,
joined
syn/dactyl/ism:
condition of
joined fingers or
toes
Tachy- Rapid tachy/pnea: rapid
