Prefixes of Health Science

a-, an-

without/not

Ex:anemia = not enough healthy blood cells

anti-

ex = against

brady-

slow

Ex: bradycardia = slow heart rate

tachy-

fast

Ex: tachycardia = fast heart rate

hyper-

Above or excessive

Ex: hyperactive = excessively active

hypo-

below or deficient

Ex: hypothermia = body temp below normal

Peri

around

Ex: perimeter = around the shape

Endo-

Inside; within

Ex: endocytosis = within the cell

Epi-

upon; above

Ex: epidermis = layer of skin above dermis

Inter-

between

Ex: intercostal = between the ribs

intra-

within

Ex: IV (intravenous) = within the vein

poly-

many

Ex: polynomial = many variables

mono-

one

Ex: monosaccharide = one sugar

Dys-

Bad ; difficult ; painful

Ex: dyslexia = difficulty processing language

Pre-

before

Ex: premature = born before due date

post-

After

Ex: postoperative = after operation