Chapter 4, Medical Terminology, Prefixes and Terminology

a-, an-

no, not, without

Apnea

without breathing

Anoxia

without oxygen

ab-

away from

abnormal

away from rule,order

abductor

a muscle that draws a limb away from the body

ad-

toward

ana-

up, apart

anabolism

the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy; constructive metabolism.

analysis

apart-separation: examination

ante-

before, forward

ante cibum

before meals

anteflexion

before bend

antepartum

before birth

anti-

against

antibiotic

against bacteria

antibody

protein produced against an antigen (foreign body).

antigen

A bacterium or virus that produces an antibody

antisepsis

substance that fights infection

antitoxin

An antibody that acts against toxin

auto-

self, own

bi-

two

bifurcation

splitting into 2 branches

bilateral

having 2 sides

brady-

slow

bradycardia

slow heart rate

cata-

down (meow)

catabolism

he breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.

con-

with, together

congenital anomaly

birth defect such as clubfoot and fetal alcohol syndrome

connective

bind together. tissues such as bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue

contra-

against, opposite

contraindication

(of a condition or circumstance) suggest or indicate that (a particular technique or drug) should not be used in the case in question.

contralateral

opposite side

de-

down, lack of

dehydration

lack of water

dia-

through, complete

diameter

measure through a shape

diarrhea

complete discharge from bowels

dialysis

literally- complete separation. Used for purification of the kidneys.

hemodialysis

waste products are separated from the blood via a machine when the kidneys no longer function.

dys-

bad, painful, difficult, abnormal (topia)

dyspnea

difficult breathing

dysentery

abnormal (infected) intestines

dysplasia

abnormal development

ec-

out, outside

ectopic pregnancy

a pregnancy in which the fetus develops outside the uterus, typically in a Fallopian tube.

endo-

in, within (michelle)

epi-

upon, on, above

epithelium

group of "nipple" cells above. The thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body's surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures.

eu-

good, normal

euphoria

feeling of well-being

euthyroid

normal thyroid function

ex-

out, outside

exophthalmos

protrustion of the eyeball

hemi-

half

hemiglossectomy

removal of part of the tongue

hyper-

excessive, above

hyperglycemia

high blood sugar

hyperplasia

increase in cell numbers. Characteristic of tumor growth.

hypertrophy

increase in size of individual cells. Muscle, cardiac, and renal cells exhibit hypertrophy when workload is increased.

hypo-

deficient, under

hypodermic injection

injection underneath the skin

hypoglycemia

low blood sugar

in-

not

insomniac

without sleep

in-

into, within

incision

to cut into

infra-

beneath, under (vision)

infracostal

beneath the ribs

inter-

between

intercostal

muscles between adjacent ribs

intra

in, within, into

intravenous

administered into veins

macro-

large

macrocephaly

abnormally large head

mal-

bad

malaise

discomfort

malignant

cancerous

meta-

beyond, change

metacarpal bones

the five hand bones lie beyond the wrist bones but before the finger bones (phalanges).

metamorphosis

change in form (development)

metastasis

beyond controlling/stopping

micro

small

microscope

instrument for viewing very small objects

neo-

new

neonatal

newborn child

neoplasm

a new and abnormal growth of tissue in some part of the body, especially as a characteristic of cancer.

pan-

all

pancytopenia

deficiency of erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes

para-

abnormal, beside, near

paralysis

abnormal disruption of the connection between nerve and muscle. Originally from the Greek paralusis, meaning separation of loosening on one side, describing the loss of movement on one side of the body (occurring in stroke patients).

parathyroid glands

Para means beside. The four parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid gland. They secrete a hormone that regulates the calcium levels in blood and tissues.

per-

through (cat)

percutaneous

through the skin

peri-

surrounding

pericardium

structure (specifically a membrane) surrounding the heart

poly-

many, much

polymorphonuclear

Many shaped nucleus. (of a leukocyte) having a nucleus with several lobes and a cytoplasm that contains granules, as in an eosinophil or basophil.

polyneuritis

inflammation of many of the (specifically peripheral) nerves