NREMT Prefixes and Suffixes

Brady-

slow

ex: Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

Tachy-

fast

ex: Tachycardia (fast heart rate)

Hyper-

over, excessive, high

ex: Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Hypo-

low, under, below normal

ex: Hypotension (low blood pressure)

Dys-

difficult, painful

ex: Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

A- / An-

without, absent

ex: Apnea (no breathing)

Hemi-

Half

ex: Hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body)

Para-

beside, abnormal

ex: Paraplegia (paralysis of legs)

Poly-

many

ex: Polyuria (excessive urination)

Oligo-

few, little

ex: Oliguria (reduced urine output)

Neo-

New

ex: Neonatal (newborn)

Inter-

Between

ex: Intercostal (between the ribs)

Intra-

Inside

ex: Intravenous (into the vein)

Peri-

Around

ex: Pericardium (around the heart)

Sub-

under

ex: Subcutaneous (under the skin)

Ab-

Away from

ex: Abduction (movement away from the midline)

Ad-

Toward

ex: Adduction (movement toward the midline)

Ante-

Before, in front of

ex: Antenatal (before birth)

Bi-

two, both

ex: Bilateral (both sides)

Cyan-

Blue

ex: Cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin)

En-/Endo-

inside, within

ex: Endoscopy (visual exam inside body)

Epi-

on, above

ex: Epidermis (outer skin layer)

Eu-

normal, good

ex: Eupnea (normal breathing)

Iso-

equal

ex: Isotonic (equal concentration)

Leuko-

white

ex: Leukocyte (white blood cell)

Macro-

Large

ex: Macrocyte (large cell)

Micro-

tiny

ex: Microorganism (tiny living thing)

Trans-

across, through

ex: Transdermal (through the skin)

Uni-

one

ex: Unilateral (one-sided)

-itis

inflammation

ex: Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi)

-emia

blood condition

ex: Hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood)

-algia

pain

ex: Neuralgia (nerve pain)

-rrhage / -rrhagia

bursting forth (blood)

ex: Hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)

-scopy

visual exam

ex: Endoscopy (looking inside with a scope)

-ectomy

surgical removal

ex: Appendectomy (removal of appendix)

-plasty

surgical repair

ex: Angioplasty (vessel repair)

-oma

tumor/mass

ex: Hematoma (blood mass)

-pathy

Disease

ex: Neuropathy (nerve disease)

-pnea

Breathing

ex: Apnea (no breathing)

-uria

Urine

ex: Polyuria (excessive urine)

-cyte

cell

(white blood cell)

-logy

study of

ex: Cardiology (study of the heart)

-algia

pain

ex: Neuralgia (nerve pain)-a

-asthenia

weakness

ex: muscle weakness

-cele

hernia or swelling

ex: Menigocele (hernia of meninges)

-centesis

Surgical puncture

ex: Amniocentesis (fluid withdrawal from amniotic sac)

-gram

record or picture

ex: Electrocardiogram (ECG)(heart rhythm tracing)

-graphy

process of recording

ex: Angiography (imaging of blood vessels)

-iasis

abnormal condition

ex: Lithiasis (stone formation)

-lith

stone

ex: Choleithiasis (gallstones)

-lysis

breakdown, destruction

ex: Hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells)

-megaly

enlargement

ex: Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)

-osis

condition (often abnormal)

ex: Cyanosis (bluish discoloration)

-penia

deficiency

ex: Leukopenia (low white blood cell count)

-ptosis

drooping or sagging

ex: Blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid)

-sclerosis

hardening

ex: Arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries)

-stenosis

narrowing

ex: Trachael Stenosis (narrowing of the trachae)