PREFIXES with examples

Prefix

Word element located at the beginning of a word.

Prefix function

Changing the prefix of a medical word changes its meaning.

pre-

before

peri-

around

post-

after

endo-

in, within

intra-

within

epi-

above, upon

hypo-

under, below; deficient

infra-

under, below

sub-

under, below

inter-

between

retro-

backward, behind

bi-

two

dipl-

double

diplo-

double

hemi-

one-half

hyper-

excessive, above normal

macro-

large

micro-

small

mono-

one

uni-

one

multi-

many, much

poly-

many

quadri-

four

tri-

three

ab-

from, away from

ad-

toward

circum-

around

peri-

around

dia-

through, across

trans-

across, through

ecto-

outside, outward

exo-

outward

extra-

outside

para-

near, beside; beyond

super-

upper, above

supra-

above; excessive; superior

ultra-

excess, beyond

a-

without, not; usually used before a consonant

an-

without, not; usually used before a vowel

anti-

against

contra-

against

auto-

self, own

brady-

slow

dys-

bad; painful; difficult

eu-

good, normal

hetero-

different

homo-

same

homeo-

same or similar

tachy-

rapid

prenatal

pertaining to the period before birth

perinatal

pertaining to the period around birth

postnatal

pertaining to the period after birth

endocrine

secreting within; an endocrine gland secretes directly into the bloodstream

epidermis

outer layer of the skin

hypodermic

pertaining to under the skin

subcutaneous

pertaining to under the skin; the deepest layer of skin

intercostal

pertaining to between the ribs

retroversion

turning or tipping backward from the normal position

bilateral

pertaining to two sides

diplopia

double vision

diplobacteria

bacteria linked together in pairs

hemiplegia

paralysis of one-half of the body

hypercalcemia

excessive calcium in the blood

macrocyte

large cell

microscope

instrument for examining small objects

monotherapy

one treatment

unilateral

pertaining to one

multigravida

woman who has been pregnant more than once

polyphobia

fear of many things

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four extremities

triceps

muscle having three heads or points of origin

abduction

movement of a limb away from the midline or axis of the body

adduction

movement of a limb toward the midline or axis of the body

circumrenal

pertaining to around the kidney

periodontal

pertaining to around a tooth

diarrhea

abnormally frequent discharge or flow of fluid fecal matter through the bowel

transvaginal

pertaining to across or through the vagina

ectogenous

forming outside; originating outside the body

exotropia

turning outward of the eyes

extracranial

pertaining to outside the skull

paranasal

beside the nose

superior

pertaining to above or the upper part of a structure

suprarenal

pertaining to above the kidney

ultrasonic

pertaining to sound beyond that which can be heard by the human ear

amastia

without a breast

anesthesia

without feeling

antibacterial

against bacteria

contraception

against conceiving

autograft

tissue transplanted from one site to another site of the same person

bradycardia

slow heart rate

dystocia

difficult childbirth

eupnea

normal breathing

heterograft

transplant from one species to another; also called a xenograft

homograft

graft of tissue or an organ from a donor of the same species; also called an allograft

homeoplasia

formation or growth of the same or similar tissue

tachypnea

rapid breathing

Abduction

Movement away from the body's midline.

Adduction

Movement toward the body's midline.