prefixes; medical terminology

tri-

three

tetra- ; quadri-

four

semi-

half

primi-

first

polio-

gray matter (of brain or spinal cord)

par-

other than; abnormal

pachy-

heavy; thick

oxy-

rapid; sharp; acid

nulli-

none

multi-

many

meso-

middle

mega-

large

kern-

nucleus (collection of nerve cells in the brain)

ipsi-

same

extra-

outside

exo-

out; away from

eso-

inward

en-, endo-,

in; within

em-; ir-; in-

in; into

ecto-; ec-; ex-
ex: ectopic pregnancy

out, outside

echo-

reflected sound

dorsi-

back

brachy-

short

apo-

off, away

af-

toward

agora-

marketplace

a-, an-
ex: anemia, apnea, anoxia

no, not, without

ab-
ex: abnormal, abductor

away from

ad-
ex: adductor, adrenal gland

toward

ana-
ex: anabolism, analysis

up

ante-
ex: ante cibum, anteflexion

before, forward

anti-
ex: antibiotic, antibody, antisepsis, antitoxin

against

aut-, auto-
ex: autopsy

self, own

bi-
ex: bilateral

two

brady-
ex: bradycardia

slow

cata-
ex: catabolism

down

con-
ex: connective, congenital anomaly

with together

contra-
ex: contralateral, contraindication

against, opposite

de-
ex: dehydration

down, lack of

dia-
ex: diagnosis

complete, through

dys-
ex: dyspnea, dysentery, dystrophy, dysplasia

abnormal, bad, difficult, painful

endo-
ex: endocrinologist

within

epi-
ex: epigasti

above, upon

eu-
ex: euphoria, euthyroid

good, normal

hemi-
ex: hemiglossectomy

half

hyper-
ex: hyperglycemia, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, hypertension

excessive, above

hypo-
when hypo- is used with a part of the body, it means below; hypogastric

in hypoglycemia, hypo- means deficient

deficient, below, under, less than normal

in-
ex: insomniac

not

infra-
ex: infracostal

beneath, under

inter-

between

intra-

within

macro-
ex: macrocephaly

large

mal-
ex: malaise, malignant

bad

meta-
ex: metamorphosis

change, beyond

micro-
ex: microscope, microcephaly

small

neo-
ex: neonatal, neoplasm

new

pan-
ex: pancytopenia

all

para-
ex; paralysis

abnormal, beside, near

per-
ex: percutaneous

through

peri-
ex: pericardium-the membrane that surrounds the heart

surrounding, around

poly-
ex: polymorphonuclear, polyneuritis

many, much

post-
ex: postmortem, postpartum

after, behind

pre-
ex: precancerous, prenatal

before, in front of

pro-
ex: prodrome

before, forward

pros-
ex: prosthesis

before, forward

re-
ex: resection

back, backward, again

retro-
ex: retrocardiac

behind

sub-
ex: subhepatic

below, under

supra-
ex: suprapubic

above, upper

syn-, sym-
ex: synthesis, symbiosis

together, within

tachy-

ex: tachypnea

fast

trans-
ex: transhepatic

across, through

ultra-
ex: ultrasonography

beyond, excess

uni-
ex: unilateral

one