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-

out, outside

ex: ectopic pregnancy

echo-

reflected sound

dorsi-

back

brachy-

short

apo-

off, away

af-

toward

agora-

marketplace

a-, an-

no, not, without

ex: anemia, apnea, anoxia

ab-

away from

ex: abnormal, abductor

ad-

toward

ex: adductor, adrenal gland

ana-

up

ex: anabolism, analysis

ante-

before, forward

ex: ante cibum, anteflexion

anti-

against

ex: antibiotic, antibody, antisepsis, antitoxin

aut-, auto-

self, own

ex: autopsy

bi-

two

ex: bilateral

brady-

slow

ex: bardycardia

cata-

down

ex: catabolism

con-

with together

ex: connective, congenital anomaly

contra-

against, opposite

ex: contralateral, contrindication

de-

down, lack of

ex: dehydration

dia-

complete, through

ex: diagnosis

dys-

abnormal, bad, difficult, painful

ex: dyspnea, dysentery, dystrophy, dysplasia

endo-

within

ex: endocrinologist

epi-

above, upon

ex: epigasti

eu-

good, normal

ex: euphoria, euthyroid

hemi-

half

ex: hemiglossectomy

hyper-

excessive, above

ex: hyperglycemia, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, hypertension

hypo-

deficient, below, under, less than normal

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

in hypoglycemia, hypo- mens deficient

in-

not

ex: insomniac

infra-

beneath, under

ex: infracostal

inter-

between

intra-

within

macro-

large

ex: macrocephaly

mal-

bad

ex: malaise, malignant

meta-

change, beyond

ex: metamorphosis

micro-

small

ex: microscope, microcephaly

neo-

new

ex: neonatal, neoplasm

pan-

all

ex: pancytopenia

para-

abnormal, beside, near

ex; paralysis

per-

through

ex: percutaneous

peri-

surrounding, around

ex: pericardium-the membrane that surrounds the heart

poly-

many, much

ex: polymorphonuclear, polyneuritis

post-

after, behind

ex: postmortem, postpartum

pre-

before, in front of

ex: precancerous, prenatal

pro-

before, forward

ex: prodrome

pros-

before, forward

ex: prosthesis

re-

back, backward, again

ex: resection

retro-

behind

ex: retrocardiac

sub-

below, under

ex: subhepatic

supra-

above, upper

ex: suprapubic

syn-, sym-

together, within

ex: synthesis, symbiosis

tachy-

fast

ex: tachypnea

trans-

across, through

ex: transhepatic

ultra-

beyond, excess

ex: ultrasonography

uni-

one

ex: unilateral