Prefixes

a- ; an-

not; without

Ex: anaerobic= without oxygen

anti-

against

Ex: antibacterial= works against bacteria

brady-

slow

Ex: bradycardia= slow heart rate

tachy-

fast

Ex: tachycardia= fast heart rate

hyper-

above; excessive

Ex: hyperventilating= above normal breathing rate

hypo-

below; deficient

Ex: hypothermia= body temperature below normal

peri-

around

Ex: perimeter= area around

endo-

inside; within

Ex: endocytosis= within the cell

epi-

upon; above

Ex: epidermis= layer of skin above dermis

inter-

between

Ex: intercostal= space between ribs

intra-

within

Ex: intravenous= within the vein

poly-

Many

Ex:polysaccharide= many sugars

mono-

one

Ex: monosaccharide= one sugar

dys-

Bad; painful; difficult

Ex: dyslexia= difficulty processing language

pre-

Before

Ex: premature= born before due date

post-

After

Ex: postoperative= after surgery