2 Prefixes, Suffixes, & Abbreviations

uni-, mono-

one

bi-, di-

two

tri-

three

quad-, quadri-

four

hemi-

half

semi-

half, partly

multi-

many

poly-

many, much

a-, an-

without, not

anti-, contra-

against

de-

away from, cessation, without

dis-

separate

im-, in-, non-

not

ab-

away from

ad-

to, toward

ect-, ecto-

outer, outside

en-, end-, endro-

in, within

ex-, exo-

out of, away from

infra-

below, beneath

inter-

between

intra-

within

per-

through

peri-

around, surrounding

post-

after, beneath

pre-

before (in time or space)

sub-

below, beneath

super-, supra-

above

sym-, syn-

together, with

trans-

across, through

Relative

a relationship to something else or something can be compared to something else

dys-

painful, difficult, abnormal

eu-

good, normal

hetero

other, different

homo-, homeo-

same, alike

hyper-

above normal, excessive

hypo-

below normal, deficient

iso-

equal, alike

macro-

large, long

mega-, megalo-

large, oversize

micro-

small

normo-

normal, usual

pan-

all, entire

ultra-

excess, beyond

brady-

slow

neo-

new

pseudo-

false

re-

again, backward

tachy-

rapid, fast

-algia

pain

-emia

blood (condition of)

-ia

state or condition

-ism

condition, disease, or disorder

-itis

inflammation

-megaly

large, enlargement

-oma

tumor

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-centesis

puncture to remove fluid

-ectomy

surgical removal

-plasty

surgical repair, reconstruction

-rrhaphy

suturing

-stomy

surgical opening

-tomy

incision, cutting

-al

pertaining to

-ar

pertaining to-

-ary

pertaining to

-ic, -ac

pertaining to

-ous

pertaining to, characterized by

-genic, -genesis

produced by, formed by

-gram

record, recording

-graphy

process of recording

-ium

tissue, structure

-logist, -ist

one who specializes in

-logy

study of

-meter

instrument of measuring

-oid

resembling

-scope

instrument for examination

-scopy

process of examining, examination

Dx

diagnosis

H&P

history and physical (examination)

Hx

history

pt

patient

Px

prognosis

Rx

prescription

Sx

symptom

Tx, Tr

treatment

CAM

complementary and alternative medicine

DC

doctor of chiropractic medicine

DDS

doctor of dental surgery

ENT

ears, nose, throat

ER, ED

emergency room, emergency department

ICU

intensive care unit

MD

doctor of medicine

OB/GYN

obstetrics/gynecology

OD

doctor of optometry

PA

physician’s assistant

Peds

pediatrics

PT

physical therapy, physical therapist

C

Celsius, centigrade (temperature)