Medical Terminologies | Table A-1 Common Prefixes

a-

without, lack of

ab-

away from

abdomi(n)-

abdomen

acr(o)-

pertaining to an extremity

ad-

to, toward

aden(o)-

pertaining to a gland

an-

without, lack of

ana-

up, back, again

angio-

vessel

ante-

before, forward

anti-

against, opposed to

arteri(o)-

artery

arthro-

pertaining to a joint

auto-

self

bi-

two

bi(o)-

pertaining to life

blast(o)-

germ or cell

blephar(o)-

pertaining to an eyelid

brady-

slow

calc-

stone; also heel

cardi(o)-

pertaining to the heart

cephal(o)-

pertaining to the head

cerebr(o)-

pertaining to the cerebrum, a part of the brain

cervic(o)-

pertaining to the neck or the uterine cervix

chole-

pertaining to bile

chondr(o)-

pertaining to cartilage

circum-

around, about

contra-

against, opposite

cost(o)-

pertaining to a rib

cyan(o)-

blue

cyst(o)-

pertaining to the bladder / any fluid-containing sac

cyt(o)-

pertaining to a cell

de-

down from

dermat(o)-

pertaining to the skin

di-

twice, double

dia-

through, completely

dys-

difficult, painful, abnormal

ect(o)-

out from

electro-

pertaining to electricity

end(o)-

within

enter(o)-

pertaining to the intestines

epi-

upon, on

erythr(o)-

pertaining to anything red or to erythrocytes (RBC)

eu-

easy good, normal

ex(o)-

outside, in addition

gastr(o)-

pertaining to the stomach

glyc(o)-

sugar

gynec(o)-

pertaining to females or the female reproductive organs

hemat(o)-

pertaining to blood

hemi-

half

hem(o)-

pertaining to blood

hepat(o)-

pertaining to the liver

heter-

other, different

hom-

same or like

hydr(o)-

water

hyper-

over, excessive

hyster(o)-

pertaining to the uterus

infra-

below

inter-

between

intra-

within

iso-

equal

latero-

side

leuk(o)-

pertaining to anything white or leukocytes (WBC)

lith(o)-

pertaining to a stone

macro-

large

mal-

bad or abnormal

medi-

middle

mega-

large

melan-

black

mening(o)-

pertaining to a membrane, particularly the meninges

micro-

small

mono-

one

myel(o)-

pertaining to the spinal cord, the bone marrow or myelin

my(o)-

pertaining to muscle

nas(o)-

pertaining to the nose

ne(o)-

new

nephr(o)-

pertaining to the kidney

neur(o)-

pertaining to a nerve or the nervous system

noct-

night

olig(o)-

little, deficient

oophor(o)-

pertaining to the ovary

ophthalm(o)-

pertaining to the eye

orchid(o)-

pertaining to the testicles

orchi(o)-

pertaining to the testicles

oro-

pertaining to the mouth

ortho-

straight or normal

oste(o)-

pertaining to bone

ot(o)-

pertaining to the ear

para-

by the side of

path(o)-

pertaining to disease

per-

through

peri-

around

phag(o)-

pertaining to eating, ingesting, or engulfing

pharyng(o)-

pertaining to the throat, or pharynx

phleb(o)-

pertaining to a vein

pneum(o)-

pertaining to respirtation, the lungs, or air

poly-

many

post-

after, behind

pre-

before

pro-

before, in front of