Direction and position prefixes

Ab-, Abs-

Away from ex. Abductor

Ad-

Towards ex. Adductor

Ante-

Before; Forward ex. Antenatal

Circum-

Around ex. Circumcision

Cycl-

Circle; Cycle ex. Cyclic neutropenia

De-

Away from; Ending ex. Dehydration

Dia-

Across; Through ex. Diagnosis

Ect/o-, Exo-

Outer; Outside ex. Exocrine gland

End/o-, Ent-, Enter/o-

Within; Inner ex. Endocrine gland

Epi-

Upon; Outside of ex. Epidermis

Ex-, Extra-

Beyond ex. Expiration

Infra-

Beneath; Below ex. Infratemporal fossa

Inter-

Between ex. Interstitial fluid

Intra-

Within ex. Intracellular fluid

Meso-

Middle ex. Mesoderm

Meta-

Beyond; Change ex. Metabolism

Para-

Alongside; Abnormal ex. Parathyroid glands

Path/o-

Disease ex. Pathologist

Peri-

Around ex. Pericardium

Post-

Behind; After ex. Postpartum

Pre-

Before; In front ex. Precancerous

Retro-

Backward; Behind ex. Retroperitoneum

Sub-

Under ex. Subcutaneous layer

Super-

Above ex. Superior

Supra-

Above; Upon ex. Supraglottis

Sy-, Syl-, Sym-, Syn-, Sys-

Together ex. Syndrome

Trans-

Across; Through ex. Transdermal