Common Medical Terminology - Prefixes

indicate location, time, number, or status

A-/ An-

ANemia

without, not

without blood (lack of blood)

Ante-
ANTEcubital

before
before the elbow

Ab-

ABduction

away from

movement away from the body

Ad-

ADduction

toward

movement toward the body

Anti-

ANTIbiotic

against

a substance that fights against bacteria

Brady-

BRADYcardia

slow

slow heart rate

Dys-

DYSphagia

difficult, painful

difficulty swallowing

Endo-

ENDOscope

inside

instrument to view inside

Epi-

EPIdermis

Above, on

above outer layer of skin

Hyper-

HYPERtension

Excessive, above normal

high (excessive) blood pressure

Hypo-

HYPOglycemia

Below normal, deficient

low (below normal) blood sugar

Inter-

INTERcostal

Between

between the ribs

Intra-

INTRAvenous

within

within a vein

Macro-

MACROphage

large

large cell that engulfs particles

Micro-

MICROscope

small

instrument to view small objects

Neo-

NEOnatal

new

relating to newborns

Peri-

PERIcardium

around

membrane around the heart

Poly-

POLYuria

Many

excessive (many) urination

Post-

POSToperative

after

after surgery

Pre-/Pro-

PREnatal

Before

before birth

Sub-

SUBcutaneous

below

below under the skin

Tachy-

TACHYcardia

Fast

fast heart rate

Trans-

TRANSdermal

across, through

across the skin