Prefixes in Medical Terminology

These flashcards cover key prefixes commonly used in medical terminology, their meanings, and some examples of their application.

ab-

From, away from

a, an-

Without, not

ad-

Toward, increase, near

ante-

Before

anti-

Against

bi-

Two, both

co-, con-

Together, with

contra-

Against, opposite

dys-

Bad, difficult, painful

ec-

Out

ecto-

Outside

em-, en-

In

endo-

Within

epi-

Upon, at, in addition to

ex-

Out, away from

hemi-

Half

hyper-

Above, excessive, beyond

hypo-

Below, deficient

para-, par-

Beside, around, near, abnormal

peri-

Around, about

pre-

Before, in front of

pro-

In front of, before, forward

retro-

Backward, behind, back of

semi-

Half

sub-

Under, beneath, below

super-, supra-

Above, beyond, superior

sym-, syn-

With, along, together, beside

trans-

Across, over

tri-

Three

ab- (L)

from, away from

abductor

That which draws away from a common center, as a muscle.

a, an (G)

without, not

anesthesia

Loss of sensation.

ad- (L)

adherence, increase, near, toward

adductor

That which draws toward a common center.

ante- (L)

before

antenatal

Before birth.

anti- (G)

against

antitoxin

A protein that defends the body against a toxin.

bi- (L)

two, both, double

biceps

Muscle of the upper arm having two heads.

co- (L)

together, with

congenital

Born with a defect, hereditary.

contra- (L)

against, opposite

contraception

The prevention of conception.

dys- (G)

bad, difficult, painful

dyspnea

Labored or difficult breathing.

ec- (G)

out

ectopic pregnancy

Gestation outside the uterine cavity.

ecto- (G)

outside

ectropion

Eversion as the edge of the eyelid or the turning out of the cervical canal of the uterus.

em-, en- (G)

in

empyema

Pus in a body cavity, especially in the pleural cavity.

endo- (G)

within

endocardium

Lining membrane of inner surface of the heart.

epi- (G)

upon, at, in addition to

epidermis

Cuticle or outer layer of the skin.

ex- (L,G)

out, away from, over

exacerbation

Aggravation of symptoms.

hemi- (G)

half

hemiplegia

Paralysis of one-half of the body.

hyper- (G)

above, excessive, beyond

hypertension

High blood pressure.

hypo- (G)

below, deficient

hypodermic injection

Injection under the skin.

para- (G)

beside, around, near, abnormal

paranoia

Mental disease marked by systematized delusions of persecution.

peri- (G)

around, about

pericardium

The double membranous sac enclosing the heart.

pre- (L)

before, in front of

precancerous

Before the development of carcinoma.

pro- (L, G)

in front of, before, forward

prognosis

Prediction of end of disease.

retro- (L)

backward, behind, back of

retroflexion

A bending or flexing backward; for example, of the uterus.

semi- (L)

half

semilunar valves

Half-moon shaped valves of the aorta and pulmonary arteries.

sub- (L)

under, beneath, below

subcutaneous

Beneath the skin.

super-, supra- (L)

above, beyond, superior

suprarenal

Adrenal gland above the kidney.

sym-, syn- (G)

with, along, together, beside

symphysis of pubis

Fusion of pubic bones on midline anteriorly.

trans- (L)

across, over

transfusion

Injection of the blood of one person into the blood vessels of another.

tri- (G)

three

tricuspid

Having three cusps or points; tricuspid valve.