Prefixes and Suffixes in Medical Terms

This set of flashcards includes various medical prefixes and suffixes along with their meanings and examples for study and review.

a-, an-, un-

Without, not

ab-, abs-, de-, ex-

Away from, out of

ad-, -ad

Toward, to

ambi-

Both, around

ana-

Up, toward

ante-, pre-, pro-

Before, forward

anti-, contra-

Against

apo-

Derived, separate

aut(o)-

Self

bi-, di-

Twice, double, two

brachy-

Short

brady-

Slow

cata-

Down

circum-, peri-

Around, about, near

co-, col-, com-, con-, cor-, syl-, sym-, syn-, sys-

Together, with

dia-, per-, trans-

Through, across

dys-

Abnormal, difficult

ect(o)-, exo-, extra-

Outside, external, without

end(o)-, intra-

Within, inside

epi-, super-, supra-, hyper-

Above, over, superior, beyond, overly

eu-

Well, good, normal

hemi-, semi-

Half

infra-, sub-, hypo-

Below, under, inferior, below normal

inter-

Between

iso-

Equal, same

mal-

Bad, inadequate

meg(a)-, megal(o)-, -megaly

Large, enlargement

mes(o)-

Middle, median

meta-, post-

After, following

micr(o)-

Small, microscopic

mon(o)-, uni-

Single, one

multi-, pluri-, poly-

Many, several, more

olig(o)-

Few, little, scanty

pan-, pant(o)-

All, entire

par(a)-

Beside, abnormal, involving two parts

quadra-, quadri-

Four

re-, retro-

Again, backward, behind

tachy-

Fast

ultra-

Beyond, excessive

-algia, -dynia

Pain

-asthenia

Weakness

-blast

Immature, forming

-cele

Hernia

-cidal, -cide, -lytic, -lysis

Destroying, killing, destruction of

-clasis, -clast

Breaking, breaking instrument

-crine

Secreting

-crit

Separate

-cyte, -cytosis

Cell, condition of cells

-derma

Skin

-desis

Binding

-ectasia, -ectasis

Expansion, dilation

-ectomy

Surgical removal of

-edema

Swelling

-ema, -osis, -iasis, -ism

Condition, state, process, disease, doctrine

-emesis

Vomiting

-emia, -emic

Blood, relating to blood

-esthesia

Sensation

-form, -oid

In the shape of, like, resembling

-gen, -genesis, -genic, -poiesis, -poietic, -poietin, -plasia, -plasm, -plastic

Producing, forming, formation, coming to be

-globin, -globulin

Protein

-gram, -graph, -graphy

A recording, recording instrument, process of recording

-ic, -ics

Pertaining to, treatment, practice, body of knowledge

-itis

Inflammation

-kinesia, -kinesis

Movement

-lepsy, -leptic

Condition of, seizure

-logist, -logy

One who practices, study or practice of

-malacia

Softening

-mania

Obsession

-meter, -metry

Measuring device, measurement

-opia, -opsia, -opsy

Vision, view of

-oxia

Oxygen

-para, -parous

Producing, bearing

-paresis

Slight paralysis

-pathy

Disease

-penia

Deficiency

-pepsia

Digestion

-pexy

Fixation, usually done surgically

-phage, -phagia, -phagy

Eating, devouring

-phasia, -phonia

Speaking, sound

-pheresis

Removal

-phil, -philia

Attraction, affinity for

-phobia

Fear

-phoresis, -phoria

Carrying, feeling

-phrenia

Of the mind

-phthisis

Wasting away

-phylaxis

Protection

-physis

Growing

-plakia

Plaque

-plasty

Surgical repair

-plegia, -plegic

Paralysis, one who is paralyzed

-pnea

Breath

-porosis

Lessening in density

-ptosis

Falling down, drooping

-rrhage, -rrhagia

Discharging heavily, heavy discharge

-rrhaphy

Surgical suturing

-rrhea

A flowing, a flux

-rrhexis

Rupture

-schisis

Splitting

-scope, -scopy

Instrument used for observing or measuring

-somnia

Sleep