Chapter 3: Suffixes

Peri-

Around, surrounding | Example: Pericardium - Membrane around the heart

Dia-

Through, across | Example: Diagnosis - Knowledge gained through examination

Epi-

Upon, over | Example: Epidermis - Outer layer of skin

Uni-

One | Example: Unilateral - Affecting one side

Supra-

Above, over | Example: Suprarenal - Above the kidneys

Para-

Alongside, abnormal | Example: Paraplegia - Paralysis of lower limbs

Tachy-

Rapid | Example: Tachycardia - Rapid heart rate

Hypo-

Below, deficient | Example: Hypoglycemia - Low blood sugar

Eu-

Good, normal | Example: Euphoria - Feeling of well-being

Anti-

Against | Example: Antibiotic - Acts against bacteria

Poly-

Many, much | Example: Polyuria - Excessive urination

Di-

Two | Example: Diplopia - Double vision

Quadri-

Four | Example: Quadriplegia - Paralysis of four limbs

Diplegia

Paralysis of two limbs

Mono-

One | Example: Monocyte - Single-cell type

Homo-

Same | Example: Homogeneous - Of the same kind

Infra-

Below, beneath | Example: Infrastructure - Basic structure beneath a system

-phobia

Fear | Example: Polyphobia - Fear of many things

Tachyphasia

Rapid speech

Brady-

Slow | Example: Bradycardia - Slow heart rate

Hyper-

Excessive, above normal | Example: Hypertension - High blood pressure

Inter-

Between | Example: Intercostal - Between the ribs

Intra-

Within | Example: Intramuscular - Within the muscle

Post-

After | Example: Postoperative - After surgery

Pre-

Before | Example: Prenatal - Before birth

Retro-

Behind, backward | Example: Retroperitoneal - Behind the abdominal lining

Trans-

Across, through | Example: Transdermal - Across the skin

Sub-

Under, below | Example: Subcutaneous - Under the skin

Ab-

Away from | Example: Abduction - Moving away from the midline

Ad-

Toward | Example: Adduction - Moving toward the midline

Bi-

Two | Example: Bicuspid - Two points (heart valve)

Tri-

Three | Example: Triceps - Muscle with three heads

Multi-

Many | Example: Multigravida - Woman pregnant multiple times

A-/An-

Without, not | Example: Anemia - Without sufficient red blood cells

Dys-

Bad, painful, difficult | Example: Dysphagia - Difficulty swallowing

Mal-

Bad, abnormal | Example: Malformation - Poor formation

Ecto-

Outside | Example: Ectopic - Located outside the usual place

Endo-

Inside | Example: Endoscopy - Looking inside the body

Hetero-

Different | Example: Heterogeneous - Composed of different elements

Iso-

Equal, same | Example: Isotonic - Equal tension or concentration

Auto-

Self | Example: Autoimmune - Against one's own body

Neo-

New | Example: Neonatal - Newborn period

Pseudo-

False | Example: Pseudoscience - False or misleading science

Macro-

Large | Example: Macrocephaly - Abnormally large head

Micro-

Small | Example: Microbiology - Study of microscopic organisms

Oligo-

Few, little | Example: Oliguria - Low urine output

Pan-

All | Example: Pandemic - Affecting all people globally

Syn-/Sym-

Together, with | Example: Symmetry - Balanced proportions

Hemi-

Half | Example: Hemiplegia - Paralysis of one side of the body

Ultra-

Beyond, excess | Example: Ultrasound - Beyond audible sound waves