Direction and Position Prefix

Ab-, Abs-

Away from. Example Abductor (moves bones away from midline)

Ad-

Toward. Example: adductor (moves bones close to midline)

Ante-

Before; foward. Example: Antenatal (to exist before birth, like antenatal classes)

Circum-

Around.

Cycl-

Circle or cycle

De-

Away from; ending. Example: dehydration (when person doesnt have enough water in blood and tissue)

Dia-

Across or through. Example Diagram (structure that separates thoracic and abdominopelvic cavity)

Exo-, Ect/o-

outer;outisde. Example: Exocrine gland (gland that releases secretion through tubes)

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

within; inter. Endocrine glands (glands that release secretions directly into surrounding tissues or fluids)

Epi-

Upon; outside. Example; epidermis (the outer, protective layer of the skin)

Ex-, Extra-

Beyond

Infra-

Beneath or below. Example: Infra-patellar (located below the knee (patellar))

Meso-

Middle. Example: Mesoderm (the middle germ layer in the embryo)

Meta-

Beyond; change. Example: Metabolism (body changes food or drinks into energy

Para-

Alongside; Abnormal. Example: paranasal (beside or near the nose)

Path/o-

disease. Pathology (study of diseases)

Peri-

Around. Example: Pericardium (structure that surronds the heart and separates it from other mediastinal structures)

Post-

After; behind. Example: Postpartum (period between birth and 6 weeks after)

Pre-

Before; infront. Example: Precancerous (a condition most likely to develop into cancer)

Retro-

Backward; behind

Sub-

under. Example: Subcutaneous layer (layer located under dermis of the skin)

Super-

Above. Example: Superior

Supra-

Above

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

Together. Example: Syndrome (a set of symptoms that together suggest a certian diseas)

Trans-

Across; through. transdermal (observed through the unbroken skin)