PREFIXES THAT PERTAIN TO NUMBERS AND AMOUNTS

Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professionals 10/e

ambi-

both

ambi/later/al

pertaining to both sides

bi-

two, double

bi/later/al

pertaining to two sides

bin-

twice, two

bin/aur/al

pertaining to both ears

centi-

one hundredth

centi/meter

one hundredth of a meter

deca-

ten

deca/gram

a weight of 10 grams

di(s)-

two, apart

dis/locat/ion

displacement of a bone from a joint

milli-

one thousandth

mono-

one

mono/nucle/osis

condition of excessive amounts of mononuclear

multi-

many, much

multi/para

refers to a woman who has given birth to two or more children and is written as para 2 (3, 4, 5, etc.)

nulli-

none

nulli/para

refers to a woman who has never delivered a viable offspring and is written as para 0

poly-

many

poly/uria

excessive urination

primi-

first

primi/para

refers to a woman who has had one birth at more than 20 weeks’ gestation, regardless of whether the infant is born alive or dead and is written as para 1

quadri-

four

quadri/plegia

paralysis of all four extremities and usually the trunk due to injury to the spinal cord in the cervical spine

semi-, hemi

half

semi/lun/ar

hemi/plegia

Valves of the aorta and pulmonary artery; shaped like a crescent

Paralysis of one half of the body when it is divided along the midsagittal plane

tri-

three

tri/som/y

genetic condition of having three chromosomes instead of two that causes birth defects

uni-

one

uni/later/al

pertaining to one side