Health Science Prefixes

10/13/2026

a-, an-

without/not

Ex: anemia, anorexiaa

anti-

against

Ex: antibacterial

brady-

slow

Examples: bradycardia

tachy-

fast

Examples : tachycardia

hyper-

above or obsessive

Examples: hyperthermia, hyperactive

hypo-

below or deficient

Examples: hypothermia = body temp below normal

peri-

around

Examples: perimeter = around the shape

endo-

inside; within

Examples: endocytosis = within the cell

epi-

upon; above

Examples: epidermis = layer of skin above dermis

inter-

between

Examples: intercoastal = between the ribs

intra-

within

Examples: IV (intravenous) = within the vein

poly-

many

Examples:

Polynomial = many variables + constants

mono-

one

Examples: monosaccharide = one sugar

dys-

bad; difficult; painful

Examples : dyslexia = difficulty processing language

pre-

before

Examples: premature = born before due date

post-

after

Examples: postoperative = after operation