PREFIXES - Medical Terminology

A review of the different prefixes in medical terminology.

What is a prefix?

A prefix is the beginning of a term that modifies the root.

a

absence of

ab

away from

abdomin(o)

relating to the abdomen

ac

sharp

acanth(o)

thorn or spine

acous(i, o)

relating to hearing

acr(o)

extremity; topmost

ad

adherence; increase; motion towards; very

aden(i, o)

relating to a gland

adip(o)

relating to fat or fatty tissue

adren(o)

relating to adrenal gland

aer(o)

air, gas

aesthesio

sensation

alb

white

alg(i, o); alge(si)

pain

allo

something different or addition

ambi

positioned on both sides or both of two

amnio

pertaining to the membranous fetal sac

an

absence of; not; without

an(o)

anus

ana

back; again; up

ancyl(o)

crooked or bent

andr(o)

pertaining to a man

angi(o)

blood vessel

angust(i)

narrow

aniso

unequal

ankyl(o)

bent; crooked

ante

positioned in front of another thing

anti

opposed to another

apo

derived from; separated from

archi(i, e, o)

first; primitive

arseno

male; masculine

arteri(o)

pertaining to an artery

arthr(o)

pertaining to the joints; limbs

articul(o)

joint

atel(o)

imperfect or incomplete development

atri(o)

an atrium (esp. heart atrium)

aur(i)

pertaining to the ear

aut(o)

self

aux(o)

growth; increase

axill

pertaining to the armpit

azo(to)

nitrogenous compound

balano

pertaining to the glans clitoridis/penis

bar(o)

heavy

ben(e)

good; well

bi

double; twice

bio

life

bis

twice

blast(o)

germ or bud

blephar(o)

pertaining to the eyelid

bon(i)

good; well

brachi(o)

relating to the arm

brachy

short

brady

slow

brev(i)

short

bronch(i)

bronchus

bucc(o)

pertaining to the cheek

burs(o)

bursa

cac(o)

bad; incorrect

capill

pertaining to the hair

capit

pertaining to the head

carcin(o)

cancer

cardi(o)

pertaining to the heart

carp(o)

pertaining to the wrist

cata

down; under

cav

hollow

celer

fast

cephal(o)

pertaining to the head

cerat(o)

pertaining to the cornu (horn-shaped)

cerebell(o)

pertaining to the cerebellum

cerebr(o)

pertaining to the brain

cervic

pertaining to the cervix; neck

cheir(o)

pertaining to the hand

chem(o)

chemistry; drug

chir(o)

green

chlor(o)

green

chol(e)

pertaining to bile

cholecyst(o)

pertaining to the gall bladder

chondr(i, o)

cartilage; gristle; granular; granule

chrom(ato)

color

cili

pertaining to the cilia; eyelashes; eyelids

circum

around; surrounding

cirrh(o)

red-yellow

cis

on this side

clast

break

co

in association; together; with

coel(o)

hollow

col(o); colono

colon

colp(o)

pertaining to the vagina

com

together; with

contra

against

cor; cor(e); coro

pertaining to eye’s pupil; together; with

cordi

pertaining to the heart (uncommon as a prefix)

cornu

likened to horns

cost(o)

pertaining to the ribs

cox

relating to the haunch; hip; or hip joint

crani(o)

thick

crass(i)

thick

cry(o)

cold