Medterm CH03

Lecture Overview

Title: A Body Systems Approach to Medical Terminology
Authors: Barbara A. Gylys and Mary Ellen Wedding
Format: PowerPoint Presentation
Edition: Eighth Edition
Copyright: © 2017, F.A. Davis Company

Prefixes in Medical Terminology

Definition

Prefix: A word element placed at the beginning of a word.
- Changes the meaning of the word.
- Not contained in all medical terms.
- Most prefixes are similar to those in the English language.

Types of Prefixes

Classification

Prefixes can be categorized based on their use:
- Position: Indicates a specific location.
- Number and Measurement: Specifies quantity or size.
- Direction: Refers to a pathway or route.
- Other Common Prefixes: These serve to alter meaning in various contexts.

Prefixes by Category

Prefixes of Position

These prefixes describe a place or location:
- epi/gastr/ic: above the stomach
- inter/cost/al: between the ribs
- pre/nat/al: before birth
- post/nat/al: after birth
- sub/nas/al: below the nose

Prefixes of Number and Measurement

These prefixes describe an amount, size, or degree of involvement:
- poly/phobia: excessive fear
- macro/cyte: large cell
- micro/cyte: small cell
- quadri/plegia: paralysis of four limbs
- tri/ceps: muscle with three heads

Prefixes of Direction

These prefixes indicate a pathway or route:
- circum/ren/al: around the kidneys
- extra/crani/al: outside the skull
- intra/muscul/ar: within the muscle
- para/nas/al: next to the nose
- supra/ren/al: above the kidneys
- endo/crine: within the endocrine system

Other Common Prefixes

These prefixes serve to change the meaning of a word:
- anti/bacteri/al: against bacteria
- an/esthesia: without sensation
- a/mast/ia: absence of breast
- eu/pnea: normal breathing
- dys/pnea: difficult or labored breathing
- homo/graft: same tissue graft

Copyright Information

© 2017 by F.A. Davis Company
All rights reserved.
Reproduction of this material is prohibited without permission.