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.