Prefixes and Suffixes

prefix- front of word

suffix- end of word

Prefixes:

• A- / An- / Anano- not, against, opposite

• Dia- complete

• ecto- outer/outside

• hyper- too much/excessive

• hypo- too little/ below normal

• peri- around/ surrounding

• pro- before/in front

• retro- behind

• sub- below

• trans- through/ across

Suffixes:

• pain -algia

• cell -cyte

• removal -ectomy

• blood condition -emia

• inflammation -itis

• tumor/mass- oma

• to view -opsy

Body positions:

• anatomical position- standing, arms by side, palms facing forward

• supine- lying face up

• prone- lying face down

Directional Terms:

• anterior- at the front

• posterior- at the back

• midline- line splitting right side from left side

  • medial- near midline (center of body)

  • lateral- away from midline (center of body)

• superior view- toward top of body, furthest from head

• inferior view- toward feet, furthest from head

• deep- away from surface of body

• superficial-close to surface of body

• distal- far from origination of structure

• proximal-near to origination of structure

Planes and sections:

• frontal/coronal plane- divides front to back

  • adduction and abduction occurs- frontal plane

• transverse- divides from superior (upper) and inferior (lower)

  • baseball swing, Russian twists

• oblique plane- divides at an angle

• mid sagittal plane- divides right from left equally

  • bicep curls

• sagittal- divides right and left NOT equally