prefix

PREFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS

a-, an

No, not, without, negates the meaning

atypical,  anoxia

ab-

away from; from

abduction

ad-

toward, at, increase, on, toward

adduction

ante-

before

antepartum

anti-

against, opposing

antipsychotic

bi-,bin-

two, twice, double

bilateral,  binocular

brady-

slow

bradycardia

de-

from, down, away from

dehydrate

dia-

through, complete

dialysis

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured

dysphagia

endo-

within, in

endotracheal

epi-

on, upon, over

epidermis

eu-

normal, good

eupnea

hemi-

half

hemicolectomy

hyper-

above, excessive

hyperthyroidism

hypo-

below, incomplete, deficient, under

hypoglycemia

inter-

between

intercostal

intra-

within, in

intramuscular

macro-

large, long

macrocephalus

meta-

after, beyond, change

metacarpal bones

micro-

small

microscope

multi-

many

multipara

neo-

new

neonate

nulli-

none

nulligravida

pachy-

thick, thickening, thickened

pachyderma

pan-

all, total

pancytopenia

para-

beside, beyond, around, abnormal

parathyroid glands

per-

through

percutaneous

peri-

surrounding (outer)

peripheral vision

poly-

many, much

polymyositis

post-

after

postpartum

pre-

before

prenatal

pro-

before

prognosis

sub-

below, under

subcutaneous

supra-

above

suprascapular

sym-, syn-

together, joined

symphysis

tachy-

fast, rapid

tachycardia

trans-

through, across, beyond

transdermal

tri-

three

triceps

uni-

one