Veterinary Terminology

Types of Prefixes in Veterinary Technology Terminology

Prefixes of Position

• ambi-: meaning "both, both sides"
  Example: ambidextrous

• ante-: meaning "before"
  Example: antenatal

• anter/o-: meaning "in front of"
  Example: anteroposterior

• dors/o: meaning "back"
  Example: dorsoventral

• epi-: meaning "upon"
  Example: epigastric

• hypo-: meaning "under"
  Example: hypodermic

• pre-: meaning "before"
  Example: preoperative

• pro-: meaning "before"
  Example: produce

• infra-: meaning "below, beneath"
  Example: infrared

• inter-: meaning "between"
  Example: intercostal

• latero-: meaning "side"
  Example: lateral

• mes/o: meaning "middle"
  Example: mesoderm

• mid-: meaning "middle"
  Example: midthoracic

• post-: meaning "after, behind"
  Example: postoperative

• retro-: meaning "backward, behind"
  Example: retroperitoneal

• sub-: meaning "beneath"
  Example: subcutaneous

Prefixes of Color

• alb-: meaning "white"
  Example: albuminoid

• albumin/o: meaning "protein"
  Example: albumin

• chlor/o: meaning "green"
  Example: chlorophyll

• cirrh/o: meaning "yellow"
  Example: cirrhosis

• cyan/o: meaning "blue"
  Example: cyanosis

• erythr/o: meaning "red"
  Example: erythrocyte

• glauco: meaning "grey"
  Example: glaucoma

• leuko-: meaning "white"
  Example: leukocyte

• melan/o: meaning "black"
  Example: melanoma

• polio: meaning "grey"
  Example: poliomyelitis

• purpuri: meaning "purple"
  Example: purpura

Prefixes of Number and Measurement

• primi-: meaning "first"
  Example: primipara

• uni-: meaning "one"
  Example: unicorn

• mono-: meaning "one"
  Example: monocyte

• bi-: meaning "two"
  Example: bilateral

• di-: meaning "two"
  Example: divide

• diplo-: meaning "double"
  Example: diploid

• hemi-: meaning "half"
  Example: hemiplegia

• hyper-: meaning "over"
  Example: hyperactive

• hypo-: meaning "under"
  Example: hypothermia

• macro-: meaning "large"
  Example: macrocephaly

• micro-: meaning "small"
  Example: microscope

• multi-: meaning "many"
  Example: multicat

• poly-: meaning "much, many"
  Example: polyphagia

• quad: meaning "four"
  Example: quadriplegic

• quadri-: meaning "four"
  Example: quadriplegic

• semi-: meaning "partial"
  Example: semiconscious

• tri-: meaning "three"
  Example: trigone

Prefixes of Negation

• a-: (before a consonant) meaning "without"
  Example: atonic

• an-: (before a vowel) meaning "lack of"
  Example: anorexia

• ar-: meaning "without, lack of"
  Example: arrhythmia

• im-: meaning "not"
  Example: impotent

• in-: meaning "not"
  Example: insane

Prefixes of Direction

• ab-: meaning "from, away from"
  Example: abduction

• ad-: meaning "towards"
  Example: adduction

• circum-: meaning "around"
  Example: circumference

• peri-: meaning "around"
  Example: perivascular

• dia-: meaning "through, across"
  Example: diarrhea

• ec-: meaning "out, out from"
  Example: ectopic

• ecto-: meaning "outside"
  Example: ectoparasite

• endo-: meaning "inside"
  Example: endocardia

• ex-: meaning "out, out from"
  Example: excise

• exo-: meaning "outside"
  Example: exogenous

• extra-: meaning "outside"
  Example: extracellular

• intra-: meaning "inside"
  Example: intravenous

• para-: meaning "near, beside, abnormal"
  Example: paranormal

• super-: meaning "above"
  Example: supersensitive

• supra-: meaning "above"
  Example: suprasplenic

• trans-: meaning "through, across"
  Example: transect

• ultra-: meaning "beyond, excess"
  Example: ultrasound

Miscellaneous Prefixes

• anti-: meaning "against"
  Example: antibacterial

• brady-: meaning "slow"
  Example: bradycardia

• contra-: meaning "against"
  Example: contraindicated

• dys-: meaning "bad, painful, difficult"
  Example: dysuria

• eu-: meaning "good, easy"
  Example: eutocia

• heter/o-: meaning "different"
  Example: heterosexual

• hom/o-: meaning "same"
  Example: homogenize

• hydro: meaning "water"
  Example: hydrocephaly

• mal-: meaning "bad, ill, poor"
  Example: malnourished

• mega: meaning "large"
  Example: megacolon

• meta-: meaning "after, beyond, over, change"
  Example: metacarpal

• pan-: meaning "all"
  Example: panleukopenia

• pseud/o-: meaning "false"
  Example: pseudotumour

• sclero-: meaning "sclera, hard"
  Example: scleroderma

• sym-: meaning "together"
  Example: symphysis

• syn-: meaning "together"
  Example: syndrome

• tachy-: meaning "fast"
  Example: tachycardia