Common Medical Prefixes Quiz

Study Notes

Common Medical Prefixes

A-: Indicates absence; used in terms like Apathy (lack of feeling), Apnea (without breath), and Aphasia (without speech).
An-: Signifies lack or absence, as seen in Anemia (lack of blood).
Ante-: Means before or in front of; example: Antecubital (before elbow).
Anti-: Denotes opposition; depicted in Antisepsis (against infection).
Auto-: Indicates self; used in Autoimmune (self-directed immune response).
Brady-: Refers to slow; exemplified by Bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Dys-: Implies pain or difficulty; seen in Dyspepsia (bad digestion) and Dyspnea (difficult breathing).
Endo-: Means within or inner; found in Endocardium (within heart) and Endometrium (within uterus).
Epi-: Signifies upon or over; used in Epidural (upon dura) and Epidermis (on skin).
Eu-: Implies normal or good; illustrated by Eupnoea (normal breathing) and Eupepsia (good digestion).
Hetero-: Indicates different; example: Heterotopia (abnormal organ position).
Homo-: Means same; as seen in Homogeneous (having uniform properties).
Hyper-: Suggests excessive; shown in Hyperemia (excessive blood) and Hypertrophy (overgrowth).
Hypo-: Means under or below; seen in Hypotension (low blood pressure) and Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
Infra-: Indicates beneath or below; found in Infraorbital (below eye).
Inter-: Signifies among or between; as in Intercostal (between ribs).
Intra-: Means within or inside; exemplified by Intracerebral (within cerebrum).
Macro-: Indicates large; used in Macroscopic (visible to the naked eye).
Micro-: Implies small; as seen in Microbiology (study of microscopic organisms).
Neo-: Signifies new; illustrated by Neoplasm (new growth, tumor).
Pan-: Means all; depicted in Pandemic (widespread illness).
Para-: Indicates beside or beyond; seen in Paracardiac (beside the heart).
Per-: Suggests through; as in Permeate (pass through).
Peri-: Means around; visible in Periosteum (around bone).
Post-: Denotes after; as in Postoperative (after an operation).
Pre-: Indicates before; illustrated by Premaxillary (in front of maxilla).
Retro-: Signifies backward or behind; depicted in Retrocervical (behind cervix).
Sub-: Means below or under; seen in Subcutaneous (under skin).
Super-: Indicates above or excess; as in Superficial (close to surface).
Supra-: Means above; shown in Suprarenal (above kidney).
Tachy-: Denotes fast; illustrated by Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
Trans-: Signifies through or across; found in Transection (cut across).
Ultra-: Indicates beyond or excess; as in Ultraviolet (beyond violet spectrum).