Medical Prefixes: A- to Arteri- (o)

Prefixes: A-

• Prefix A- or An signifies a deficiency or absence.
• Examples:
  • Atrophy means lack of growth.
  • Asymptomatic means absence of symptoms.
  • Acyanotic refers to the absence of cyanosis.
  • Anencephaly means without a head.
  • Anuria refers to the absence of urine.
  • Anemia means deficiency of blood.
  • Analgesia signifies a lack of pain.

Prefixes: Aden- (o)

• Prefix Aden- (o) refers to a gland.
• Examples:
  • Adenoma indicates an enlargement of a gland.
  • Adenocarcinoma refers to tumors of a gland.
  • Adenitis means inflammation of a gland.

Prefixes: Ante-

• Prefix Ante- means before.
• Examples:
  • Antepartum refers to before delivery.
  • Antenatal means before birth.

Prefixes: Anti-

• Prefix Anti- means against, or contra.
• Examples:
  • Antiviral is against a virus.
  • Antimicrobial is against a microbe.
  • Antibiotic is against bacteria.

Prefixes: Arteri- (o)

• Prefix Arteri- (o) relates to an artery, or arterial.
• Examples:
  • Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of arteries.
  • Arteritis means inflammation of an artery.

Prefixes: Arthr- (o)

• Prefix Arthr- (o) relates to a joint.
• Examples:
  • Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint.
  • Arthralgia means pain at the joint.
  • Arthrocentesis is taking fluids out of the joint.
  • Arthrotomy is an opening in the joint.

Prefixes: Audi-, Audio-

• Prefix Audi- and Audio- pertain to the ear.
• Examples:
  • Auditory relates to hearing.
  • Audiology is the study of hearing.

Prefixes: Auto-

• Prefix Auto- means self, or for oneself.
• Example:
  • Autoimmune refers to self-immunity.

Prefixes: Bi-

• Prefix Bi means twice.
• Example:
  • Bilateral means both sides.

Prefixes: Brady-

• Prefix Brady- means slow, or decrease.
• Examples:
  • Bradycardia is a slow heart beat.
  • Bradypnea is the decrease of the respiratory rate.

Prefixes: Bronch-, Broncho-

• Prefixes Bronch- and Broncho- refer to bronchus or bronchi (airways).
• Examples:
  • Bronchoscope is a device used to view the airways.
  • Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways.

Medical Abbreviations: Dys-

• Dys- means difficult.
• Examples:
  • Dyspnea means difficult breathing.
  • Dyspepsia means difficult digestion.

Suffixes: -ology / -ologist

• -ology means study.
• -ologist means specialize in certain organ.
• Examples:
  • Cardiology means study of the heart.
  • Cardiologist mean heart specialist.

Medical Terms Beginning with "An"

• An signifies no or low.
• Anemia: Low hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
• Anesthesia: Loss of sensation (Disease-related or treatment-related).

Medical Terms Ending in "Ache"

• Ache means pain.
• Headache: pain in the head.
• Backache: pain in the back.
• Bone ache: pain in a certain bone.

Medical Terms Ending in "Cytosis"

• Cytosis means increase number
• Examples:
• Leukocytosis: an increased number of leukocytes (WBCs) in the blood.

Medical Terms Ending in "Cytopenia"

• Cytopenia means decreased number.
• Examples:
  • Leukocytopenia means decreased number of leukocytes (WBCs) in the blood.

Medical Terms Ending in "Ectomy"

• Ectomy means cutting or removal of a part.
• Examples:
• Appendectomy means excision of the appendix.
• Tonsillectomy means excision of tonsils.

Medical Terms Ending in "Itis"

• Itis means inflammation
• Examples:
  • Appendicitis: inflammation of appendix.
  • Dermatitis: inflammation of skin.

Medical Terms Ending in "Megally"

• Megally describes enlargement
• Examples:
  • Acromegaly: ضخامة الأطراف
  • Splenomegaly: large spleen.
  • Hepatomegaly : large liver.

Medical Terms Ending in "Pathy"

• Pathy refers to pathologic changes in tissues
• Examples:
  • Cardiomyopathy: pathologic changes in the cardiac muscle.
  • Encephalopathy: pathologic changes in the brain.