Medical Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz

Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

• Polio-: Refers to gray; often used in medical terminology associated with neurological conditions.
• Poly-: Indicates 'many'; frequently used to describe multiple instances or conditions.
• Post-: Means 'behind, after, following'; often denotes timing in medical contexts, such as 'post-operative'.
• Pre-: Signifies 'before, ahead of'; used to indicate something that occurs prior to an event, like 'pre-existing conditions'.
• Presby-: Relates to 'old age'; commonly found in terms such as 'presbyopia', referring to age-related vision changes.
• Pro-: Implies 'in front of, before'; can indicate anatomical positions or surgical procedures, like 'prolapse'.
• Proct-, procto-: Associated with the rectum; important in terms related to bowel and rectal health.
• Pseud-, pseudo-: Denotes 'false'; often used to describe diseases or conditions that resemble others but are not genuine, e.g., 'pseudomonas'.
• Psych-, psycho-: Pertains to 'mind'; used in a variety of mental health terminologies like 'psychology' and 'psychiatry'.
• -ptosis: Refers to 'downward displacement, falling'; a key suffix in medical terms indicating a dropping or sagging of an organ, such as 'nephroptosis' (kidney dropping).
• Pulmo-, pulmono-: Relates to 'lung'; essential in terms associated with respiratory conditions, such as 'pulmonary'.
• Py-, pyo-: Indicates 'pus'; used in terms suggesting infection or inflammation, like 'pyoderma'.
• Pyel-, pyelo-: Refers to 'kidney pelvis'; crucial in discussing renal anatomy and conditions affecting the kidneys.