Questions and Answers
What does the prefix 'a, an' mean?
What does the prefix 'ab' denote?
What is the meaning of the prefix 'ad'?
What does the suffix 'algia' signify?
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The prefix 'ante' refers to which of the following?
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What does the prefix 'anti' mean?
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The prefix 'bi' signifies what?
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What does the prefix 'brady' refer to?
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The prefix 'circum' means what?
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What does 'co, con' indicate?
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What does the prefix 'de' imply?
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What is the meaning of the suffix 'desis'?
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The prefix 'dia' means?
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What does the prefix 'dys' denote?
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What does the prefix 'ecto' indicate?
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What does the suffix 'ectomy' mean?
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Study Notes
Prefixes and Suffixes in Medical Terminology
- a, an: Denotes absence; used in terms like anencephalic (without a brain).
- ab: Indicates movement away from; seen in abduction (movement away from the body's midline).
- ad: Signifies movement toward; evident in adduction (movement toward the body's midline).
- algia: Relates to pain; found in neuralgia (nerve pain).
- ante: Means before; used in antepartum (before birth).
- anti: Conveys opposition; used in antibacterial (against bacteria).
- bi: Indicates two; seen in bilateral (affecting both sides).
- brady: Refers to slowness; found in bradycardia (slow heartbeat).
- circum: Means around; evident in circumrenal (surrounding the kidney).
- co, con: Signifies togetherness; observed in concentric (same center).
- de: Indicates down or away; used in dehydrate (remove hydration).
- desis: Refers to binding or fixation; used in arthrodesis (joint fixation).
- dia: Indicates through; seen in diaplacental (through the placenta).
- dys: Refers to difficulty or abnormality; found in dysemia (abnormal blood).
- ecto: Means outside; evident in ectocornea (outer cornea layer).
- ectomy: Refers to excision; observed in tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils).
- endo: Indicates within; used in endogastric (within the stomach).
- epi: Means above or outer; seen in epigastric (top of the stomach).
- exo: Indicates outside or away from; found in exophthalmos (bulging eyes).
- extra: Signifies beyond; used in extrasensory (beyond normal senses).
- ferro: Relates to iron; evident in ferrokinetics (study of iron metabolism).
- fore: Indicates before; used in forehead (part located in front of the head).
- form: Pertains to shape; found in reniform (kidney-shaped).
- graphy: Related to writing or recording; seen in graphospasm (writer's cramp).
- hemi: Denotes half; evident in hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body).
- hydra, hydro: Refers to water; used in hydrophobia (fear of water).
- hyper: Indicates above normal; seen in hypertension (high blood pressure).
- hypo: Means below normal; used in hypothermic (below normal temperature).
- iasis: Denotes a condition; observed in cholelithiasis (gallstones condition).
- iatric: Relates to medicine; seen in pediatric (children's medicine).
- ic: Pertains to; evident in enteric (related to the intestine).
- inter: Means between; used in intercostal (between the ribs).
- intra: Indicates within; seen in intra-aortic (within the aorta).
- isis, asis: Signifies a condition; found in metastasis (change in location).
- itis: Refers to inflammation; used in gastritis (inflammation of the stomach).
- juxta: Means near; evident in juxtaepiphysical (near the epiphysis).
- kinesis: Relates to movement; seen in metakinesis (moving part).
- kypho: Means humped; used in kyphosis (hunchback condition).
- logia, logy: Denotes the study of; evident in cardiology (study of heart).
- lysis: Relates to disintegration; found in osteolysis (bone breakdown).
- macro: Indicates large; observed in macrostomia (large mouth).
- malacia: Refers to softening; used in chondromalacia (soft cartilage).
- med, medi, medio: Define middle; evident in mediocarpal (middle of the wrist).
- mega, megaly: Signifies enlargement; used in cardiomegaly (enlarged heart).
- micro: Means small; observed in microcephalic (small brain).
- mono: Indicates one; seen in mononucleosis (condition of a single nucleus).
- multi: Signifies many; used in multifocal (affecting multiple areas).
- neo: Means new; evident in neonatal (relating to newborns).
- ob: Indicates against; used in obtunded (dull or less responsive).
- oid: Refers to resemblance; seen in mucoid (mucous-like).
- oligo: Denotes few; evident in oliguria (low urine output).
- ology: Relates to the study of; seen in neurology (study of nerves).
- oma: Signifies tumor; observed in lymphoma (lymphatic tumor).
- osis: Indicates a condition; used in pediculosis (lice infestation).
- otomy: Refers to incision; evident in craniotomy (opening the skull).
- pachy: Means thick; observed in pachycephalic (thick skull).
- para: Indicates near or abnormality; seen in paralgia (abnormal pain).
- path: Relates to disease; evident in pathology (study of diseases).
- penia: Denotes deficiency; used in cytopenia (lack of blood cells).
- peri: Means around; seen in pericardium (membrane around the heart).
- pexy: Refers to fixation; evident in retinopexy (reattaching retina).
- phobia: Indicates fear; observed in hydrophobia (fear of water).
- phoresis: Relates to transmission; seen in diaphoresis (sweating).
- plasty: Denotes surgical shaping; evident in orthoplasty (surgical straightening).
- plegia: Relates to paralysis; used in paraplegia (lower body paralysis).
- poly: Indicates many; observed in polyarthritis (multiple joint inflammation).
- post: Signifies after; used in postmortem (after death).
- pre: Means before; seen in preoperative (before surgery).
- pro: Indicates in front of; evident in proglossis (tip of the tongue).
- pseudo: Denotes false; used in pseudodipsia (false sensation of thirst).
- ptosis: Refers to falling; evident in mastoptosis (drooping of the breast).
- re: Indicates back or again; used in reflex (response to stimulus).
- retro: Means backward; seen in retroflexed (bent backward).
- rrhaphy: Refers to suture; observed in cardiorrhaphy (suturing of heart).
- rhexis: Relates to rupture; evident in angiorrhexis (ruptured blood vessel).
- scopy: Denotes examination; used in bronchoscopy (examining the bronchus).
- semi: Means half; observed in semicomatose (partially conscious).
- sphygmo: Relates to pulse; evident in sphygmomanometer (measuring blood pressure).
- sub: Indicates below; used in sublingual (under the tongue).
- super, supra: Means above; seen in superacute (extremely severe).
- sym, syn: Signifies together; observed in symbiotic (mutually dependent).
- tachy: Indicates fast; evident in tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).
- tele: Denotes distance; seen in telemetry (remote monitoring).
- toxo: Indicates poison; used in toxicoderma (skin disease from poison).
- trans: Means across; evident in transfusion (blood transfer).
- tri: Indicates three; seen in tricuspid (three cusps).
- ultra: Refers to beyond; observed in ultrasonic (beyond audible sound).
- uni: Means one; seen in uniocular (having one eye).
- xeno: Indicates foreign; evident in xenograft (graft from a different species).
- xero: Refers to dryness; used in xerochilia (dry lips).
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Test your knowledge on essential medical prefixes and suffixes with this quiz. Each card features a term along with its definition and usage. Perfect for students in medical terminology courses!
