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Questions and Answers
What does the prefix 'a, an' mean?
What does the prefix 'a, an' mean?
What does the prefix 'ab' denote?
What does the prefix 'ab' denote?
What is the meaning of the prefix 'ad'?
What is the meaning of the prefix 'ad'?
What does the suffix 'algia' signify?
What does the suffix 'algia' signify?
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The prefix 'ante' refers to which of the following?
The prefix 'ante' refers to which of the following?
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What does the prefix 'anti' mean?
What does the prefix 'anti' mean?
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The prefix 'bi' signifies what?
The prefix 'bi' signifies what?
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What does the prefix 'brady' refer to?
What does the prefix 'brady' refer to?
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The prefix 'circum' means what?
The prefix 'circum' means what?
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What does 'co, con' indicate?
What does 'co, con' indicate?
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What does the prefix 'de' imply?
What does the prefix 'de' imply?
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What is the meaning of the suffix 'desis'?
What is the meaning of the suffix 'desis'?
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The prefix 'dia' means?
The prefix 'dia' means?
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What does the prefix 'dys' denote?
What does the prefix 'dys' denote?
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What does the prefix 'ecto' indicate?
What does the prefix 'ecto' indicate?
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What does the suffix 'ectomy' mean?
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!
