Medical Terminology Direction Prefixes Quiz & Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the prefix 'ab' in 'abduction' mean?

inside

around

toward

away from (correct)

What does the prefix 'ad' in 'adduction' refer to?

toward

What does 'circum' signify in terms of location?

around

What does 'trans' mean in 'transurethral'?

across, through Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'ultra' refer to?

beyond Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ecto' mean in medical terminology?

outside Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'peri' denotes what?

around Signup and view all the answers

What does 'super' mean in 'superior vena cava'?

upper part Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'intra' signify?

within Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ambi' mean?

both Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ante' signify?

before, in front Signup and view all the answers

What does 'de' mean in medical terminology?

down, from Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dia' refer to in 'diagnosis'?

through Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'endo' indicate?

within Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'epi' means what?

upon, over Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ex' mean in medical terms?

out, away from Signup and view all the answers

What does 'exo' mean?

outside, outward Signup and view all the answers

What does 'extra' refer to?

outside, beyond Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'hypo' indicate?

under, below Signup and view all the answers

What does 'in' in 'intubate' mean?

inside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'infra' refer to?

beneath, below Signup and view all the answers

What does 'inter' signify?

between Signup and view all the answers

What does 'juxta' mean?

near, beside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'meso' indicate?

middle Signup and view all the answers

What does 'para' mean?

near, beside Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'pre' mean?

before, in front Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pro' signify?

in front, before Signup and view all the answers

What does 're' indicate?

back, again Signup and view all the answers

What does 'retro' mean?

backward, behind Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sub' refer to?

under, below Signup and view all the answers

What does 'supra' mean?

above, over Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'ec' commonly mean?

out or outside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'en' or 'em' mean?

within or inside Signup and view all the answers

What does 'exotrophy' refer to?

outward turning Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medical Terminology Prefixes - Direction

ab: Means "away from"; exemplified by "abduction," which refers to movement away from the midline of the body.
ad: Means "toward" or "increase"; used in "adduction," indicating movement toward the midline of the body.
circum: Refers to something "around another"; as in "circumrenal," which describes the area surrounding the kidney.
trans: Means "across" or "through"; seen in "transurethral," indicating something that crosses or is through the urethra.
ultra: Indicates "excess" or "beyond"; exemplified by "ultrasonic waves," which are sounds beyond the range of human hearing.
ecto: Means "outside"; used in "ectopic," describing something located outside its normal position.
peri: Denotes a position "surrounding" or "around"; as in "periodontal," meaning around a tooth.
para: Means "alongside of" or "beside"; evident in terms like parathyroid (adjacent to the thyroid) and paraumbilical (beside the umbilicus).
super: Indicates "upper part of" a structure; seen in "superior vena cava," the upper portion of the vena cava.
intra: Means "within"; used in "intracardiac," indicating something located within the heart.
ambi: Refers to "both sides"; as in "ambidextrous," the ability to use both hands proficiently.
ante: Means "before" or "in front"; exemplified by "antecubital," the space in front of the elbow.
circum: Denotes "around"; as seen in "circumoral," meaning around the mouth.
de: Refers to "down" or "from"; as in "descend," to come down from a higher position.
dia: Means "through"; used in "diagnosis," which signifies knowledge gained through testing.
endo: Means "within"; as seen in "endocervical," indicating the inner lining of the cervix.
epi: Indicates "upon" or "over"; as in "epigastric," which refers to the region above the stomach.
ex: Means "out," "away from," or "outside"; seen in "extract," meaning to remove a tooth from the oral cavity.
exo: Means "outside" or "outward"; as with "exogenous," indicating something originating outside the body.
extra: Refers to "outside" or "beyond"; as in "extrahepatic," meaning outside the liver.
hypo: Indicates "under," "below," or "less than normal"; seen in "hypoglossal" (under the tongue) and "hypoglycemia" (abnormally low blood glucose levels).
in: Means "inside" or "within"; as in "intubate," which refers to inserting a tube into an organ or body cavity.
infra: Means "beneath" or "below"; used in "infrapatellar," indicating the area below the knee.
inter: Refers to "between"; seen in "intercostal," which indicates the area between the ribs.
intra: Again indicates "within"; as in "intravenous," meaning within a vein.
juxta: Means "near" or "beside"; exemplified by "juxta-articular," indicating a location near a joint.
meso: Means "middle"; as in "mesoderm," referring to the middle layer of skin in embryonic development.
para: Again refers to "near" or "beside"; as in "paracervical," meaning near the cervix.
peri: Again denotes "around"; as in "perianal," describing the area around the anus.
pre: Means "before" or "in front"; seen in "precordial," referring to the chest wall region in front of the heart.
pro: Indicates "in front" or "before"; as in "prognosis," which refers to knowledge of the likely course of a disease before it progresses.
re: Means "back" or "again"; seen in "reactivate," which means to make something active again.
retro: Refers to "backward" or "behind"; used in "retroflexion," describing an abnormal position where an organ tilts backward.
sub: Means "under" or "below"; as in "sublingual," indicating something situated under the tongue.
supra: Refers to "above" or "over"; seen in "suprapubic," indicating a position above the pubic area.
ec, ecto, ex, exo, extra: All denote "out" or "outside."
en, em, endo: All refer to "within" or "inside."
exotrophy: Indicates "outward"; combines "exo" (outside) and "trophy" (turning), representing outward turning of the eye.

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Test your knowledge of medical terminology prefixes related to direction with these flashcards. Each card provides a prefix, its meaning, and an example of its usage in a medical term. Enhance your understanding of how these prefixes apply in the medical field.

Medical Terminology: Direction Prefixes Flashcards

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