Medical Terminology Flashcards: a- to pseudo-

Prefixes Indicating Absence or Negation

• a-: Denotes the absence of something; translates to "without."
• an-: Similar to "a-," it indicates lack or absence.
• de-: Implies removal or negation; can also mean "without."
• dis-: Signifies separation or apartness.
• dys-: Refers to difficulty or pain associated with a condition.
• non-: Means "not," indicating negation.
• nullli-: Represents "none," indicating complete absence.

Prefixes Indicating Quantity or Comparison

• bi-: Implies "two."
• hemi-: Means "half."
• mono-: Indicates "one."
• multi-: Refers to "many."
• poly-: Another term for "many," often used in broader contexts.
• macro-: Indicates "large" or an extensive scale.
• micro-: Refers to "small" or minute sizes.

Prefixes Indicating Location or Direction

• ante-: Means "before" in time or position.
• post-: Indicates "after" in time or position.
• pre-: Suggests "before" in a different context.
• intra-: Refers to "within," indicating an internal location.
• inter-: Implies "between," as in relationships or positions.
• peri-: Means "around" a specific area or location.
• exo-: Indicates "outward," suggesting movement or position outside.
• extra-: Refers to being "outside of" something.
• eso-: Denotes "inward," indicating entry into something.

Prefixes Indicating Condition or Status

• allo-: Means "other," useful in differentiating types.
• auto-: Refers to "self," indicating origin or self-source.
• hetero-: Implies "different," often contrasting with "homo-."
• homo-: Indicates "same," showing similarity.
• hyper-: Denotes an "excessive" state or level.
• hypo-: Refers to a state that is "below" normal or insufficient.

Other Notable Prefixes

• eu-: Indicates "normal" or good condition.
• brady-: Implies a "slow" condition, often in reference to speed.
• myo-: Suggests "muscle" or muscle-related conditions.
• neo-: Refers to "new," often in developmental contexts.
• pseudo-: Denotes something that is "false" or misleading.