Medical Terminology Prefixes 3 (Im-Ultra)

Medical Terminology Prefixes (Im-Ultra)

• Im/In: Indicates concepts of "in," "into," or "not" which are often used to denote negation or directionality in medical terms.

• Infra: Refers to something that is located "below" or "beneath," commonly used in anatomical descriptions.

• Inter: Describes a relationship that is "between" two or more entities, frequently applied in terms like "intercellular."

• Intra: Signifies something that occurs "within" a particular structure or area, such as "intravenous," meaning inside the vein.

• Intro: Similar to intra, this prefix means "into" or "within" and can imply an inward motion or orientation.

• Meta: Denotes concepts of "beyond," "after," or "change," often used in terms that indicate transformation or an advanced stage, such as "metamorphosis."

• Opistho: Means "behind" or "backward," typically utilized in anatomical terms to indicate positioning.

• Para: Implies proximity with meanings like "beside," "beyond," or "near to." It is often found in terms like "paralysis," indicating alongside impairment.

• Per: Suggests a sense of "through" or "excessive," indicating thoroughness or intensity, such as in "percutaneous," meaning through the skin.

• Peri: Refers to something "around" or encircling another structure, commonly used in terms like "pericardium," which is the membrane surrounding the heart.

• Post: Denotes concepts of "after" or "behind," frequently used in terms describing timeframes, such as "postoperative," meaning after surgery.

• Pre/Pro: Signifies "before" or "in front of," indicating a preceding state or phase in medical contexts.

• Re: Conveys concepts of "back," "again," or "contrary," often used in terms like "rehabilitation," meaning to restore to a previous state.

• Retro: Refers to "backward" or situated behind, often indicating a positional relationship in anatomy or pathology.

• Semi: Indicates "half," frequently used in various contexts, such as in "semicircular," which means partially circular.

• Sub: Means "under," commonly used in anatomical descriptions, such as "subcutaneous," meaning under the skin.

• Super/Supra: Indicates "above," "upper," or "excessive," often found in medical jargon to denote higher placement or quantity.

• Sym/Syndrome: Signifies "together" or "with," used extensively in terms relating to simultaneous conditions or characteristics.

• Trans: Means "across," "through," or "beyond," commonly used to describe movements or changes across barriers, such as "transdermal," meaning through the skin.

• Ultra: Conveys meanings of "beyond" or "in excess," often used in contexts like "ultrasound," which refers to sound waves that exceed the frequency audible to humans.