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.

Test your knowledge of medical prefixes with this flashcard quiz focusing on prefixes from 'Im' to 'Ultra'. Each card provides the prefix along with its meaning to help you enhance your understanding of medical terminology. Ideal for students and professionals in the healthcare field.