Medical Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes

Medical Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes

• inter: Means "between" or "within"; example - interdisciplinary refers to being between different academic disciplines.
• a, an: Indicates absence; example - analgesic means without pain.
• leuk: Denotes "white"; example - leukocyte refers to a white blood cell.
• ante: Means "before"; example - antepartum refers to the period before delivery.
• anti: Signifies "against"; example - anticoagulant prevents blood from clotting.
• bi: Represents "two"; example - bifocal refers to glasses with two lenses.
• olig: Indicates "small" or "scant"; example - oliguria refers to a small amount of urine.
• brady: Means "slow"; example - bradycardia indicates a slow heartbeat.
• patho: Relates to disease; example - pathology is the study of diseases.
• contra: Signifies "against"; example - contraceptive prevents pregnancy.

Commonly Used Medical Prefixes

• per: Means "by" or "through"; example - perforate means to make a hole through.
• dis: Indicates separation; example - disinfected means free from microorganisms.
• peri: Refers to "around"; example - pericardium is the sac surrounding the heart.
• dys: Means "bad" or "painful"; example - dysuria refers to painful urination.
• poly: Indicates "many" or "much"; example - polyuria refers to excessive urination.
• endo: Denotes "inner"; example - endoscope is an instrument for internal examination.

Additional Medical Roots and Their Meanings

• post: Means "after"; example - postmortem refers to events occurring after death.
• pre: Indicates "before"; example - prenatal refers to the period before birth.
• sub: Means "under" or "beneath"; example - subcutaneous refers to tissue beneath the skin.
• supra: Means "above" or "over"; example - suprapelvic indicates a position above the pelvis.
• tachy: Refers to "swift" or "fast"; example - tachycardia indicates a rapid heartbeat.
• hemi: Signifies "half"; example - hemisphere refers to one half of the brain.

Medical Conditions and Procedures

• hyper: Indicates excessive amounts; example - hypertension is high blood pressure.
• hypo: Means "below" or "under"; example - hypotension refers to low blood pressure.
• abdomin(o): Related to the abdomen; example - abdominal pertains to that area.
• aden(o): Refers to glands; example - adenitis is inflammation of a gland.
• angi(o): Pertains to vessels; example - angioplasty is the surgical repair of a vessel.
• arteri(o): Relates to arteries; example - arteriosclerosis refers to the hardening of artery walls.

Body Systems and Anatomy

• arthro: Refers to joints; example - arthrotomy means cutting into a joint.
• cardio: Pertains to the heart; example - cardiology is the study of the heart.
• cephal(o): Means "head"; example - cephalalgia refers to headache.
• cerebr(o): Relates to the brain; example - cerebrospinal pertains to the brain and spinal cord.
• chol(e): Refers to bile; example - cholecystitis is inflammation of the gall bladder.
• col(o): Pertains to the colon; example - colostomy creates an opening in the abdomen to allow feces expulsion.

Infections and Inflammation

• cyan(o): Indicates a blue color; example - cyanosis refers to a bluish tinge to the skin due to oxygen deficiency.
• cyst(o): Refers to the bladder; example - cystitis is inflammation of the bladder.
• dermat(o): Pertains to skin; example - dermatitis indicates inflammation of the skin.
• gastro: Refers to the stomach; example - gastritis means inflammation of the stomach.
• hem(o): Related to blood; example - hemostasis is the process of stopping blood flow after injury.

Surgical Procedures

• hyster(o): Indicates uterus; example - hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus.
• nephr(o): Pertains to the kidney; example - nephrectomy is the removal of a kidney.
• neur(o): Refers to nerves; example - neuritis indicates inflammation of a nerve.
• ophthalmo: Related to the eye; example - ophthalmologist is a specialist in eye care.
• thorac(o): Refers to the chest; example - thoracotomy is incision into the chest wall.

Specialized Medical Fields

• onc(o): Pertains to tumors; example - oncology is the study of tumors.
• pneum(a): Refers to air; example - pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs.
• pod(o): Relates to the foot; example - podiatrist is a doctor specializing in foot care.
• procto: Pertains to the anus or rectum; example - proctalgia refers to rectal pain.
• toxic(o): Relates to poisons; example - toxicology is the study of poisons.