Medical Terminology: Prefixes

• Medical terminology is the study of terms used in the medical field.

Prefixes

• Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning.

Prefix A- or An-

• Means "lack of" or "absence".
• Atrophy means lack of growth.
• Asymptomatic means absence of symptoms.
• Acyanotic means absence of cyanosis.
• Anencephaly means without head.
• Anuria means absence of urine.
• Anemia means deficiency of blood.
• Analgesia means lack of pain.

Prefix Aden-(o)

• Means "gland".
• Adenoma means enlargement of gland.
• Adenocarcinoma means tumors of gland.
• Adenitis means inflammation of gland.

Prefix Ante-

• Means "before".
• Antepartum means before delivery.
• Antenatal means before birth.

Prefix Anti-

• Means "against" or "contra".
• Antiviral is against virus.
• Antimicrobial is against microbe.
• Antibiotic is against bacteria.

Prefix Arteri-(o)

• Means "artery" or "arterial".
• Arteriosclerosis means hardening of arteries.
• Arteritis means inflammation of artery.

Prefix Arthr-(o)

• Means "joint".
• Arthritis means inflammation of joint.
• Arthralgia means pain at the joint.
• Arthrocentesis means taking fluids out of the joint.
• Arthrotomy means an opening in the joint.

Prefix Audi- or Audio-

• Means "pertaining to ear".
• Auditory relates to hearing.
• Audiology is the study of hearing.

Prefix Auto-

• Means "self" or "for oneself".
• Autoimmune is self immunity

Prefix Bi

• Means twice.
• Bilateral means both sides.

Prefix Brady-

• Means "slow" or "decrease".
• Bradycardia means slow heart beat.
• Bradypnea means decrease of respiratory rate.

Prefix Bronch- or Broncho-

• Means "bronchus" or "bronchi".
• Bronchoscope is a viewing instrument of the bronchi.
• Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi.

Suffix Dys-

• Means "difficult"
• Dyspnea means difficult breathing.
• Dyspepsia means difficult digestion.

Suffix -ology and -ologist

• -ology means study.
• -ologist means specialize in certain organ
• Cardiology means study of the heart.
• Cardiologist is a heart specialist.

Prefix An

• Means no or low.
• Anemia is low hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
• Anesthesia is loss of sensation.

Suffix Ache

• Means pain.
• Headache is pain in the head.
• Backache is pain in the back.
• Bone ache is pain in certain bone.

Suffix Cytosis

• Means increase number.
• Leukocytosis is an increased number of leukocytes in the blood.

Suffix Cytopenia

• Means decreased number.
• Leukocytopenia is a decreased number of leukocytes in the blood.

Suffix Ectomy

• Means cutting or removal.
• Appendectomy is cutting of the appendix.
• Tonsillectomy is cutting of the tonsils.

Suffix ltis

• Means inflammation.
• Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix.
• Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin.

Suffix Megally

• Means enlargement.
• Acromegaly is enlargement of the extremities.
• Splenomegaly is a large spleen.
• Hepatomegaly is a large liver.

Suffix Pathy

• Means pathologic changes.
• Cardiomyopathy is pathologic changes in the cardiac muscle.
• Encephalopathy is pathologic changes in the brain.