Medical Terminology Prefixes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the prefix 'uni' mean?

one, single (correct)

many

two, both

three

What does the prefix 'mono' refer to?

many

one (correct)

three

two, both

Which prefix means 'two, both'?

uni

mono

bi (correct)

tri

What is the meaning of the prefix 'di'?

two Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'ambi' mean?

both Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix 'tri'?

three Signup and view all the answers

Which prefix means 'four'?

quadra Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'poly' mean?

many Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix 'multi'?

many, several Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'mega' signify?

large, excessive Signup and view all the answers

Which prefix means 'few, scant'?

olig Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'hemi' refer to?

half Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'tachy' mean?

fast Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'brady' mean?

slow Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'pan' mean?

all Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'hyper' indicate?

more, excessive, increased Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix 'hypo'?

less, deficient Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'infra' refer to?

below, under Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'extra' mean?

out, outside, away Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'pro' mean?

before Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'dys' refer to?

painful, faulty, difficult Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prefixes Indicating Numbers or Amounts

uni: means one; e.g., unilateral.
mono: means one; e.g., mononucleosis.
bi: means two or both; e.g., bilateral.
di: means two; e.g., diplegia.
ambi: means both; e.g., ambivalent.
tri: means three; e.g., trivalent.
quadra: means four; e.g., quadriplegic.
tetra: means four; e.g., tetralogy.
poly: means many; e.g., polycythemia.
multi: means many or several; e.g., multiphasic.
mega: means large or excessive; e.g., megaloblasts.
olig: means few or scant; e.g., oliguria.
micro: means very small; e.g., microtension.
hemi: means half; e.g., hemisphere.
semi: means part of a whole; e.g., semifluent.

Prefixes Indicating Absence or Opposites

a: means without; e.g., anemia.
an: means without; e.g., anaerobic.

Prefixes Indicating Speed or Quantity

tachy: means fast; e.g., tachycardia.
brady: means slow; e.g., bradycardia.
pan: means all; e.g., pandemic.

Prefixes Indicating Amount or Position/Direction

hyper: means excessive, more; e.g., hypertensive.
hypo: means less, deficient; e.g., hypoglycemic.
infra: means less than; e.g., infrasonic.
sub: means less than; e.g., subnormal.
meta: means change; e.g., metastasize.
super: means excessive, more; e.g., supernumerary.
supra: means excessive, outside; e.g., supraliminal.
ultra: means excessive; e.g., ultramodern.

Prefixes Indicating Position/Direction

ad-: means near, toward; e.g., adhere.
ab-: means away from; e.g., absolve.
anti-: means against, opposed to; e.g., anticoagulant.
contra-: means against, opposed to; e.g., contraindicated.
circum-: means around; e.g., circumcision.
peri-: means around; e.g., peritectomy.
de-: means not, from, down; e.g., descending.
dia-: means through, across; e.g., diagonal.
trans-: means across, through; e.g., transverse.
dis-: means separate, apart; e.g., distal.
epi-: means upon, above; e.g., epiglottis.
para-: means along, beside; e.g., parathyroid.

Prefixes Indicating Time or Position/Direction

per-: means through; e.g., permanent, percutaneous.
post-: means after; e.g., postsurgical, posterior.
pre-: means before; e.g., precursor, preaxial.
re-: means again, back; e.g., revive, recline.
retro-: means backward, behind; e.g., retrospective, retrobulbular.

Commonly Used Prefixes Indicating Location

e: means out, outside, away; e.g., elevate.
ec: means out, outside, away; e.g., eclabium.
ex: means out, outside, away; e.g., external.
ecto: means out, outside, away; e.g., ectoplasm.
exo: means out, outside, away; e.g., exogenous.
extra: means out, outside, away; e.g., extrapolate.
en: means in or inside; e.g., endermic.
endo: means in or inside; e.g., endodontic.
in: means in or inside; e.g., interior.
intra: means in or inside; e.g., intramuscular.

Additional Common Prefixes

ante: means before; e.g., anterior.
pro: means before; e.g., prophylactic.

Common Prefixes Indicating Association

con: means with; e.g., connecting.
syn: means with; e.g., synthetic.
sym: means with; e.g., symbiosis.

auto: means self; e.g., autoclave.
bio: means life; e.g., biology.
dys: means painful, faulty, difficult; e.g., dyspepsia.
eu: means normal; e.g., eugenics.

Prevalent Medical Terms with Unique Plurals

apex: plural is apices.
appendix: plural is appendices.
bacterium: plural is bacteriA.
cardiopathy: plural is cardiopathies.
condyloma: plural is condylomata.
diagnosis: plural is diagnoses.
fungus: plural is fungI.
phenomenon: plural is phenomena.
thorax: plural is thoraces.
vertebra: plural is vertebrae.

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Description

This quiz features flashcards focused on key prefixes used in medical terminology. Each card provides the meaning and an example of usage, aiding in the understanding of how numbers and amounts relate to medical terms. Enhance your vocabulary and comprehension of medical prefixes through this engaging format.