21 Questions
What is the typical location of a medical prefix in a medical term?
At the beginning of the term
What does a medical prefix usually indicate in a medical term?
Location, direction, time, quality, or quantity
What is the significance of a prefix in medical terminology?
It gives information about the term's meaning
Where is the prefix typically placed in a medical term?
Before the root word
What information can a prefix provide about a medical term?
The location, direction, or quality of a condition
What does the root 'odont-' refer to in medical terminology?
Tooth
What does the suffix '-iatrist' refer to in medical terminology?
A physician or doctor
What does the prefix 'dys-' refer to in medical terminology?
Malfunction or difficulty
What does the root 'phthisi-' refer to in medical terminology?
Tuberculosis
What does the suffix '-algia' refer to in medical terminology?
Pain
What does the prefix 'hyper-' refer to in medical terminology?
Above or excessive
What does the root 'trich-' refer to in medical terminology?
Hair
What does the suffix '-trophy' refer to in medical terminology?
Nourishment or development
What is the meaning of the root 'hist-' in medical terms?
tissue
Which suffix is used to indicate a decreased number in blood?
-penia
What does the prefix 'bi-' mean in medical terms?
two
Which root is used to describe a woman or female in medical terms?
gynaec-
What is the meaning of the suffix '-phobia' in medical terms?
fear
Which root is used to describe a tumour in medical terms?
onc-
What is the meaning of the prefix 'mono-' in medical terms?
one
Which root is used to describe fat or lipid in medical terms?
lip-
Study Notes
Medical Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
- A prefix appears at the beginning of a medical term and usually indicates location, direction, time, quality, or quantity.
Roots
- Roots are Greek and Latin words that provide the core meaning of a medical term.
- Examples of roots:
- odont- means tooth (odontalgia)
- ophthalm- means eye (ophthalmopathia)
- ot- means ear (otoscopia)
- paed- means child or children (paediatria)
- phleb- means vein (phlebotomia)
- phthisi- means tuberculosis (phthisiatria)
- psych- means mind (psychologia)
- trich- means hair (trichopathia)
- aesthesi- means feeling or sensation (anaesthesiologia)
- brady- means slow (bradycardia)
- gynaec- means woman or female (gynaecologia)
- hist- means tissue (histologia)
- hydr- means water (hydrophobia)
- lip- means fat or lipid (lipōma)
- lith- means stone or calculus (phlebolithus)
- melan- means black (melanuria)
- onc- means tumour (oncologia)
- pyr- means fever or heat (pyrotherapia)
- tachy- means fast (tachycardia)
Suffixes
- Suffixes are Greek and Latin words that are attached to the end of a medical term to provide additional meaning.
- Examples of suffixes:
- -alg means pain (trichalgia)
- -iatrist means physician (paediater)
- -plasia means formation or development (hyperplasia)
- -rrhagia means bleeding (rhinorrhagia)
- -rrhaphia means suturing (metrorrhaphia)
- -rrhea means discharge or elimination (rhinorrhoea)
- -trophia means nourishment or development (dystrophia)
- -penia means decreased number (in blood) (leucocytopenia)
- -pexia means fixation (nephropexia)
- -phobia means fear (hydrophobia)
- -plegia means paralysis or palsy (diplegia)
Prefixes
- Prefixes are Greek and Latin words that are attached to the beginning of a medical term to provide additional meaning.
- Examples of prefixes:
- a- or an- means no, not, or without (aplasia)
- dys- means malfunction or difficulty (dysplasia)
- hyper- means above or excessive (hyperplasia)
- hypo- means below or deficient (hypoplasia)
- bi- or di- means two (didactylia)
- mono- means one or single (monophobia)
Test your knowledge of medical prefixes and their meanings. Learn to decipher medical terms by identifying prefixes that indicate location, direction, time, quality, or quantity.
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