Prefixes in Medical Terminology Quiz

Prefixes in Medical Terminology

• Prefixes: Letters placed at the beginning of a medical term to provide additional meaning.
• Position and Location: Use prefixes to indicate the position or location of a medical condition or entity.
  • Intra-: Inside (intracellular)
  • In/En/Endo-: Within (inhalation, encephalitis, endocarditis)
  • Inter-: Between (intercellular, intercostal)
  • Peri-: Around (pericarditis)
  • Ec/Exo/Ecto-: Outside (ectopic pregnancy, exocytosis)
  • Retro: Behind (retrosternal goiter)
  • Sub/Hypo: Under (subcutaneous, hypodermis)
  • Epi/Supra: Above (epigastric, epicardiac, suprarenal)
  • Ad: Toward (adduction)
  • Ab: Away (abduction)
  • Apo: Separate (apoptosis)

Quantity Prefixes

• Indicate a quantity or multiplicity.
  • Mono/Uni: Single (monocyte, unidirectional)
  • Bi: Two (bilateral, binuclear cell)
  • Tri: Three (tricuspid valve)
  • Tetra/Quadri: Four (quadriplegia)
  • Multi/Poly: Many (polycystic ovary, polyarthritis, polypharmacy)
  • Semi/Hemi: Half (semiconscious, hemiplegia)
  • Hypo: Lower than normal (hypotension, oligospermia)
  • Oligo: Few (oligospermia, oliguria)
  • Homo/Homeo: Same (homomorphic, homeostasis)
  • Hetero/Allo: Different (heterotypic, allopathy)
  • Schizo: Divided (schizophrenia)
  • Amphi/Dipo/Ambi: Double (diplopia, ambivalent)

Negation Prefixes

• Show the absence or lack of something.
  • A/An: Without (anuria, atony, anesthesia, aspermia)
  • Anti/Contra: Against (antiemetic, contraception)

Time Prefixes

• Indicate the time frame or sequence of an event.
  • Ante/Pre: Before (antepartum, premenstrual)
  • Post: After (postpartum, postoperative, postmortem)

Color Prefixes

• Indicate color.
  • Leuko/Leuco: White (leukocyte, leukemia)
  • Erythro: Red (erythrocyte, erythema)
  • Melano: Black (melanocyte, melanoma)
  • Cyan: Blue (cyanosis)
  • Cirrh: Yellow (cirrhosis)
  • Chloro: Green (chloroma)

Size Prefixes

• Indicate the size of a structure or entity.
  • Micro: Small (microorganism, microcardia)
  • Macro/Mega/Megalo: Large (megacolon, megaloblastic anemia)

Miscellaneous Prefixes

• Include various prefixes with different meanings.
  • Hydro: Water (hydrophobia, hydrocephalus)
  • Noct: Night (nocturnal enuresis)
  • Mal: Bad (malnutrition)
  • Pseudo: False (pseudopods)
  • Crypt: Hidden (cryptorchidism)
  • Dys: Difficult/Painful (dysmenorrhea, dyspnea)
  • Re: Again (rehydration)
  • Dia/Per/Trans: Through (transfusion)
  • Steno: Narrow (renal artery stenosis)
  • Prime: First (prim-gravida)
  • Brady: Slow (bradycardia)
  • Tachy: Rapid (tachycardia)
  • Iso: Equal (isosteric)
  • Aniso: Unequal (anisotropic)
  • Syn: Fusion (syndactyl)
  • Necr: Death (necrosis)
  • Neo: New (neonate)
  • Auto: Self (auto-immune disease)

Test your knowledge of medical terminology prefixes with this quiz. Learn how different prefixes indicate position, location, and quantity in medical terms. Perfect for students and professionals in the healthcare field.