Medical Prefixes and Suffixes Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the definitions, functions, and common examples of prefixes and suffixes in medical terminology, focusing on their meanings and application in healthcare professions.

Prefixes: Introduction & Description

• Prefixes are word parts added to the beginning of medical terms to modify their meanings.
• Correct spelling and pronunciation of prefixes are essential for clear communication.
• Many medical prefixes are shared with everyday English, aiding memorization.

Common Medical Prefixes

• a-, an-: without, lacking (e.g., anemia)
• ante-: before, forward (e.g., antenatal)
• anti-: against (e.g., antibiotic)
• bi-: two (e.g., biceps)
• brady-: slow (e.g., bradycardia)
• dia-: across, through (e.g., diagnosis)
• dys-: difficult, abnormal, painful (e.g., dyspnea)
• endo-: within, inner (e.g., endocrine)
• epi-: above, upon, on (e.g., epidermis)
• erythro-: red (e.g., erythrocyte)
• hyper-: above, excessive (e.g., hyperactive)
• hypo-: under, deficient (e.g., hypothyroidism)
• inter-: between (e.g., interstitial)
• intra-: within (e.g., intracellular)
• mal-: bad, abnormal (e.g., malignant)
• melano-: black (e.g., melanin)
• neo-: new (e.g., neonate)
• oligo-: few, little (e.g., oliguria)
• pan-: all, entire (e.g., pancytopenia)
• peri-: around (e.g., pericardium)
• poly-: many, excessive (e.g., polyuria)
• sub-: under (e.g., subcutaneous)
• tachy-: fast (e.g., tachycardia)
• trans-: across, through (e.g., transdermal)
• syn-: together (e.g., syndrome)

Suffixes: Introduction & Description

• Suffixes are word parts at the end of terms, altering their core meaning.
• Spelling and pronunciation of suffixes are equally important in the medical field.
• Suffixes are not always explicitly defined in workplace settings but are present in written terms.

Common Medical Suffixes

• -ac, -al: pertaining to (e.g., cardiac, spinal)
• -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid (e.g., thoracentesis)
• -desis: surgical binding (e.g., arthrodesis)
• -ectomy: surgical removal (e.g., mastectomy)
• -emia: blood condition (e.g., anemia)
• -ia, -ism: condition (e.g., hemophilia, hypothyroidism)
• -itis: inflammation (e.g., arthritis)
• -lysis: breakdown, destruction (e.g., hemolysis)
• -malacia: softening (e.g., osteomalacia)
• -megaly: enlargement (e.g., acromegaly)
• -oid: resembling (e.g., rheumatoid)
• -oma: tumor, mass (e.g., angiosarcoma)
• -osis: abnormal condition (e.g., endometriosis)
• -pathy: disease (e.g., lymphadenopathy)
• -penia: deficiency (e.g., thrombocytopenia)
• -pexy: surgical fixation (e.g., oophoropexy)
• -plasia, -trophy: growth (e.g., hyperplasia, hypertrophy)
• -plasty: surgical reconstruction (e.g., vertebroplasty)
• -plegia: paralysis (e.g., hemiplegia)
• -pnea: breathing (e.g., apnea)
• -rrhage: excessive bleeding (e.g., hemorrhage)
• -rrhea: flow, discharge (e.g., diarrhea)
• -stomy: surgical opening (e.g., colostomy)
• -tomy: incision (e.g., laparotomy)

Key Terms & Definitions

• Prefix — a word part placed at the beginning to modify a term’s meaning.
• Suffix — a word part added at the end of a word to alter its meaning.
• Anemia — condition of lacking blood cells or hemoglobin.
• Hyperactive — excessively active.
• Bradycardia — slow heart rate.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and memorize the common prefixes and suffixes and their meanings.
• Practice identifying prefixes and suffixes in example medical terms.
• Answer concept check questions about the use and meaning of key prefixes and suffixes.