Medical Terminology Prefixes Lecture

Speaker

• John Campbell

Introduction

• Discussing medical terminology prefixes
• Prefixes indicate information about the root word
• Prefix in Red color for visualization

Prefix: a / an

• Meaning: without

• **Example Words: **

  • Examples: apnea (without breath), achlorhydria (without hydrochloric acid), atony (without muscle tone)
  • States example: apnea
• Clinical Use:
  • Apnea: not breathing
  • Achlorhydria: less stomach acid
  • Atony: muscle loss of tone
    • Gastrointestinal atony
    • Uterine atony: post-childbirth bleeding

Prefix: anti

• Meaning: against or opposed to
• **Example Words: **
  • antibiotic (against biological life/bacteria)
  • antiperistalsis (opposite direction of peristalsis - vomiting)
  • anti-inflammatory (acts against inflammation)
  • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Prefix: ante

• Meaning: before (in time)
• **Example Words: **
  • antenatal (before birth - care from conception to birth)

Prefix: brady

• Meaning: slow
• **Example Words: **
  • bradypnea (slow breathing)
  • bradycardia (slow heart rate, <60 bpm)
  • bradykinesia (slow movements, e.g., Parkinson's)

Prefix: cardi/cardo

• Meaning: to do with the heart
• **Example Words: **
  • cardiac arrest (no heart activity)
  • cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)
  • cardiology (study of the heart)

Prefix: chol/chole

• Meaning: bile
• **Example Words: **
  • cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder)
  • cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts)
  • cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)

Prefix: colo/coli

• Meaning: colon/large intestine
• **Example Words: **
  • colostomy (surgical opening into colon)
  • colectomy (surgical removal of colon)
  • colitis (inflammation of colon)
  • coliform (bacteria in colon)
  • Melancholy (black bile)

Prefix: cyst

• Meaning: fluid-filled space/bladder
• **Example Words: **
  • cystitis (inflammation of bladder)
  • ovarian cyst (fluid space in ovary)
  • cystoscopy (looking into bladder)

Prefix: endo

• Meaning: inside
• **Example Words: **
  • endocarditis (inflammation of inner heart layer)
  • endometrium (inside layer of uterus)

Prefix: entero

• Meaning: intestine
• **Example Words: **
  • enteric fever (intestinal infection)
  • enteral feeding (food into GI tract)
  • enteric-coated medication (absorbed in intestine)

Prefix: dys

• Meaning: abnormal/painful
• **Example Words: **
  • dysuria (painful urination)
  • dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation)
  • dyspnoea (difficulty breathing)
  • dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • dysphasia (difficulty with speech)

Prefix: gastr/gastro

• Meaning: stomach
• **Example Words: **
  • gastritis (inflammation of stomach)
  • gastroparesis (weak stomach muscles)
  • gastroenterologist (stomach and intestine expert)

Prefix: gly/glyc

• Meaning: sugar
• **Example Words: **
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • glycogen (storage form of glucose)

Prefix: hem/hemat

• Meaning: blood
• **Example Words: **
  • hematuria (blood in urine)
  • hematemesis (vomiting blood)
  • hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
  • hematology (study of blood)
  • hemangioma (collection of blood vessels forming a lump)

Prefix: hemi

• Meaning: half
• **Example Words: **
  • hemiplegia (paralysis on one side)
  • hemicolectomy (surgical removal of half of colon)

Prefix: hepat

• Meaning: liver
• **Example Words: **
  • hepatocyte (liver cell)
  • hepatitis (inflammation of liver)
  • hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)

Prefix: hyper/hypo

• Meaning: high/low

Prefix: laparo

• Meaning: abdomen
• **Example Words: **
  • laparotomy (surgical opening into abdomen)
  • laparoscopy (looking into abdomen)

Prefix: litho

• Meaning: stone
• **Example Words: **
  • lithotripsy (crushing of stone)
  • urolithiasis (stones in urinary tract)

Prefix: lip/lipo

• Meaning: fat
• **Example Words: **
  • lipemia (fat in blood)
  • dyslipidemia (abnormal blood fat levels)
  • lipoma (fatty lump)

Prefix: mal

• Meaning: abnormal
• **Example Words: **
  • malfunction (abnormal function)
  • malabsorption (abnormal nutrient absorption)
  • malnutrition (abnormal nutrition)

Prefix: mast

• Meaning: breast
• **Example Words: **
  • mastectomy (surgical removal of breast)
  • mastitis (inflammation of breast)
  • mastalgia (breast pain)
  • gynecomastia (breast development in men)

Prefix: myo

• Meaning: muscle
• **Example Words: **
  • myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle)
  • myopathy (muscle disease)
  • myoma (muscle lump)
  • rhabdomyolysis (break up of skeletal muscle)

Prefix: nephro

• Meaning: kidney
• **Example Words: **
  • nephrologist (kidney disease expert)
  • nephritis (inflammation of kidney)
  • nephrotoxic (toxic to kidneys)

Prefix: oligo

• Meaning: few/not enough
• **Example Words: **
  • oliguria (low urine volume)
  • oligospermia (low sperm count)
  • oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid)

Prefix: peri

• Meaning: around/surrounding
• **Example Words: **
  • pericarditis (inflammation around heart)
  • perinatal (around birth)
  • perioperative (around surgery)

Prefix: prostat

• Meaning: prostate gland
• **Example Words: **
  • prostatitis (inflammation of prostate)
  • prostatectomy (surgical removal of prostate)

Prefix: pyro

• Meaning: fire
• **Example Words: **
  • pyrexia (fever)
  • antipyretic (reduce fever)

Prefix: tachy

• Meaning: fast
• **Example Words: **
  • tachycardia (fast heart rate)
  • tachypnoea (fast respiratory rate)