Medical Prefixes: Key Points from Lecture

Prefixes and Meanings

A

• a: without
  • Example: Aphasia (without the ability to communicate)

Ab

• ab: away
  • Example: Abduction (moving arms away from the body)

Ad

• ad: toward
  • Example: Adduction (moving arms toward the trunk of the body)

Acou

• acou: hearing
  • Example: Acoustic trauma (damage to the hearing)

Acr

• acr: extreme or extremity
  • Example: Acrocyanosis (bluish color in extremities)

Andro

• andro: male reproductive system
  • Example: Androgens (sex hormones promoting male characteristics)

Angi

• angi: vessel
  • Example: Angioma (tumor made up of blood vessels)

Ante

• ante: before or in front of
  • Example: Antecubital (region before the elbow)

Anti

• anti: against or instead of
  • Example: Antibiotics (works against bacteria)

Arthr

• arthr: joint
  • Example: Arthritis (inflammation of a joint)

Auto

• auto: self or own
  • Example: Autoimmune disease (disease attacking own tissue)

Bi

• bi: two
  • Example: Bicuspid valve (a valve with two cusps)

Bio

• bio: life
  • Example: Biology (study of life)

Blast

• blast: bud or immature form
  • Example: Blast cell (immature cell)

Brady

• brady: slow
  • Example: Bradycardia (slow heart rate, < 60 bpm)

Bronch

• bronch: lungs (large tubes)
  • Example: Bronchoconstriction (narrowing of large lung tubes)

Bucc

• bucc: cheek
  • Example: Buccal route (medication given in the cheek)

Cardi

• cardi: heart
  • Example: Cardiologist (heart specialist)

Cephal

• cephal: head
  • Example: Cephalic (head region)

Cerebro

• cerebro: brain or cerebrum
  • Example: Cerebrovascular accident (stroke affecting the brain)

Circum

• circum: around
  • Example: Circumduction (moving limbs in a circular motion)

Cost

• cost: ribs
  • Example: Costovertebral (region where ribs and vertebrae meet)

Derm

• derm: skin
  • Example: Dermis (middle layer of the skin)

Dys

• dys: difficult
  • Example: Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing or eating)

Endo

• endo: within
  • Example: Endoscopy (procedure to look inside the body)

Entero

• entero: intestine
  • Example: Enteritis (inflammation of the intestines)

Epi

• epi: above or on top of
  • Example: Epidermis (top layer of the skin)

Erythro

• erythro: red
  • Example: Erythrocyte (red blood cells)

Gastro

• gastro: stomach
  • Example: Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)

Glosso

• glosso: tongue
  • Example: Glossopharyngeal (cranial nerve controlling tongue movement)

Gyneco

• gyneco: female reproductive system
  • Example: Gynecologist (specialist in female reproductive system)

Hemi

• hemi: half
  • Example: Hemispheres (two halves of the brain)

Hemo / Hema

• hemo / hema: blood
  • Example: Hematologist (specialist in blood disorders)

Hepat

• hepat: liver
  • Example: Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)

Hydro

• hydro: water
  • Example: Hydronephrosis (excess fluid in kidneys)

Hyper

• hyper: excessive or high
  • Example: Hypernatremia (high sodium in the blood)

Hypo

• hypo: low or below
  • Example: Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood)

Inter

• inter: between
  • Example: Intercostal (space between the ribs)

Intra

• intra: within or inside
  • Example: Intravenous (within the venous system)

Iso

• iso: equal
  • Example: Isotonic (solution with equal tonicity to blood plasma)

Lipo

• lipo: fat
  • Example: Liposuction (removing fat)

Macro

• macro: large
  • Example: Macrocytic anemia (large red blood cells)

Meningo

• meningo: membrane
  • Example: Meningitis (inflammation of membrane around spinal cord and brain)

Meta

• meta: beyond
  • Example: Metatarsals (bones beyond the tarsal bones)

Micro

• micro: small
  • Example: Microcytic anemia (small red blood cells)

Myo

• myo: muscle
  • Example: Myocardium (heart muscle layer)

Nephro

• nephro: kidney
  • Example: Nephrologist (kidney specialist)

Neuro

• neuro: nerve
  • Example: Neurologist (nerve specialist)

Oligo

• oligo: scanty or little
  • Example: Oliguria (little urine output)

Ophthalmo

• ophthalmo: eye
  • Example: Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)

Osteo

• osteo: bone
  • Example: Osteoporosis (bone disorder)

Oto

• oto: ear
  • Example: Ototoxicity (ear toxicity causing hearing issues)

Para

• para: beside or near
  • Example: Parathyroid (near the thyroid gland)

Peri

• peri: surrounding or around
  • Example: Pericardium (layer around the heart)

Phleb

• phleb: vein
  • Example: Phlebotomy (procedure to remove blood from a vein)

Post

• post: after
  • Example: Postpartum care (care after childbirth)

Pre

• pre: before
  • Example: Prenatal care (care before childbirth)

Pseudo

• pseudo: fake or false
  • Example: Pseudoscience (false science)

Pulmo

• pulmo: lungs
  • Example: Pulmonologist (lung specialist)

Rhino

• rhino: nose
  • Example: Rhinitis (inflammation of the nose)

Spleno

• spleno: spleen
  • Example: Splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen)

Sub

• sub: below
  • Example: Sublingual (below the tongue)

Supra

• supra: above or on top
  • Example: Supraventricular tachycardia (fast heart rhythm above ventricles)

Tachy

• tachy: fast
  • Example: Tachycardia (fast heart rate > 100 bpm)

Thoraco

• thoraco: chest
  • Example: Thoracic (chest region)

Trans

• trans: across
  • Example: Transmembrane (across the membrane)

Uro

• uro: urinary tract system
  • Example: Urostomy (opening to the urinary tract system)

Conclusion

• The lecture provided an overview of important medical prefixes used in healthcare.
• Understanding these prefixes can help in deciphering medical terminology and improving communication in clinical settings.
• For further learning, additional resources and videos are available.