Overview
This lecture introduces medical terminology, focusing on how prefixes, roots, and suffixes combine to form medical terms, with an in-depth look at common prefixes relating to quantity, color, time, location, and position.
Structure of Medical Terms
- Medical terms often have a prefix (beginning), root (middle), and suffix (end).
- Prefix usually describes characteristics such as location, direction, quantity, size, or color.
- Root gives the main meaning and often refers to a body part or system.
- Suffix indicates conditions, diseases, procedures, specialties, or tests.
Prefixes for Quantity and Size
- mono-, uni-: one (monocle, unicycle)
- bi-, di-, diplo-: two (bicycle, biceps)
- tri-: three (tricycle, triceps)
- quad-, quadru-: four (quadriceps)
- semi-, hemi-: half (semicolon, hemisphere)
- equa-, iso-: equal (equilateral, isometric)
- eu-, normo-: normal (euglycemic, normotensive)
- hyper-: above normal, excess (hyperactive)
- hypo-: below normal, deficient (hypoglycemia)
- a-, an-: absent, lacking (anoxia)
- pan-, omni-: all (pancytopenia, omnivore)
- multi-, poly-: many (polygon)
- micro-: small (microscope)
- macro-, megalo-: large (megalo-, macrocyte)
- oligo-: few (oliguria)
Prefixes for Color
- chromo-, chromat-: color (chromosome)
- alb-: pale, white (albino)
- chloro-: green (chlorophyll)
- cyano-: blue (cyanosis)
- erythro-: red (erythrocyte)
- glauco-: gray, opaque (glaucoma)
- leuko-: white (leukocyte)
- melano-: black (melanoma)
- polio-: gray (poliomyelitis)
- porphyr-: purple (porphyria)
- rhodo-: rose-colored (rhodopsin)
- xantho-: yellow (xanthochromia)
Prefixes for Time and Speed
- pre-: before (preoperative)
- post-: after (postoperative)
- pro-, ante-: before (antepartum)
- re-: again (repeat)
- retro-: backward (retrograde)
- neo-: new (neonate)
- chrono-: time (chronological)
- tachy-: fast (tachycardia)
- brady-: slow (bradycardia)
Prefixes for Location and Position
- epi-, hyper-, supra-, super-: above, on (epidermis)
- sub-, hypo-, infra-: below, under (subcutaneous)
- dextro-: right side (dextrocardia)
- levo-, sinistro-: left side (levocardia)
- antero-, ventro-, anti-: front, anterior (ventral)
- postero-, dorso-: back, posterior (dorsal)
- peri-, circum-: around, surrounding (perimeter, circumference)
- endo-, intra-, intro-: inside, within (endoscope, intraoral)
- exo-, extra-, ecto-: outside, external (exoskeleton, ectoderm)
- ab-: away from (abduction)
- ad-: toward (adduction)
- trans-: through, across (transdermal)
- meso-, meta-, medi-: middle, midline (mesoderm, medial)
- lat-, lateral-: to the side (lateral)
- para-, juxta-: nearby, beside (parathyroid, juxtapose)
- inter-: between (intercostal)
- ambi-, amphi-: both sides (ambidextrous, amphibian)
- ipsi-: same (ipsilateral)
- contra-: against, opposite (contralateral)
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prefix — the beginning part of a medical term, often descriptive.
- Root — the core meaning, usually a body part/system.
- Suffix — the end part, often indicating a condition, procedure, or specialty.
- Abduction — movement away from the body.
- Adduction — movement toward the body.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the common prefixes covered.
- Watch the next videos on roots and suffixes for a complete understanding of medical terms.
- Refer to the website for additional notes and tables as suggested in the lecture.