Medical Terminology Prefixes - Lecture by John Campbell

Introduction

• Speaker: John Campbell
• Topic: Prefixes in medical terminology
• Function of Prefixes: Comes in front of a word, providing additional information

Prefix "A" or "AN"

• Meaning: Without
• Examples:
  • Apnea: Without breath
  • Achlorhydria: Without hydrochloric acid in the stomach
  • Atony: Without muscle tone
  • Anemia: Without blood (reduced hemoglobin)
  • Anesthetic: Without feeling

Prefix "ANTI"

• Meaning: Against or opposed to
• Examples:
  • Antibiotic: Against bacteria
  • Anti-inflammatory: Against inflammation

Prefix "ANTE"

• Meaning: Before
• Examples:
  • Antenatal: Before birth

Prefix "BRADY"

• Meaning: Slow
• Examples:
  • Bradycardia: Slow heart rate
  • Bradykinesia: Slow movement

Prefix "CARDIO"

• Meaning: Heart
• Examples:
  • Cardiomegaly: Enlarged heart
  • Cardiology: Study of the heart

Prefix "CHOL(E)"

• Meaning: Bile
• Examples:
  • Cholecystectomy: Removal of gallbladder
  • Cholangitis: Inflammation of bile ducts

Prefix "COL(O)"

• Meaning: Colon
• Examples:
  • Colostomy: Surgical opening into the colon
  • Colitis: Inflammation of the colon

Prefix "CYT(O)"

• Meaning: Cell
• Examples:
  • Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder

Prefix "ENDO"

• Meaning: Inside
• Examples:
  • Endoscopy: Looking inside
  • Endocardium: Inside layer of the heart

Prefix "ENTER(O)"

• Meaning: Intestine
• Examples:
  • Enteric: Relating to the intestine

Prefix "DYS"

• Meaning: Abnormal, painful
• Examples:
  • Dysuria: Painful urination
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing

Prefix "GASTR(O)"

• Meaning: Stomach
• Examples:
  • Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach

Prefix "GLY(CO)"

• Meaning: Sugar
• Examples:
  • Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar

Prefix "HEM(A)" or "HEMAT(O)"

• Meaning: Blood
• Examples:
  • Hematuria: Blood in urine
  • Hematology: Study of blood

Prefix "HEPAT(O)"

• Meaning: Liver
• Examples:
  • Hepatomegaly: Enlarged liver

Prefix "HYPER" / "HYPO"

• Meaning: High / Low

Prefix "LAPAR(O)"

• Meaning: Abdomen
• Examples:
  • Laparoscopy: Looking into the abdomen

Prefix "LITH(O)"

• Meaning: Stone
• Examples:
  • Lithotripsy: Breaking stones

Prefix "LIP(O)"

• Meaning: Fat
• Examples:
  • Lipoma: Fatty lump

Prefix "MAL"

• Meaning: Abnormal
• Examples:
  • Malfunction: Abnormal function

Prefix "MAST(O)"

• Meaning: Breast
• Examples:
  • Mastectomy: Removal of breast

Prefix "MY(O)"

• Meaning: Muscle
• Examples:
  • Myocarditis: Inflammation of heart muscle

Prefix "NEPHR(O)"

• Meaning: Kidney
• Examples:
  • Nephritis: Inflammation of kidneys

Prefix "OLIG(O)"

• Meaning: Few, not enough
• Examples:
  • Oliguria: Low urine output

Prefix "PERI"

• Meaning: Around
• Examples:
  • Pericarditis: Inflammation around the heart

Prefix "PROSTAT(O)"

• Meaning: Prostate
• Examples:
  • Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate

Prefix "PYRO"

• Meaning: Heat, fire
• Examples:
  • Pyrexia: Fever

Prefix "TACHI"

• Meaning: Fast
• Examples:
  • Tachycardia: Fast heart rate

Conclusion

• Prefixes are crucial in understanding medical terms as they provide context and modify meanings based on the root words.