Prefixes CHAPTER

Chapter Outline
Objectives
Objectives Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
Prefix Linking • Explain the use of prefixes in medical terminology.
Prefix Types • Explain how a prefix changes the meaning of a med-
Prefixes of Position, Number, Measurement, ical word.
and Direction • Identify prefixes of position, number and measure-
Other Common Prefixes ment, and direction.
Learning Activities
• Demonstrate your knowledge of this chapter by
completing the learning activities.
30 CHAPTER 3 • Prefixes

Prefix Linking Prefixes of Position, Number,

Most medical words contain a root or combining Measurement, and Direction
form with a suffix. Some of them also contain pre-
fixes. A prefix is a word element located at the begin- Prefixes are used in medical terms to denote
ning of a word. Substituting one prefix for another position, number and measurement, and direc-
alters the meaning of the word. For example, in the tion. Prefixes of position describe a place or
term macro/cyte, macro- is a prefix meaning large; location. (See Table 3–2.) Prefixes of number
-cyte is a suffix meaning cell. A macrocyte is a large and measurement describe an amount, size, or
cell. By changing the prefix macro- to micro- (small), degree of involvement. (See Table 3–3.) Prefixes
the meaning of the word changes. A microcyte* is a of direction indicate a pathway or route. (See
small cell. See Table 3–1 for three other examples of Table 3–4.)
how a prefix changes the meaning of a word.

Prefix Types Other Common

Learning the major types of prefixes, such as pre-
Prefixes
fixes of position, number and measurement, and Many other common prefixes may also be used
direction, as well as some others, will help you to change the meaning of a word. See Table 3–5
master medical terminology. for a list of some other common prefixes.

Table 3-1 Changing Prefixes and Meanings

In this table, each word has the same root, nat (birth) and suffix, -al (pertaining to). By substituting
different prefixes, new words with different meanings are formed.
Prefix ⫹ Word Root ⫹ Suffix ⫽ Medical Word Meaning

pre- ⫹ ⫽ prenatal pertaining to (the period)

(before) prē-NĀ-tăl before birth
peri ⫹ nat ⫹ -al ⫽ perinatal pertaining to (the period)
(around) (birth (pertaining pĕr-ı̆-NĀ-tăl around birth
to)
post ⫹ ⫽ postnatal pertaining to (the period)
(after) p ōst-NĀ-tăl after birth

Table 3-2 Prefixes of Position

This table lists commonly used prefixes of position along with their meanings and word analyses.
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

epi- above, upon epi/gastr/ic (ĕp-ı̆-GĂS-trı̆k): pertaining to above the stomach

gastr: stomach
-ic: pertaining to
hypo- under, below, deficient hypo/derm/ic (hı̄-p ō-D ĔR-mı̆k): pertaining to under the skin
derm: skin
-ic: pertaining to
Hypodermic injections are given under the skin.
infra- under, below infra/cost/al (ı̆n-fră-KŎS-tăl): below the ribs
cost: ribs
-al: pertaining to
*The suffix -cyte can also be broken down as a root cyt which a noun ending e (cyt/e).
 Prefix Types 31

Table 3-2 Prefixes of Position—cont’d

Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

sub- sub/nas/al (sŭb-NĀ-săl): under the nose

nas: nose
-al: pertaining to,
inter- between inter/cost/al (ı̆n-t ĕr-KŎS-tăl): between the ribs
cost: ribs
-al: pertaining to
post- after, behind post/nat/al (pōst-NĀ-tăl): pertaining to (the period) after birth
nat: birth
-al: pertaining to
pre- before, in front of pre/nat/al (prē-NĀ-tăl): pertaining to (the period) before birth
nat: birth
-al: pertaining to
pro- pro/gnosis (prŏg-NŌ-sı̆s): knowing before
-gnosis: knowing
Prognosis is the prediction of the course and end of a disease and
the estimated chance of recovery.
retro- backward, behind retro/version (rĕt-rō-VĔR-shŭn): turning backwards
-version: turning
Retroversion refers to tipping backward of an organ (such as the
uterus) from its normal position.

Table 3-3 Prefixes of Number and Measurement

This table lists commonly used prefixes of number and measurement along with their meanings and
word analyses.
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

bi- two bi/later/al (bı̄-LĂT- ĕr-ăl): pertaining to two sides

later: side
-al: pertaining to
dipl- double dipl/opia (dı̆p-LŌ-pē-ă): double vision
-opia: vision
diplo- diplo/bacteri/al (dı̆p-lō-băk-TĒR-ē-ăl): bacteria linked together in pairs
bacteri: bacteria
-al: pertaining to
Diplobacteria reproduce in such a manner that they are joined together in
pairs.
hemi- one half hemi/plegia (hĕm-ē-PLĒ-jē-ă): paralysis of one half of the body
-plegia: paralysis
hyper- excessive, above normal hyper/calc/emia (hı̄-pĕr-kăl-SĒ-mē-ă): excessive calcium in the blood
calc: calcium
-emia: blood condition
(continued)
32 CHAPTER 3 • Prefixes

Table 3-3 Prefixes of Number and Measurement—cont’d

Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

macro- large macro/cyte (MĂK-rō-sı̄t): large cell

-cyte: cell
micro- small micro/scope (M Ī-krō-sk ōp): instrument for examining small (objects)
-scope: instrument for examining
The microscope is an optical instrument that greatly magnifies minute
objects.
mono- one mono/therapy (MŎN-ō-thĕr-a-p ē): one treatment
-therapy: treatment
An example of monotherapy is treatment using only a single drug or a sin-
gle treatment modality.
uni- uni/nucle/ar (ū-nı̆-N Ū-klē-ăr): pertaining to one nucleus
nucle: nucleus
-ar: pertaining to
multi- many, much multi/gravida (mŭl-tı̆-GRĂV-ı̆-d ă): woman who has been pregnant
more than once
-gravida: pregnant woman
poly- poly/phobia (pŏl-ē-F Ō-bē-ă): fear of many things
-phobia: fear
primi- first primi/gravida (prı̄-mı̆-GRĂV-ı̆-dă): woman during her first pregnancy
-gravida: pregnant woman
quadri- four quadri/plegia (kwŏd-rı̆-PLĒ-jē-ă): paralysis of four limbs
-plegia: paralysis
tri- three tri/ceps (TR Ī-cĕps): three heads
-ceps: head
Triceps describes a muscle arising by three heads with a single insertion, as
the triceps brachii of the posterior arm shown in Figure 10–1.

Table 3-4 Prefixes of Direction

This table lists commonly used prefixes of direction as well as their meanings and word analyses.
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

ab- from, away from ab/duction (ăb-D ŬK-shŭn): movement of a limb away from (an axis
of) the body
-duction: act of leading, bringing, conducting
ad- toward ad/duction (ă-DŬK-shŭn): movement of a limb toward (an axis of)
the body
-duction: act of leading, bringing, conducting
circum- around circum/ren/al (sĕr-kŭm-RĒ-năl): pertaining to around the kidney
ren: kidney
-al: pertaining to
 Prefix Types 33

Table 3-4 Prefixes of Directions—cont’d

Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

peri- peri/odont/al (pĕr-ē-ō-DŎN-tăl): pertaining to around a tooth

odont: teeth
-al: pertaining to
dia- through, across dia/rrhea (dı̄- ă-RĒ-ă): flow through
-rrhea: discharge, flow
Diarrhea is a condition of abnormally frequent discharge or flow of fluid
fecal matter from the bowel.
trans- trans/vagin/al (trăns-VĂJ-ı̆n-ăl): pertaining to across or through the
vagina
vagin: vagina
-al: pertaining to
ecto- outside, outward ecto/gen/ous (ĕk-TŎJ-ĕ-nŭs): forming outside the body or structure
gen: forming, producing, origin
-ous: pertaining to,
An ectogenous infection is one that originates outside of the body.
exo- exo/tropia (ĕks-ō-TRŌ-pē-ă): turning outward (of one or both eyes)
-tropia: turning
extra- extra/crani/al (ĕks-tră-KRĀ-nē-ăl): outside the skull
crani: cranium (skull)
-al: pertaining to
endo- in, within endo/crine ( ĔN-dō-krı̆n): secrete within
-crine: secrete
Endocrine describes a gland that secretes directly into the bloodstream.
intra- intra/muscul/ar (ı̆n-tră-M ŬS-kū-lăr): within the muscle
muscul: muscle
-ar: pertaining to
para-* near, beside; beyond para/nas/al (păr-ă-NĀ-săl): beside the nose
nas: nose
-al: pertaining to
super- upper, above super/ior (soo-PĒ-r ē-or): pertaining to the upper part of a structure
-ior: pertaining to
supra- above; excessive; superior supra/ren/al (soo-pră-RĒ-năl): pertaining to above the kidney
ren: kidney
-al: pertaining to
ultra- excess, beyond ultra/son/ic (ŭl-tră-S ŎN-ı̆k): pertaining to sound beyond (that which
can be heard by the human ear)
son: sound
-ic: pertaining to
*Para- may also be used as a suffix meaning to bear (offspring).
34 CHAPTER 3 • Prefixes

Table 3-5 Other Common Prefixes

This table lists other commonly used prefixes along with their meanings and word analyses.
Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

a-* without, not a/mast/ia (ă-MĂS-tē-ă): without a breast

mast: breast
-ia: condition
Amastia may be the result of a congenital defect, an endocrine disorder, or
mastectomy.
an-** an/esthesia (ăn-ĕs-THĒ-z ē-ă): without feeling
-esthesia: feeling
Anesthesia may be a partial or complete loss of sensation with or without
loss of consciosness.
anti- against anti/bacteri/al (ăn-tı̆-băk-TĒR-ē-ăl): against bacteria
bacteri: bacteria
-al: pertaining to
Antibacterials are substances that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth or
replication.
contra- contra/ception (kŏn-tră-SĔP-shŭn): against conception or impregnation
-ception: conceiving
Contraceptive techniques prevent pregnancy by means of medication, a
device, or a method that blocks or alters one or more of the processes of
reproduction.
brady- slow brady/cardia (brăd-ē-KĂR-dē-ă): slow heart rate
-cardia: heart
dys- bad; painful; difficult dys/tocia (dı̆s-TŌ-sē-ă): difficult childbirth
-tocia: childbirth, labor
eu- good, normal eu/pnea (ūp-NĒ-ă): normal breathing
-pnea: breathing
hetero- different hetero/graft (HĔT-ĕ-rō-grăft): different transplant
-graft: transplantation
A heterograft, also called a xenograft, is a transplant of tissue from another
species that is used as a temporary graft in certain cases, as in treating a
severely burned patient when tissue from the patient or from a tissue bank
is not available.
*The prefix a- is usually used before a consonant.
** The prefix an- is usually used before a vowel.
 Prefix Types 35

Table 3-5 Other Common Prefixes—cont’d

Prefix Meaning Word Analysis

homo- same homo/graft (HŌ-m ō-grăft): same transplant

-graft: transplantation
A homograft, also called an allograft, is a transplant of tissue obtained from a
member of the patient’s own species. Commonly transplanted organs include
bone, kidney, lung, and heart. Recipients take immunosuppressive drugs to
prevent tissue rejection.
homeo- homeo/plasia (hō-mē-ō-PL Ā-zē-ă): formation of new tissue similar to
that already existing in a part
-plasia: formation, growth
mal- bad mal/nutrition (măl-nŭ-TR Ĭ-shŭn): bad nutrition
Malnutrition refers to any disorder resulting from an inadequate or exces-
sive intake of food.
pan- all pan/arthr/itis (păn-ăr-THR Ī-tı̆s): inflammation of all (or many) joints
arthr: joint
-itis: inflammation
pseudo- false pseudo/cyesis (soo-d ō-sı̄-Ē-sı̆s): false pregnancy
-cyesis: pregnancy
Pseudocyesis is a condition in which a woman believes she is pregnant
when she is not and begins to develop all the physical characteristics asso-
ciated with pregnancy.
syn-*** union, together, joined syn/dactyl/ism (sı̆n-DĂK-tı̆l-ı̆zm): condition of joined fingers or toes
dactyl: fingers; toes
-ism: condition
Syndactylism varies in degree of severity from incomplete webbing of the
skin of two digits to complete union of digits and fusion of the bones a
nd nails.
tachy- rapid tachy/pnea (tăk-ı̆p-NĒ-ă): rapid breathing
-pnea: breathing
*** The prefix syn- appears as sym- before b, p, ph, or m.

It is time to review prefixes by completing Learning Activities 3–1, 3–2, and 3–3.
36 CHAPTER 3 • Prefixes

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
The following activities provide review of the prefixes introduced in this chapter. Complete each
activity and review your answers to evaluate your understanding of the chapter. You can also
enhance your learning of prefixes with the power of DavisPlus. Visit www.davisplus.fadavis.com/
gylys/systems for this chapter’s flash-card activity. We recommend you do so before completing
the learning activities that follow.

Learning Activity 3-1

Identifying and Defining Prefixes
Place a slash after each of the following prefixes and then define the prefix. The first one is completed
for you.

Word Definition of Prefix

1. i n t e r / d e n t a l between
2. h y p o d e r m i c
3. e p i d e r m i s
4. r e t r o v e r s i o n
5. s u b l i n g u a l
6. t r a n s v a g i n al
7. i n f r a c o s t a l
8. p o s t n a t a l
9. q u a d r i p l e g i a
10. h y p e r c a l c e m i a
11. p r i m i g r a v i d a
12. m i c r o s c o p e
13. t r i c e p s
14. p o l y d i p s i a
15. a b d u c t i o n
16. a n e s t h e s i a
17. m a c r o c y t e
18. i n t r a m u s c u l a r
19. s u p r a p e l v i c
20. d i a r r h e a
21. c i r c u m d u c t i o n
22. a d d u c t i o n
23. p e r i o d o n t a l
24. b r a d y c a r d i a
25. t a c h y p n e a
26. d y s t o c i a
 Learning Activities 37

27. e u p n e a
28. h e t e r o g r a f t
29. m a l n u t r i t i o n
30. p s e u d o c y e s i s
✓ Check your answers in Appendix A. Review any material that you did not answer correctly.
Correct Answers ⫻ 3.34 ⫽ % Score

Learning Activity 3-2

Matching Prefixes of Position, Number and Measurement, and Direction
Match the following terms with the definitions in the numbered list.

diarrhea macrocyte pseudocyesis

ectogenous periodontal quadriplegia

hemiplegia polyphobia retroversion

hypodermic postoperative subnasal

intercostal prenatal suprarenal

1. tipping back of an organ

2. pertaining to under the skin
3. before birth
4. pertaining to under the nose
5. after surgery
6. pertaining to between the ribs
7. false pregnancy
8. pertaining to around the teeth
9. flow through (watery bowel movement)
10. pertaining to an origin outside (the body or structure)
11. above the kidney
12. paralysis of one half (of the body)
13. paralysis of four (limbs)
14. (abnormally) large blood cell
15. many fears
✓ Check your answers in Appendix A. Review any material that you did not answer correctly.
Correct Answers ⫻ 6.67 ⫽ % Score
38 CHAPTER 3 • Prefixes

Learning Activity 3-3

Matching Other Prefixes
Match the following terms with the definitions in the numbered list.

amastia dyspepsia homograft

anesthesia dystocia malnutrition

antibacterial eupnea panarthritis

bradycardia heterograft syndactylism

contraception homeoplasia tachycardia

1. difficult digestion
2. tissue transplant from a different species
3. inflammation of many joints
4. against bacteria
5. slow heartbeat
6. poor or bad nutrition
7. without a breast
8. without sensation
9. good or normal breathing
10. condition of fused fingers and toes
11. rapid heartbeat
12. against conception
13. tissue transplant from the same species
14. difficult childbirth
15. formation of the same tissue
✓ Check your answers in Appendix A. Review any material that you did not answer correctly.
Correct Answers ⫻ 6.67 ⫽ % Score

Enhance your study and reinforcement of prefixes with the power of DavisPlus. Visit
www.davisplus.fadavis.com/gylys/systems for the flash-card activity related to prefixes.
We recommend you complete the flash-card activity before moving on to Chapter 4.