Medical Terminology Prefixes PDF

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Summary

Nursing Medical terminology prefixes...

Description

PREFIXES FOR NUMBERS PREFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLE

bradyprim/imon/ounihemisemibididipl/o triquadr/itetramultipolyquadrtachynulli-

slow first one one half; one side half; partial two, twice two, twice double three four four many excessive four fast none

bradycardia primitive monocular unicellular hemisphere semisolid bicuspid dimorphous diploid triplet quadrant tetrahedron multiple polysaccharide quadriplegia tachypnea nulliparous

PREFIX FOR COLORS

PREFIX cyan/oerythr/oleuk/o melan/oxanth/oalbus chlor/o-, chloros cirrhoslutein melan-

MEANING blue red white, colorless black, dark yellow white green orange-yellow saffron yellow black

poli/oxerocrypt/o-

gray dry hidden

EXAMPLE cyanosis erythrocyte leukocyte melanin xanthoderma

cryptorchidism

NEGATIVE PREFIXES PREFIX a-, ananticontra-

MEANING not; without against against, opposite

EXAMPLE aseptic antidote contraception

dedisdysin-*; imnon-

down, without absence, removal difficulty not not

depilatory dissect dysmenorrhea insignificant noninfectious

un-

not

unconscious

* May also mean “in” or “into as in inject, inhale. PREFIXES FOR DIRECTION PREFIX abadambi- / amphoamphianaanterodiaecto- / exoendo- / entoepiinfrainterintramesopertrans-

MEANING away from toward; near both on both sides or double up, toward front through, between, across Outer, outside within, inner upon, over below, beneath between within middle through through

EXAMPLE abduct adduct ambidextrous amphibious Anacatharsis anterolateral dialysis ectoderm endocranial epidermis inframaxillary intercostal intravenous Mesonasal percutaneous transfusion

PREFIXES FOR DEGREE PREFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLE

hyper-

Increased, abnormally high, over, excess

hyperventilation

hypoolig/opansuprasuperultra-

decreased; below normal few, scanty all, entire above (usually used to pertain for structure)

hypoxia oligomenorrhea panacea Suprapubic

excess beyond, excess

supernumerary ultrasonic

PREFIX FOR SIZE AND COMPARISON PREFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLE

AutoEqui-

Self equal, same

Autoanalysis equilateral

EuHeteroHomo-, homeoIsoMacro-

normal, easy, good different, other, unequal same, unchanging equal, same large, abnormally large

euthanasia heterosexual homothermic isograft macrocyte

Megaly-, megaloMicroNeoNormoOrtho-

large; abnormally large small new normal straight, correct, upright

megabladder microscopic neonate normovolemia orthotic

PoikiloPseudoRe-

varied, irregular false again; back

poikiloderma pseudoplegia regurgitation

PREFIXES FOR TIME and/or POSITION PREFIX

MEANING

antedextr/oec-, ecto ex/oend/o-

before right out, outside away from, outside in, within

antenatal dextrocardia ectoderm excise endoscope

laterolevomediomes/oneo-

to the side left middle middle new, recent

mesencephalon neonatal

paraperiprepro-

beside, after around before, in front of before, in front of

Paracardiac Periorbital predisposing prodrome

postposteroretrosinistr/osub-

after, behind behind backward, behind left under, beneath

postmenopausal

syn-, sym-

together

synapse

EXAMPLE

Retrograde sinistrad subcutaneous

MISCELLANOUS TERMS (may also be used as root word) PREFIX

MEANING

aeroandrobiogluc- / gluco glyc- / glyco gyneheterohydrolipomalnecronoct-

air man life sugar sugar woman different water fat bad death night

pyotele- ; tel cryo- /cryMyco-

pus end, faraway, at distance Cold or freeze Fungus

EXAMPLE

heterosexual hydrocephalus liposuction malnutrition...