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Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between a prefix and a suffix.
- Differentiate prefixes that deal with body parts, color, and direction.
- Distinguish suffixes that deal with procedures.
Prefixes
Prefixes are located at the beginning of a medical term. The prefix alters the meaning of the medical term. It is important to spell and pronounce prefixes correctly.
Many prefixes that you find in medical terms are common to English language prefixes. A good technique to help with memorization is the following:
- Start by reviewing the most common prefixes.
- Consider common English language words that begin with the same prefixes.
- Compare them to the examples of use in medical terms.
Common Prefixes
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS |
|---|---|---|
| A-, An- | Without; Lacking | Anemia |
| Andr/o- | Male | Androgen |
| Anti- | Against | Anticholinergic drugs |
| Auto- | Self | Autocrine |
| Bio- | Life | Biology |
| Chem/o- | Chemistry | Chemotherapy |
| Contra- | Against | Contraception |
| Cyt/o- | Cell | Cytokine |
| Dis- | Separation; Taking apart | Dissection |
| Dys- | Difficult; Abnormal | Dyspnea |
| Eu- | Good; Well | Eupnea |
| Fibr/o- | Fiber | Fibrosis |
| Gluco-, Glyco- | Glucose; Sugar | Glycogen |
| Gyn/o-, Gynec- | Female | Gynecology |
| Hydr/o- | Water | Hydrocephalus |
| Idio- | Self; One’s own | Idiopathic |
| Lyso-, Lys- | Break down; Destruction; Dissolving | Lysosome |
| Mal- | Bad; Abnormal | Malignant |
| Myc/o- | Fungus | Mycetoma |
| Necr/o- | Death | Necrosis |
| Neo- | New | Neonate |
| Oxy- | Sharp; Acute; Oxygen | Oxytocin |
| Pan-, Pant/o- | All or everywhere | Pancytopenia |
| Pharmaco- | Drug; Medicine | Pharmacist |
| Re- | Again; Backward | Rejuvenation |
| Somat/o-, Somatico- | Body; Bodily | Somatic cell |
Body Part Prefixes
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS |
|---|---|---|
| Acous/o- | Hearing | Acoustic meatus |
| Aden/o- | Gland | Adenoid |
| Adip/o- | Fat | Adipocyte |
| Adren/o- | Gland | Adrenal cortex |
| Angi/o- | Blood vessel | Angioplasty |
| Arteri/o- | Artery | Arteriole |
| Arthr/o- | Joint | Arthroplasty |
| Bucc/o- | Cheek | Buccal cavity |
| Bronch/i- | Bronchus | Bronchioles |
| Burs/o- | Bursa | Bursa |
| Carcin/o- | Cancer | Basal cell carcinoma |
| Cardi/o- | Heart | Cardiology |
| Cephal/o- | Head | Cephalic flexure |
| Chol- | Bile | Cholesterol |
| Chondri- | Cartilage | Chondrosarcoma |
| Coron- | Heart | Coronary arteries |
| Cost- | Rib | Costal cartilage |
| Crani/o- | Brain | Cranium |
| Cutane- | Skin | Cutaneous |
| Cyst/o-, Cysti- | Bladder or sac | Cystoscopy |
| Derm-, Dermat/o- | Skin | Dermatologist |
| Duoden/o- | Duodenum | Duodenitis |
| Gastr- | Stomach | Gastrectomy |
| Gloss- | Tongue | Glossectomy |
| Hem-, Hema-, Hemat-, Hemo-, Hemat/o- | Blood | Hematopoiesis |
| Hepat/o-, Hepatico- | Liver | Hepatic portal system |
| Hist/o-, Histio- | Tissue | Histology |
| Hyster/o- | Uterus | Hysterectomy |
| Ileo- | Ileum | Il