BASIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 2 (Prefix)

Medical Terminology: Words used in medicine are comprised of one or more parts called: Prefix: part of the word which comes before the stem. Stem: gives basic meaning to the word. Suffix: part of the word which comes after the stem .

Stem: 1. osteo 2. cardio 3. hemo/hemato 4. nephro 5. neuro 6. gastro 7. pulmo 8. hepato 9. myo 10. encephalo A. nerve B. bone C. lung D. stomach E. heart F. blood G. kidney H. brain I. liver J. muscle

Prefix: The part of the word which comes before the stem and modifies or augments the meaning of the stem is called the prefix. In the term unforgettable, "forget" is the stem and "un" is the prefix. The prefix is the part of the word which comes before the stem.

In the words implant, supplant, and transplant, the prefixes are imp, sup and trans. You can change the meaning of a term by putting a prefix before the stem. Not every Greek or Latin word contains a prefix .

Words used in medicine are comprised of one or more parts called prefix, stem, and suffix. The part of the word which comes before the stem and modifies or augments the meaning of the stem is called the prefix.

Prefix: Prefixes may be divided into various categories of meaning depending on how they modify the stem, such as: Location Time Amount Color Negation Size Position.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO LOCATION: The prefix intra- means inside or within. The dash after intra- indicates that the stem comes after the prefix. By combining the prefix intra- with the stem abdominal, you know it means inside/within the abdomen.

Endo- is also a prefix meaning within or inside Endo- is also a prefix meaning within or inside. Metro is the stem meaning uterus. Endometritis: means inflammation inside/within the uterus.

Peri- means around or surrounding. Cardio is the stem for heart. Pericarditis: means inflammation around or surrounding the heart.

Ec- and ecto- mean out and outside. An ectopic pregnancy, for example, is a pregnancy which occurs outside the uterine cavity.

Retro- and post- mean behind. Retrocardial means located behind the heart . Postnasal means situated behind the nose.

The prefixes sub- and hypo- mean under. Subcutaneous means under the skin. Hypodermic needle is one that is inserted under the skin.

Inter- meaning between. The stem, costal, means ribs. Therefore, intercostal muscles are muscles which are between the ribs.

Review: a. Intra-abdominal means _______ the abdomen. a. intra-/endo- b. peri- c. ec-/ecto- d. retro-/post- e. sub-/hypo- f. inter- a. Intra-abdominal means _______ the abdomen. b. Endometritis means inflammation _____ the uterus. c. Pericarditis means inflammation ______ the heart. d. Ectopic pregnancy is one which occurs ________ the uterine cavity. e. Retrocardial means located _________ the heart.

f. Postnasal means situated__________ the nose. g. Subcutaneous indicates __________ the skin. h. A hypodermic needle is one that is inserted __________ the skin. i. Intercostal muscles are muscles which are __________ the ribs.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO TIME: The prefixes ante- and pre- mean before. By combining the prefix ante with the stem partum, you know that antepartum means before childbirth.

A preoperative medication is a medication which is given before surgery.

The prefix post- also means after. A postoperative complication is a complication which occurred after surgery.

Review: a. ante- b. pre- c. post- a. Antepartum means __________ childbirth. b. A preoperative medication is one which is given _______ surgery. c. A postoperative complication is one occurring __________ surgery.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO NEGATION: The prefixes a- or- an mean without or absence of. Afebrile means without/absence of fever.

The stem esthesia means feeling. Therefore, anesthesia means without feeling.

The prefix anti- means against. The term antitoxin means against toxin or poison.

Review: a. a- b. an- c. anti- a. Afebrile means __________ fever. b. Anesthesia means __________ feeling. c. Antitoxin means __________ toxin or poison.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO AMOUNT OR COMPARISON: Uni and mono- mean one or single. Monocyte refers to a single cell. A unicycle has one wheel.

Bi- is a prefix indicating the number two. Bi-lateral, then, refers to two sides. A bicycle has two wheels.

The prefix for three is tri. Therefore, the valve in the heart which has three parts is called the tricuspid valve. A tricycle has three wheels.

The prefix quadri- means four. A person with quadriplegia has paralysis in all four limbs.

The prefixes multi- and poly- mean many or much. A person with polyneuritis has inflammation of many nerves.

The prefixes hemi- and semi- mean half. A person with hemiplegia has paralysis on one- half of the body.

A person who is semiconscious is half conscious.

The prefix hypo- also means too little or low. Therefore, a person with hypotension has low blood pressure.

Hyper- is a prefix that means above or high. A person with hypertension has blood pressure above the normal or high blood pressure.

The prefix for fast is tachy-. A person with tachycardia has an abnormally fast heartbeat.

The prefix for slow is brady-. A person with bradycardia has an abnormally slow heartbeat.

The prefix for little or scanty is oligo-. The stem meaning urine is -uria. Therefore, oliguria means little or scanty urine.

Review: a. Monocyte refers to a _________ cell. b. Bilateral refers to ______ sides. c. The tricuspid valve in the heart has __________ parts. d. A person with quadriplegia has paralysis of __________ limbs. e. The medical term polyneuritis indicates inflammation of ________ nerves. a. Mono- b. Bi- c. Tri- d. Quadri- e. Multi-/Poly- f. Hemi-/Semi- g. Hypo- h. Hyper- i. Tachy- j. Brady- k. Oligo-

f. When a person has hemiplegia, he has paralysis on one-__________ of the body. g. A person who is semiconscious is __________ conscious. h. A person with hypotension has _________ blood pressure. A person with hypertension has __________ blood pressure. j. Tachycardia indicates an abnormally __________ heartbeat. k. Bradycardia refers to an abnormally __________ heartbeat. l. Oliguria means __________ urine.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO COLOR: The prefix leuko- means white. A leukocyte refers to a white blood cell.

Erythro- is a prefix meaning red. An erythrocyte refers to a red blood cell.

Cyano- is a prefix meaning blue. Cyanosis refers to a blue/bluish condition of the skin.

Melano- is a prefix meaning dark or black. A melanoma is a malignant or black tumor.

Review: a. Leuko- a. A leukocyte is a __________ blood cell. b. Erythro- c. Cyano- d. Melano- a. A leukocyte is a __________ blood cell. b. An erythrocyte is a __________ blood cell. c. Cyanosis is a _________ condition of the skin. d. When someone has a melanoma, he has a malignant __________ mole or tumor.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO SIZE: Micro- is a prefix meaning small. A cyte is a stem meaning cell. A microcyte is a very small cell.

A word indicating smallness of heart is microcardia.

Macro- is a prefix which means the opposite of micro. Macro- is used in words to mean large.

Things that are macroscopic can be seen with the naked eye. Very large cells are called macrocytes.

Mega- is also a prefix which means large. A megacolon is an abnormally large colon.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO POSITION: Antero- is a prefix meaning anterior part or in front of. Latero- is a prefix meaning side. Therefore, anterolateral means situated in front and to one side.

Dextro- is a prefix which means to the right. Dextrocardia refers to having the heart on the right side of the body.

Levo- is a prefix meaning to the left. Levoversion is a term which means the act of turning to the left.

Medio- is a prefix meaning middle. The medial part of the body pertains to the middle

Review: a. Micro- b. Macro- c. Mega- d. Antero- e. Latero- f. Dextro- g. Levo- h. Medio-

Review: a. A microcyte is a very __________ cell. b. Macrocytes are very __________ cells. c. A person with a megacolon has an abnormally __________ colon. d. Anterolateral means in __________ and to one __________. e. If the heart is on the __________ side of the body, it is referred to as dextrocardia. f. Levoversion means the act of turning to the __________. g. The medial part of the body is called the __________ part.

PREFIXES - PERTAINING TO MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: Hydro- is a prefix meaning water. Hydrophobia, then, means fear of water.

Dys- is a prefix meaning difficult or painful. A patient with dyspnea would be experiencing difficult or painful breathing.

Mal- is a prefix meaning bad. Malodorous means having a bad odor.

Review: a. Hydro- b. Dys- c. Mal- a. A person with hydrophobia has a __________ of water. b. A patient with dyspnea would be experiencing __________ or __________ breathing. c. If something is malodorous, it has a __________ odor.

QUIZ

Match: COLUMN A COLUMN B 1. HYPO A.BETWEEN 2. POLY B. LOW/UNDER 3. CYANO C.DIFFICULT/PAINFUL 4. INTER D.FAST 5. PERI E. AROUND/SURROUNDING 6. DYS F. ONE 7. TACHY G.HIGH 8. MONO H. MANY/MUCH 9. HYPER J. BLUE

Multiple Choice: 1. THE PREFIX "SUB" IN THE WORD SUBCUTANEOUS MEANS: A. OVER C. UNDER B. RIB D. JOINT 2. THE PREFIX "BRADY" IN THE WORD BRADYCARDIA MEANS: A. FAST C. LOW B. SLOW D. FEW 3. THE PREFIX "HYDRO" IN THE WORD HYDROPHOBIA MEANS: A. AIR C. GAS B. LIQUID D. WATER

4. THE PREFIX "A" IN THE WORD AFEBRILE MEANS: A. WITHOUT C. IN B. WITHIN D. AROUND 5. THE PREFIX "TACHY" IN THE WORD TACHYCARDIA MEANS: A. LOW C. SLOW B. FAST D. FEW 6. THE PREFIX "ERYTHRO" IN THE WORD ERYTHROCYTE MEANS: A. BLUE C. RED B. WHITE D. BLACK

7. THE PREFIX "OLIGO" IN THE WORD OLIGURIA MEANS: A. FEW/SCANTY C. SMALL B. LARGE D. MANY/MUCH 8. THE PREFIX "DEXTRO" IN THE WORD DEXTROCARDIA MEANS: A. RIGHT C. MIDDLE B. LEFT D. SIDE 9. THE PREFIX “MEGA” IN THE WORD MEGACOLON MEANS: A. SMALL C. HIGH B. LOW D. LARGE

Listening: True or False 1. Tom hurt his ankle playing baseball. 2. Tom can hardly walk. 3. Jenny will take Tom to the hospital.

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