1. PREFIXES &SUFFIXES

2. Prefix Attaches directly to the beginning of a word
Meaning of prefix always remains the same
Prefix changes meaning of root to which it is attached
Not all words have prefixes

3. Prefixes
Remember
Meaning of prefix does not change
Prefix does change meaning of the word
Not all medical words have a prefix
Prefixes express numbers, measurements, position, direction, negatives, and color

4. Prefixes are the head of words , derived from pre- meaning before.
They are found at the beginning of words and modify their meanings.
Examples anti / biotic
anti / septic

5. Prefixes are word components
Ex: ant (i) –
notice the hyphen end of the prefix. This denotes
that a prefix is not a complete word and
another word component must be attached.
antiseptic
antibody
2. Prefixes determine the meaning
Consider the following word;
Ex: If the prefix Hyper – means excessive:
hyper / glycemia means

6. Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express numbers
None, one, two, three, four
Single, double, half
Prefixes express measurement
Quantities such as much, many, excessive
Multiples without specific numbers

7. Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express position and/or direction
Used to describe a location
May be between, under, around, away from
May be upon, over, within, near, middle
May be below, behind, above, across

8. Prefixes (continued) Prefixes express color Prefixes express negatives
Color in reactions
Color of growths or rashes
Color of body fluids
Red, blue, green, yellow
White, black, gray, purple
Prefixes express negatives
May indicate not, without, lack of, against

9. prefix
meaning
example
Anti-
against
antibacterial
Ab-
from, away from
Abduction
Ad-
to, towards, near
adduction
Peri-
around, surrounding
pericardium
Hyper-
over, above, excessive
beyond
hypertension

10. Mal-
ill, bad, poor
malnutrition
Hypo-
deficient
hypoglycemia
Bi-
two
bilateral
Tri-
three
tricyclic
Poly-
many, much
polyuria
Post-
after, behind
postpartum
Pro-
before, in front of
prothrombin

11. Sub-
under, below
subcutaneous
Retro-
behind, backward, back
retroperitoneal
Inter-
Between, among
interscapular
Ex-
Out, out of, away from
excision
Intra-
In, within
intraoperative
Bio-
life
Biology
Phono-
Sound, voice
phonograph
Quadri-
four
quadriplegia

12. Ante-
against
antecubital
Dys-
bad, difficult
Dyspnea
Meta-
beyond
metastasis
Re-
back
regurgitation

13. Prefixes from Greek and Latin
Greek Latin Meaning
hemi semi half,partial
hexa sexi six
hepta septem seven
hyper super, supra over
hypo sub under
Prefixes from Greek and Latin

14. Prefixes can change the meaning of a word to a negative form
Ex: Normal
Normal ab /normal away from

15. Word
Prefix
Negative word
hydrate de
balanced un
indication
contra
infect
dis
toxin
anti

16. Suffixes Remember Every medical word has an ending
Meaning of suffix does not change
Suffix does change meaning of the word
Every medical word has an ending
Either a suffix or a complete word
Suffixes make a word a noun or an adjective

17. Suffix: Rule If suffix begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u,y)
Root will attach directly to it
If suffix begins with a consonant
Root will need a combining vowel
Before attaching to the suffix

18. Suffix: Rule Example Word: cardiogram
Breakdown of word: cardi/o/gram
Root = cardi
Combining vowel = o
Suffix = gram
Note: Suffix begins with a consonant
Combining vowel is needed

19. Suffix: Rule Example Word: cardialgia Note: Suffix begins with a vowel
Breakdown of word: cardi/algia
Root = cardi
Suffix = algia
Note: Suffix begins with a vowel
Combining vowel is not needed

20. Suffixes: Rule When suffix begins with a consonant
Combining vowel is needed to attach suffix to word root
Example: cephalodynia
Breakdown of word: cephal / o / dynia
Root = cephal
Combining vowel = o (is needed)
Suffix = dynia (begins with consonant)

21. Suffixes: Rule When suffix begins with a vowel
Combining vowel is not needed to attach suffix to word root
Example word: cephalalgia
Breakdown of word: cephal / algia
Root = cephal
Combining form = (not needed)
Suffix = algia (begins with a vowel)

22. Suffixes: Rule When defining a medical term Define suffix first
Remember
When defining a medical term
Define suffix first
Define prefix second
Define word root(s) last

23. Suffixes Suffixes indicate specialties and/or specialists
May be specialist in a field of study
May be one who specializes in the study of
May be one who treats
Suffixes indicate instruments
May be an instrument used to view
May be an instrument used to measure

24. Suffixes Suffixes indicate surgical and diagnostic procedures
May be surgical puncture
May be process of recording
May be process of viewing with a scope
May be incision into

25. Medical Suffixes Suffix Meaning -ectomy
Surgical excision or removal of
-megaly
Enlargement
-pexy
Surgical fixation, put into place
-plasty
Surgical repair
-rrhaphy
suture
-pathy
disease

26. Suffix
Meaning
-scope
Instrument for examining
-scopy
Visual examination
-stomy
Forming a new opening
-itis
inflammation
-tomy
Surgical incision into