1. Medical Terminology Chapter 4
Prefixes
Medical Terminology
Chapter 4

2. Student Objectives Explain the use of prefixes in medical terminology.
Explain how a prefix changes the meaning of a word.
Identify prefixes of position, number, and measurement, negation, and direction.

3. Prefixes of Position Ante- antepartum, antecubital pre- preoperative
pro- prootic
epi epidermis, epidural, epinephrine

4. Prefixes of Position hypo- hypodermic, hypoallergenic
infra- infrapubic
sub- subcutaneous, submarine
inter- intercostal, internet
medi- medial, median
meso- mesoderm

5. Prefixes of Position
post- postnatal
retro- retroperitoneal

6. Prefixes of Number and Measurement
Bi- bilateral
dipl- diplopia
diplo diplococci
hemi- hemiplegia
semi- semicircular
hyper- hyperglycemia
macro- large

7. Prefixes of Number and Measurement
Micro- microscope
mono- mononuclear
uni- unilateral
multi- multipara

8. Prefixes of Number and Measurement
Poly- polyphobia, polymer
primi- primigravida
quadri- quadriplegia
tri- triceps

9. Prefixes of Negation A- asymptomatic an- anesthesia im- impotency
in- insane, insensitive

10. Prefixes of Direction Ab- abnormal ad- adduction, addition
circum- circumoral, circumference
peri- periosteitis, perimeter
ec- ectopia
ex- excise

11. Prefixes of Direction Dia- diarrhea trans- transfusion ecto- ectoderm
exo- exotropia
extra- extraocular
endo- endocardium
intra- intradermal

12. Prefixes of Direction Para- paranasal super- supersensitive
supra- suprarenal
anti- antibacterial
contra- contraception
brady- slow
dys- dyspepsia

13. End of Lesson four