1. The Language Of Medicine
9th edition
Davi-Ellen Chabner

2. Chapter 4 Prefixes
Copyright © 2011, 2008, 2005 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2

3. Chapter Goals Define basic prefixes used in the medical language.
Analyze medical terms that combine prefixes and other word elements.
Learn about the Rh condition as an example of an antigen-antibody reaction.

4. Chapter 4 Lesson 4.1

5. Prefixes and Terminology
a-, an no, not, without
ab- away from
ad- toward
ana- up, apart
ante- before, forward
Prefix Meaning
Refer to section beginning on p. 111 for terms using these prefixes.

6. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) anti- against auto- self, own
bi- two
brady- slow
cata- down
con- with, together
Prefix Meaning
Refer to section beginning on p. 111 for terms using these prefixes.

7. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) contra- against, opposite
de- down, lack of
dia- through, complete
dys- bad, painful, difficult
ec-, ecto out, outside
en-, endo- in, within
Prefix Meaning

8. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) epi- upon, on, above
eu- good, normal
ex- out, away from
hemi- half
hyper- excessive, above
hypo- deficient, under
Prefix Meaning

9. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) in- not in- into, within
infra- beneath
inter- between
intra- into, within
macro- large
Prefix Meaning

10. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) mal- bad meta- beyond, change
micro- small
neo- new
pan- all
para- abnormal, beside, near
Prefix Meaning

11. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) per- through peri- surrounding
poly- many, much
post- after, behind
pre- before, in front of
pro- before, forward
Prefix Meaning

12. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) pseudo- false re- back, again
retro- behind, backwards
sub- under
supra- above, upper
syn-, sym- together, with
Prefix Meaning

13. Prefixes and Terminology (cont’d) tachy- fast trans- across, through
ultra- beyond, excel
uni one
Prefix Meaning

14. QUICK QUIZ:
1. Which term means a muscle that draws a limb TOWARD the body? (Watch spelling!)
A. adducter
B. abductor
C. adductor
D. abducter
Correct answer is C: adductor (answer A is misspelled. B means a muscle that draws a limb away from the body. D is misspelled.)

15. QUICK QUIZ: (cont’d) 2. Which term means painful breathing? A. dyspnea
B. dysplasia
C. apnea
D. cephalgia
Correct answer is A: dyspnea dys- means painful -pnea means breathing. Remember, medical terms do not need to have a root or combining form (as dyspnea, for example, has a prefix and a suffix with an imbedded root.)

16. Review Adrenal glands: Endocrine glands located above each kidney
Antibiotic: Destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria
Autoimmune disease: The body makes antibodies against its own healthy cells and tissues, causing inflammation and injury.
What is the function of adrenal glands?
What is adrenaline? What is another name for the term?
What was the first antibiotic? (penicillin)
What are some examples of autoimmune diseases? (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Graves’ disease)

17. Rh Condition Background on Rh Condition
Antigen: A substance, usually foreign to the body, that stimulates the production of antibodies.
Antibodies: Protein substances made by white blood cells in response to the presence of foreign antigens.
Antigen examples: poison, flu virus, bacterium
Immune reaction: reaction between an antigen and antibody
What is a common name for an immune reaction against normally nonthreatening antigens?

18. Rh Condition (cont’d)
Rh Condition: An antigen-antibody condition that develops when there is a difference in Rh blood factor between that of the pregnant mother (Rh negative) and that of the fetus (Rh positive).
Discuss how Rh condition occurs.
First pregnancy with Rh+ baby: baby is not affected but Rh- mother is sensitized
Second pregnancy with Rh+ baby baby develops hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)
Symptom of HDN: Jaundice
How can the condition be prevented? (Prevent Rh condition with Rh immune globulin injection to Rh- woman within 72 hours of delivery, miscarriage, or abortion of an Rh+ fetus.)

19. Rh Condition (cont’d)

20. QUICK QUIZ: 3. Antibodies are made by what type of cell? A. platelets
B. leukocytes
C. thrombocytes
D. erythrocytes
Correct answer is B: leukocytes or white blood cells.

21. Review
Autoimmune disease: The body makes antibodies against its own healthy cells and tissues, causing inflammation and injury.
Congenital anomaly: An irregularity in a structure or organ that an infant is born with
What are some examples of congenital anomalies?
What are some causes of nonhereditary congenital anomalies?

22. Review (cont’d) Contralateral: The opposite side of the body.
Dialysis: Removing harmful waste products from the body with an artificial kidney machine (dialysis machine).
Give some examples that demonstrate contralateral.
What term means the same side? (ipsilateral)

23. Review (cont’d)
Ectopic pregnancy: An abnormal pregnancy when the embryo implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes, but sometimes on an ovary or in the abdominal cavity.
See p. 118 for more details

24. QUICK QUIZ:
4. Ectopic pregnancy most commonly occurs in the ____________?
A. peritoneal cavity
B. right ovary
C. left ovary
D. fallopian tube
Correct answer is D: fallopian tube. See p. 118 for more detail.

25. Review
Parathyroid glands: Four endocrine glands located on the dorsal side of the thyroid gland that function separately from the thyroid gland.
Prolapse: To fall or slide forward, often used to describe an organ, such as a prolapsed uterus.
What is the function of parathyroid hormone?

26. Review (cont’d)
Recombinant DNA: Taking a gene from one organism and inserting it into the DNA of another organism.
Syndrome: A group of signs or symptoms that commonly occur together and indicate a particular disease or abnormal condition.
Symbiosis: Two organisms living together in close association, either for mutual benefit or not.
Describe the recombinant DNA technique used to manufacture insulin outside the body.
What is polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?
List a syndrome example (other than Reye syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome), and ask students to list the symptoms.
What is parasitism?

27. Review (cont’d)
Symphysis: A joint in which the bony surfaces are united by a layer of fibrocartilage.
Transurethral: When an instrument passes through the urethra.
What are some examples of symphysis?

28. Review: Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography: A diagnostic technique using ultrasound waves to produce an image or photograph of an organ or tissue.
Notice the facial features in the ultrasound image.
What is an echocardiogram?

29. Pronunciation ā as in āpe ē as in ēven ī as in īce ō as in ōpen
ū as in ūnit
ă as in ăpple
ĕ as in ĕvery
ĭ as in ĭnterest
ŏ as in pŏt
ŭ as in ŭnder

30. Pronunciation (cont’d)
Examples
antigen
contralateral
malaise
prolapse
ĂN-tĭ-jĕn
cŏn-tră-LĂT-ĕr-ăl
măl- ĀZ
PRŌ-lăps
Have students pronounce each term.
Which syllable is accented (stressed) in each of these terms?