1. PREFIXES
Now that you are familiar with root words, we are now going to introduce some common prefixes that are added to the beginning of the root word to build medical terms.
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2. Prefixes Peri – around Epi – on or upon En – in
Earlier you learned that the root word for brain is Encephal. The “literal” translation for encephal is in the head.
Note that peri usually refers to a covering around a part of the body. Sometimes, it refers to the area around the part, and less frequently, to the surface of a part.
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3. The next two prefixes are:
Inter – between
Intra - within
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4. The next three prefixes are:
Para – alongside, near
Sub – under
Supra – over, above
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5. Mental Matchmaker En Around Para Alongside, near Peri Up or upon Epi
Write down the two columns as they appear. Match the prefix in the left-hand column with its definition in the right hand column. Then proceed to the next slide.
Up or upon
Epi
Between
Inter In
Intra
Within
Sub
Over, above
Supra
Under
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6. Two more prefixes for you to learn are:
When hypo is combined with the root word or suffix that begins with a vowel, the “o” is sometimes dropped. For example, earlier you learned that the root word algesia means sensitivity to pain. When used in combination with hypo, the word becomes hypalgesia, without the letter “o”.
In other cases, the “o” is retained, such as with the root word esthesia. In this case, the resulting word hypoesthesia.
Hyper – above normal, excessive or high
Hypo – less than normal, below or under
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7. Make a Match Hypodermic Hyperhidrosis Hypalgesia A B C D A B C D A B C
LEGEND
Excessive sweating
Below the skin
High blood pressure
Less than normal sensitivity to pain
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8. The last two prefixes for you to learn are:
A/An – a negative condition
Arthr/Arthro - joint
The last two prefixes for you to learn are:
A term you learned earlier in this chapter was esthesia, which refers to sensation, feeling, or perception. Adding the prefix an to this word gives us the word anesthesia, which means a lack of or absence of sensation, feeling, or perception.
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9. Great Job!!
You made it through PREFIXES. Now let’s proceed to the next part of the course; SUFFIXES.
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