Prefix

• 1 or more syllabus beginning of a word

• Placed in front of verb/adjective/noun

• Interdisciplinary field

• Refer to table 2-1 in your book

a-, an-

Without, lack of, not

EX: anemia = lack of blood

ab-

Away from

EX: abnormal = deviating from the normal

ad-

toward, to near

EX: adrenal - at or near the kidneysAdduct: draws towardsAfferent: carry toward

ambi-, amphi-, ampho-

both

EX: ambidextrous - using both hands with equal easeAmphibious

ana-

up, toward, apart

EX: anatomy – to cut apart

ante-

before, in front of, forward

EX: antecedent- one that precedes another; one’s ancestors

anti-

against, opposing

EX: antibiotic – a substance produced by or derived from certain fungi, bacteria, and other organisms, that

can destroy or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms.

apo-

separation from, derived from

EX: apomorphine – a morphine derivative that is not as strong as morphine (emetic for dogs)

auto-

self

EX: autopsy- seeing with one’s own eyes; examination of a body after death to determine

the cause of death

bi-

two, double, twice

EX: biceps- muscle with two heads or points of origin

cata-

down, under, lower, against

EX: catabolism - breaking down of complex molecules into simple molecules, resulting in

the release of energy

circum-

around

EX: circumference - the size of something as given by the distance around it

co-, com-, con-

with, together

EX: conjoin- to become joined together; united

contra-

opposed, against

EX: contraindications - a condition or factor that increases the risks involved in using a particular drug,

carrying out a medical procedure, or engaging in a particular activity.

de-

reverse, remove

EX: declaw - to remove the claws from

di-

two, twice

EX: dioxide – a compound with two oxygen atoms per molecule

dia-

between, through, across, apart, completely

EX: diaphragm- A thin dome-shaped skeletal muscle that separates the thoracic and

abdominal cavities

dis-

apart from, free from

EX: disconnect - To sever or interrupt the connection of or between

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult

EX: dyspnea- difficulty breathing

e-, ec-, ex-

out of, free from, away from

EX: exhale- to emit air or vapor

ecto-, exo-

outer, outside, situated on

EX: exoskeleton - A hard outer structure, such as the shell of an insect or crustacean, that provides

protection or support for an organism

em-, en-

in

EX: entangled – twisted together in a tangled mass

endo-

within, inner

EX: endoscope - An instrument for examining visually the interior of a bodily canal or a hollow organ such as the colon,

bladder, or stomach.

ep-, epi-

upon, on, over, above

EX: epidermis - The outermost layer of skin

eu-

normal, good, well, healthy

EX: euthanasia - The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an

incurable condition

extra-

above, outside of, beyond

EX: extraterrestrial - existing, taking place, or coming from outside the limits of the earth

hemi-

half

EX: hemisphere - A half of a symmetrical, approximately spherical object as divided by a

plane of symmetry.

hyper-

excessive, above, beyond

EX: hypertension - high blood pressure

hyp-, hypo-

under, deficient, beneath

EX: hypodermic - relating to or located below the epidermis

im-, in-

in, into, within, not

EX: immature - Not fully grown or developed

infra-

below, beneath

EX: infrastructure - the underlying foundation or basic framework

inter-

between

EX: intermission - The period between the acts of a theatrical or musical performance

intra –

within

EX: intramuscular injections - the injection of a substance directly into a muscle

intro-

into, within

EX: introvert - To turn or direct inward

mes-, meso-

middle

EX: mesothelioma – a tumor of the mesothelium, often malignant and thought to be caused most commonly

by the inhalation of asbestos particles

meta-

change, beyond, after

EX: metacarpals: part of the skeleton of the hand or forefoot between the carpus and phalanges

micr-, micro-

small

EX: microscope - An optical instrument that uses a lens or a combination of lenses to produce magnified images of small objects, especially of objects too

small to be seen by the unaided eye

mult-, multi-

many

EX: multitask - the performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at

the same time

neo-

new, recent

EX: neonatal - newborn

pan-

all, entire

EX: pancytopenia- deficiency of all blood cells

para-

beside, beyond

EX: paramedic - a person trained to assist medical professionals and to give emergency medical

treatment

per-

through, excessive

EX: perspire - emit matter through the skin

peri-

around

EX: periodontics - branch of dentistry which studies supporting structures of teeth, and diseases and conditions that affect them

poly-

many, much, excessive

EX: polydactyly- having supernumerary digits

post-

after, behind

EX: postoperative- happening or done after a surgical operation

pre-, pro

before, in front of

EX: premature – happening, done, arriving, or existing before the proper or usual time

pseudo-

false

EX: pseudopregnancy - an anestrous state resembling pregnancy that occurs in various mammals usually

after an infertile copulation

re-

again, backward

EX: reflex - bent, turned, or thrown back; reflected

retro-

backward, behind

EX: retrograde - Moving or tending backward

semi-

half, partial

EX: semiconscious- partially conscious; not completely aware of sensations

sub-

under, beneath

EX: submerge - to put under water

super-, supra-

above, superior, excess

EX: superscript - A character set, printed, or written above and immediately to one side of another

sym-, syn-

together, with

EX: synchronize - to move or occur at the same time or rate

trans-

across, through

EX: transect - to cut across or divide by cutting

ultra-

beyond, excess

EX: ultraviolet - rays beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum