PREFIXES

OBJECTIVE

To identify and define common prefixes used in medical terms.

Commonly used prefixPREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES

a-,an- No, not, without Apnea, aphasia, atrophy, anemia, amenorrhea

ab- Away from abnormal

ana- Up, apart analysis

ante- Before, forward antepartum

anti- against Antibody, antigen, antibiotic

brady- slow bradycardia

dys- Bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

Dyspnea, dysphagia, dysplasia, dysmenorrhea, dysuria

ec out Ectopic pregnancy

MUSCLE ATROPHY

urinalysis

TEST NORMAL ABNORMAL

color Light yellow Red (hematuria)

clarity clear Cloudy (infection)

Ph (chemical nature) Slightly acidic Alkaline (infection)

protein Very slight Proteinuria (renal disease)

sugar none Glycosuria (diabetes mellitus)

Types anemia

Aplastic anemia Hemolytic anemia Iron deficiency anemia Pernicious anemia Sickle cell anemia

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

Contd Commonly used prefix

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE

Epi- Above, upon Epidural hematoma, epidermis

Ex- out excision

Extra- outside extrahepatic

Hemi- half hemigastrectomy

Hyper- Excessive, too much, above

Hyperthyroidism, hypertrophy, hypertension, hyperglycemia

Meta- Change, beyond Metastasis, metacarpal

Endo- Within, inner Endoscopy, endocrine glands.

Epidural hematoma

Examples of endoscopies

Arthroscopy Bronchoscopy Colonoscopy Cystoscopy Gastroscopy Proctosigmoidoscopy Mediastinoscopy Sigmoidoscopy hysteroscopy

Major glands and selected hormones

GLAND HORMONES

Adrenal glands Adrenaline (epinephrine)

Ovaries Estrogen, progesterone

Pancreas Insulin

Parathyroid glands Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Testes Testosterone

Thyroid gland Thyroxine

Pituitary gland Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) ,follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ,growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Commonly used prefixes

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE

Para- Besides, near, along Parathyroid glands, paralysis

Post- After, behind Postpartum, postmortem

Peri- surrounding perianal

Poly- Many, much Polyuria, polydipsia

Quadri- four quadriplegia

Re- back Relapse, remission

Pros- Before, forward Prosthesis

Syn- With, together syndrome

syndromes Acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS) Carpal tunnel syndrome Down syndrome Mitral valve prolapse Toxic shock syndrome

IMPORTANT ABBREVIATION

MICU- medical intensive care unit PICU- pediatric intensive care unit SICU- surgical intensive care unit