Download - PR E FIXES &SUFFIXES
Attaches directly to the beginning of a word
Meaning of prefix always remains the same◦ Prefix changes meaning of root to which it is
attached◦ Not all words have prefixes
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Remember◦ Meaning of prefix does not change◦ Prefix does change meaning of the word◦ Not all medical words have a prefix
Prefixes express numbers, measurements, position, direction, negatives, and color
Prefixes are the head of words , derived from pre- meaning before.
They are found at the beginning of words and modify their meanings.
Examples anti / biotic anti / septic
1.1.Prefixes are word componentsPrefixes are word componentsEx: ant (i) – notice the hyphen end of the prefix.
This denotes that a prefix is not a complete word
and another word component must be
attached. antiseptic antibody
2. Prefixes determine the meaning2. Prefixes determine the meaningConsider the following word;Ex: If the prefix Hyper – means excessive: hyper / glycemia
means ............................
Prefixes express numbers◦ None, one, two, three, four◦ Single, double, half
Prefixes express measurement◦ Quantities such as much, many, excessive◦ Multiples without specific numbers
Prefixes express position and/or direction Used to describe a location
◦ May be between, under, around, away from◦ May be upon, over, within, near, middle◦ May be below, behind, above, across
Prefixes express color◦ Color in reactions◦ Color of growths or rashes◦ Color of body fluids◦ Red, blue, green, yellow◦ White, black, gray, purple
Prefixes express negatives◦ May indicate not, without, lack of, against
prefix meaning example
Anti- against antibacterial
Ab- from, away from Abduction
Ad- to, towards, near adduction
Peri- around, surrounding pericardium
Hyper- over, above, excessivebeyond
hypertension
Mal- ill, bad, poor malnutrition
Hypo- deficient hypoglycemia
Bi- two bilateral
Tri- three tricyclic
Poly- many, much polyuria
Post- after, behind postpartum
Pro- before, in front of prothrombin
Sub- under, below subcutaneous
Retro- behind, backward, back
retroperitoneal
Inter- Between, among interscapular
Ex- Out, out of, away from
excision
Intra- In, within intraoperative
Bio- life Biology
Phono- Sound, voice phonograph
Quadri- four quadriplegia
Ante- against antecubital
Dys- bad, difficult Dyspnea
Meta- beyond metastasis
Re- back regurgitation
Greek Latin Meaning hemi semi half,partial hexa sexi six hepta septem seven hyper super, supra over hypo sub under
Prefixes can change the meaning of a word to a negative form
Ex: Normal
Normal ab /normal away from
Word Prefix Negative word
hydrate dede
balanced unun
indication contracontra
infect disdis
toxin antianti
Remember◦ Meaning of suffix does not change◦ Suffix does change meaning of the word
Every medical word has an ending◦ Either a suffix or a complete word
Suffixes make a word a noun or an adjective
If suffix begins with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u,y)◦ Root will attach directly to it
If suffix begins with a consonant◦ Root will need a combining vowel ◦ Before attaching to the suffix
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Example Word: cardiogram◦ Breakdown of word: cardi/o/gram◦ Root = cardi◦ Combining vowel = o◦ Suffix = gram
Note: Suffix begins with a consonantCombining vowel is needed
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Example Word: cardialgia◦ Breakdown of word: cardi/algia◦ Root = cardi◦ Suffix = algia
Note: Suffix begins with a vowel◦ Combining vowel is not needed
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When suffix begins with a consonant◦ Combining vowel is needed to attach suffix to
word root Example: cephalodynia
◦ Breakdown of word: cephal / o / dynia◦ Root = cephal◦ Combining vowel = o (is needed)◦ Suffix = dynia (begins with consonant)
When suffix begins with a vowel◦ Combining vowel is not needed to attach
suffix to word root Example word: cephalalgia
◦ Breakdown of word: cephal / algia◦ Root = cephal◦ Combining form = (not needed)◦ Suffix = algia (begins with a vowel)
Remember
When defining a medical term◦Define suffix first◦Define prefix second◦Define word root(s) last
Suffixes indicate specialties and/or specialists◦May be specialist in a field of study◦May be one who specializes in the
study of◦May be one who treats
Suffixes indicate instruments◦May be an instrument used to view◦May be an instrument used to
measure
Suffixes indicate surgical and diagnostic procedures◦May be surgical puncture◦May be process of recording◦May be process of viewing with a scope◦May be incision into
Medical Suffixes
Suffix Meaning
-ectomy Surgical excision or removal of
-megaly Enlargement
-pexy Surgical fixation, put into place
-plasty Surgical repair
-rrhaphy suture
-pathy disease
Suffix Meaning
-scope Instrument for examining
-scopy Visual examination
-stomy Forming a new opening
-itis inflammation
-tomy Surgical incision into