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