Table 8-2

Table 8-2
Common Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
a, an- without, lack of apnea (without breath)
anemia (lack of blood)
ab- away from abnormal (away from the normal)
acr- pertaining to acromegaly (enlargement of the
extremity
bones of the distal parts)
ad- to, toward adhesion (something stuck to)
aden- pertaining to gland adenitis (inflammation of a gland)
ana- up, back, again anastomosis (joining of two parts)
angio- blood vessel, vessel angiokinetic( pertaining to changes of
blood vessels)
ante- before, forward antenatal (occurring or formed before birth)
anti- against, opposed to antipyretic (against fever)
arthro- joint arthrodynia (pain in a joint)
auto- self auto-intoxication (poisoning by a toxin generated
within the body)
bi-, two bilateral (two-sided)
blast- germ or cell blastoma (a true tumor of cells)
bleph- pertaining to eye bleparotomy (surgical cutting of eyelid)
brady- slow bradycardia (slow heart rate)
cardio- pertaining to heart cardiography (recording of the actions of the
heart)
cephal- pertaining to head cephalopathy (any disease of the head or brain)
cerebro- brain cerebrospinal (referring to the brain and spinal
cord)
chole- pertaining to bile cholelithiasis (stones in the biliary system)
circum- around, about circumflex (winding around)
contra- against, opposite contralatral (on the opposite side)
cost- pertaining to rib costal margin (margin of the ribs)
cyst- pertaining to bladder cystitis(inflammation of the bladder or any
fluid-containing sac)
derma- skin dermatitis (inflammation of the skin)
di- twice, double diplopia (double vision)
dia- through, completely diagnosis (knowing completely)
dys- with pain or difficulty dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
e-, ex- from, out of excise (to cut out or remove completely
or surgically)

Table 8-2
Common Prefixes (Continued)
Prefix Meaning Example
ecto- out from ectopic (out of place)
em- in empyema (pus in the chest)
endo- within endometrium (within the uterus)
enter- pertaining to the enteritis (inflammation of the intestines)
intestines
epi- upon, on epidermis (the skin)
erythro- red erythrocyte (red blood cell)
eu- healthy eupnea (normal breathing)
exo- outside exogenous (produced outside the body)
extra- outside, in addition extrasystole (premature contraction of the heart)
gastr- pertaining to the gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
stomach
gynec- pertaining to women gynecology (study of women's diseases)
hem-, pertaining to blood hemoglobin (pigment of red blood cells)
hematohemi-
half hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body)
hydro- water hydropenia (deficiency in body water)
hyper- over, excessive in hyperplasia (excessive formation)
hypo- under, deficient in hypotension (low blood pressure)
hyster- pertaining to uterus hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
in- not inferior (beneath or lower)
infra- below, after infrascapular (below the scapula)
inter- between intercostal (between the ribs)
intra- within intralobar (within the lobe)
iso- equal isotonic (having equal tension)
laterad-, side laterodeviation (displace to one side)
lateralleuk-
pertaining to leukocyte (white blood cells)
anything white
macro- large macroblast (abnormally large cell)
micro- small; “one millionth microplasia (dwarfism)
part of”
myo-, pertaining to muscle myoma (muscle tumor)
myeneo-
new neoplasm (new growth)
nephr- pertaining to kidney nephrectomy (surgical excision of the kidney)

Table 8-2
Common Prefixes (Continued)
Prefix Meaning Example
neuro- nerve neurocanal (central canal of the spinal cord)
olig- little oliguria (little production of urine)
oophor- pertaining to ovary oophorectomy (surgical excision of an ovary)
ophthal- pertaining to eye exophthalmos (protruding eyeballs)
ot- pertaining to ear otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear)
para- by the side of parathyrods (along side of the thyroid)
patho- disease pathology (study of the nature and cause of
disease)
per- through perforation (a breaking through)
peri- around pericardium (fibroserous sac enclosing the heart)
phago- to eat phagocyte (cells that eat debris)
pneumo- air; lung pneumothorax (abnormal presence of air
in the thorax)
poly- many polycystic (containing many cysts)
post- after, behind postpartum (after childbirth)
pro- before, in front of prognosis (forecast as to the outcome of disease)
proct- pertaining to rectum proctoscopy (inspection of the rectum)
psuedo- false pseudoanemia (false anemia)
psych- pertaining to the psychiatry (treatment of mental diseases)
mind
pulmo- lung pulmonary (involving the lungs)
py- pertaining to pus pyorrhea (discharge of pus)
pyel- pertaining to renal pyelitis (inflammation of the renal pelvis)
pelvis
retro- backward retroflexion (bending backward)
rhin- pertaining to nose rhinitis (inflammation of nose)
salping- pertaining to a tube salpingectomy (excision of the oviduct)
semi- half semiflexion (partially flexed)
sub- under, moderately subacute (moderately sharp)
supra- above supraclavicular (above the clavicle)
sym- with, together symphysis (grow together)
tachy- fast tachycardia (fast heart rate)
trans- across transfusion (pour across)
tri- three tricuspid (having three cusps)
uni- one unilateral (one-sided)
vaso- vessel vasopressor (agent that increases vascular
resistance)