Medical Terminology: List of Common Prefixes
Medical and nursing terminology made easy! List of common medical prefixes for numbers, amounts, sizes, colors, time, speed, location, and position! Includes examples, flashcard tables, and simple tricks to remember it all!
Save Time with a Video!
Save time by watching the video first, then supplement it with the lecture below!
Click below to view the EZmed video library. Subscribe to stay in the loop!
💯 Pass Your Classes & Exams!
Become a member to access hundreds of pages of study guides, PDF lectures, & flashcards!
Instant access to a members-only page of ALL the flashcards, study guides, and PDF lectures. Cancel anytime.
🔥 The BEST Flashcards & Study Guides!
Click below to download your flashcards & study guides to SAVE TIME studying, PASS your classes, and SUCCEED in medicine!
What is Medical Terminology?
Medical terminology is the language used in healthcare to describe anatomy, structures, conditions, diagnoses, procedures, treatments, and much more.
While medical terms may seem challenging to learn at first, they do not have to be!
You have come to the right spot!
We are going to simplify medical terminology and give you tricks along the way to help you easily master it!
Included are tables filled with common medical terminology along with their definitions and examples!
You can also use the tables as flashcards to quiz yourself!
This post will focus on common medical prefixes.
Let’s get started!
Enjoy all of our simplified medical terminology posts!
Medical Abbreviation MADE EASY!
Medical Prefixes MADE EASY! - Currently Viewing
Medical Root Words MADE EASY! - Part I
Medical Root Words MADE EASY! - Part II
Medical Terminology Definition: Language used to describe anatomy, structures, conditions, diagnoses, procedures, treatments, and more.
Breaking It Down…..
We all know learning medical words can feel like a different language.
It basically is!
However, there is an important trick to know.
Taking this approach will make it much easier for you.
Most medical terms use a combination of prefixes, roots, and suffixes to describe the word.
If you break down the word, then it becomes much easier to understand the meaning.
Let’s briefly take a look at each part.
Prefixes
The prefix forms the beginning of the word when present.
Think of the prefix as the descriptive part of the medical term.
It typically provides descriptive characteristics such as a location, direction, number, quantity, amount, size, or color.
Not every medical term uses a prefix and some words begin with the root.
Roots
The root forms the middle of the word.
If there is no prefix, then the root will be at the beginning.
Think of the root as the subject of the medical term, and it often pertains to a body part or system.
Suffixes
The suffix forms the end of the word, and it brings meaning to the medical term.
The suffix might indicate a disease, disorder, condition, procedure, process, specialty, test, or status.
Medical Terminology: Prefix = Beginning and is often the descriptive part of the word; Root = Middle and is often the subject of the word; Suffix = Ending and often brings meaning to the word
Example: Prefix, Root, & Suffix
Once you understand the basic word structure along with the meanings for common prefixes/roots/suffixes, then you will be able to put them together and define the medical term.
Let’s look at an example.
We will use hyperthyroidism.
We can see the word has a prefix at the beginning (hyper), a root in the middle (thyroid), and a suffix at the end (ism).
Hyper = Above normal or in excess
Thyroid = Thyroid gland
Ism = Condition
Therefore, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone.
Medical Terminology Example: Hyper = Prefix and means above normal; Thyroid = Root and refers to the thyroid gland; Ism = Suffix and describes a condition; Hyperthyroidism = Condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive
Medical Prefixes - Quantity
Let’s begin with common prefixes used to describe a quantity such as numbers, amounts, and sizes.
The parentheses below contain simple tricks to help you remember each prefix, including a variation of medical and non-medical examples.
Numbers
Mono = One or Single
(Monocle - Single Eyeglass)
Uni = One or Single
(Unicycle - Single Wheel)
Bi/Di/Diplo = Two or Double
(Bicycle - Two Wheels; Biceps - Two Heads)
Tri = Three or Triple
(Tricycle - Three Wheels; Triceps - Three Heads)
Qua(dr/r/t) = Four or Quadruple
(Quadrilateral - Four Sides; Quadriceps - Four Muscles)
Amounts
Semi = Half
(Semicolon - Half of a colon)
Hemi = Half or One Side
(Hemiplegia - Paralysis of one side of the body)
Equi = Equal
(Equilateral Triangle - 3 sides equal in length)
Iso = Equal
(Isocellular - Composed of cells of equal size)
Eu = Normal
(Euglycemia - Normal blood glucose level)
Normo = Normal
(Normotensive - Normal blood pressure)
Hyper = Above Normal, Excess, High, Elevated
(Hyperthermia - Elevated body temperature; Hyperactive - Overactive)
Hypo = Below Normal, Deficient, Low, Decreased
(Hypoglycemia - Low blood glucose level)
A/An = Absent or Lacking
(Anoxia - Absence of oxygen reaching tissues)
Pan = All
(Pancytopenia - Deficiency of all 3 cell components of blood)
Omni = All
(Omnivore - Consumes food of both plant and animal origin)
Multi = Many
(Multiple - Many)
Poly = Many
(Polygon - Many sides)
Oligo = Few or Very Little
(Oliguria - Production of small amounts of urine)
Sizes
Micro - Small
(Microscope - Instrument used to view small objects)
Macro = Large
(Macronutrient - Food required in large amounts in diet)
Megalo = Large
(Mega - Big)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for numbers and amounts
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for amounts and sizes
Medical Prefixes - Colors
Prefixes may also be used to describe color.
Colors
Chromo/Chromato = Color
(Chromosome - “Colored Body”)
Alb = Pale
(Albino - Congenital absence of pigment causing pale/white appearance)
Chloro = Green
(Chlorophyll - Green pigment in plants)
Cyano = Blue
(Cyanosis - Bluish skin from poor circulation or low oxygen levels in blood)
Erythro = Red
(Erythrocytes - Red Blood Cells)
Glauco = Gray or Opaque
(Glaucoma - “Opacity of Lens” - Greek Orig.)
Leuko = White
(Leukocytes - White Blood Cells)
Melano = Black
(Melanocytes - Produce melanin, the dark pigmentation of skin)
Polio = Gray
(Poliomyelitis - Inflammation of spinal cord grey matter)
Porphyr = Purple
(Porphyritic Rock - Rock with well-formed crystals, usually a purple hue)
Rhodo = Rose-Red
(Rhodolite - Pale violet or red garnet used as a gemstone)
Xantho = Yellow
(Xanthochromia - Yellow-colored cerebrospinal fluid from subarachnoid bleed)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for colors
Medical Prefixes - Time & Speed
Next we have prefixes used to describe time and speed.
Time
Ante = Before
(Antepartum - Before childbirth)
Pro = Before
(Prophylaxis - Action taken before in order to prevent a condition/disease)
Pre = Before
(Preoperative - Period of time before surgery)
Post = After
(Postoperative - Period of time after surgery)
Re = Again
(Repeat - Again)
Retro = Back or Backward
(Retrograde - Moving backward; Retro Fashion - Style from the past)
Neo = New
(Neonatal - Newborn child)
Chrono = Time
(Chronological Order - order in which events occur in time)
Speed
Tachy = Fast
(Tachycardia - Fast or rapid heart rate; Tachypnea - Fast respiratory rate)
Brady = Slow
(Bradycardia - Slow heart rate)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for time and speed
Medical Prefixes - Position/Location
Let’s move on to prefixes for location and/or position.
Some locations have more than one prefix that can be used.
So we’re going to simplify it by using the green box below to label and visualize the different positions, starting with above, below, right, and left.
**Right and left on the image below are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image.
Above
Epi = Above, Upon, On
(Epicondyle - Protuberance above or on the condyle of a long bone)
(Epicenter - Above the focus of an earthquake)
Hyper = Above, Upon, On
***Remember we used “Hyper-” when discussing amounts as well.
“Above” can refer to a position, and it can also refer to an amount such as above normal or in excess.
Supra = Above, Upon, On
(Supracondylar - Part of a bone situated above a condyle)
Super = Above, Upon, On
(Superimpose - Lay one object on another)
Below
Sub = Below, Beneath, Under
(Subpar - Below average)
Hypo = Below, Beneath, Under
***Remember we used “Hypo-” when discussing amounts as well.
“Below” can refer to a position, and it can also refer to an amount such as below normal or deficient.
(Hypogastric - Below the region of the stomach)
Infra = Below, Beneath, Under
(Infrasonic - Below human audibility)
Right
Dextro = On the Right Side or Right
(Dextrorotation - Turning or twisting to the right)
Left
Levo = On the Left Side or Left
(Levorotation - Turning or twisting to the left)
Sinistro = On the Left Side or Left
(Sinistrocardia - Displacement of the heart to the left)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for position and location (Right and left are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image)
Medical Prefixes - Position/Location
Let’s continue with more prefixes for location and/or position, and review the ones referring to front, back, and around.
We will again use the green box below to label and visualize the different positions.
Front
Ante = Anterior, Front, In Front Of
***Remember we used “Ante-” when discussing time as well.
“Before” can refer to time, and it can also refer to a position such as in front of.
(Antecubital Fossa - Anterior to the elbow and where many IVs are placed)
Antero = Anterior, Front, In Front Of
(Anteroseptal - Located in front of a septum, esp. interventricular septum of heart)
Ventri/Ventro = Anterior, Front, In Front Of
(Ventriloquist = “Stomach Talker”; Stomach is located in the front)
Back
Postero = Posterior, Back, Behind
(Posterolateral - Posterior and lateral in position or direction)
Dorsi/Dorso = Posterior, Back, Behind
(Dorsal Fin - Fin on the back of a fish or shark)
Around
Peri = Around, Surrounding
(Perimeter = Boundary around or surrounding a shape or closed figure)
Circum = Around, Surrounding
(Circumference = Distance around a circle)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for position and location
Medical Prefixes - Position/Location
As we continue with location and position, there are prefixes associated with inside, outside, away, toward, and through.
Let’s review those.
Inside
Endo = Inside, Internal, Interior, Inner, Within
(Endoscope - Instrument used to view the inside of the body)
Intra = Inside, Internal, Interior, Inner, Within
(Intravenous - Existing or taking place within, or administered into, a vein)
Intro = Inside, Internal, Interior, Inner, Within
(Introversion - State of being turned inward)
Outside
Exo = Outside, External, Exterior, Outer
(Exoskeleton - Rigid external covering for the body)
Extra = Outside, External, Exterior, Outer
(Extracellular - Situated or taking place outside a cell)
Extro = Outside, External, Exterior, Outer
(Extrospection - Observation of things external to the self)
BONUS TRICK: You can also think of an exit sign which takes you outside. Exit starts with “Ex” similar to Exo, Extra, and Extro.
Ecto = Outside, External, Exterior, Outer
(Ectoderm - Outermost layer of cells of an embryo)
Away
Ab = Away from
(Abduction - Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body)
Toward
Ad = Toward
(Adduction - Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body)
BONUS TRICK: Think ADD = ADDUCTION; You are ADDING to the body
Through
Trans = Through, Across
(Transparent - Allowing light to pass through)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for position, location, and movement
Medical Prefixes - Position/Location
Let’s wrap this up with positions and locations associated with middle, lateral, nearby, between, both sides, same side, and opposite side.
Middle
Meso = Middle
(Mesoderm - Middle layer of an embryo)
Medi(o/a) = Middle
(Median - Situated in the middle)
BONUS TRICK: Meso, Medi, and Middle all start with the letter “M”.
Lateral
Latero = Lateral, To One Side
(Lateroversion - Abnormal lateral displacement of a bodily organ or part)
BONUS TRICK: Latero and Lateral sound the same and both start with “L”.
Nearby
Para = Nearby, Alongside, Beside
(Parathyroid Glands - Glands alongside or adjacent to the thyroid)
BONUS TRICK: Think Para = Parachute; You want your parachute nearby when jumping out of a plane
Juxta = Next to, Side by Side
(Juxtapose - Putting two or more objects side by side)
Between
Inter = Between
(Intercellular - located or occurring between cells)
CAUTION: Make sure to not confuse “inter” which means between with “intra” or “intro” which mean inside.
Both Sides
Ambi = Both or Both Sides
(Ambidextrous - Ability to use both hands equally well)
Amphi = Both or Both Sides
(Amphibian - Live in both the water and on land throughout their life cycle)
Medical Terminology: List of common prefixes for position and location
Same Side
Ipsi = Same
(Ipsilateral - Belonging to or occurring on the same side of the body)
**Right and left on the image below are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image.
Medical Terminology: Ipsilateral - Belonging to or occurring on the same side of the body (Right and left are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image)
Opposite Side
Contra = Opposite or Against
(Contralateral - Relating to the side of the body opposite to that of which a condition occurs or structure is located)
**Right and left on the image below are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image.
Medical Terminology: Contralateral - Relating to the side of the body opposite to that of which a condition occurs or structure is located (Right and left are positioned as if you were looking at a radiology image)
Before You Go….
Save time studying and reviewing!
Make sure to sign up for FREE to the EZmed newsletter below, and never miss out on future medical and science topics made easy!
A weekly notification is sent right to your inbox filled with new lectures, videos, and exam prep!
Did you enjoy this lecture? Leave a comment down below!
Feedback or suggestions for future topics? Reach out using the contact button!
Thank you for using EZmed!
Make Your Learning Experience Even Easier!
Perform well in class, ace your exams, and keep up with your medical knowledge throughout your career using the following EZmed platforms:
YouTube Channel: EZmed - Animations and videos that simplify medicine and science
Instagram: @ezmedlearning - High yield exam content
Pinterest: ezmedlearning - Easy illustrations and flashcards