Medword Resources
Medical Terminology Basics:
Prefixes Page 3

Prefixes, the most frequently used elements in the formation of Greek and Latin words, consist of one or more syllables (prepositions or adverbs) placed before words or roots to show various kinds of relationships. They are never used independently, but when added before verbs, adjectives, or nouns, they modify the meaning. Many prefixes are added to other words with a hyphen, but medical dictionary publishers are opting to drop the hyphen on many of the more common prefixed medical words.

Most prefixes are a part of words in ordinary speech and do not refer specifically to medical or scientific terminology, but there are many that occur frequently in medical terminology, and studying them is an important step in learning medical terms and building a medical vocabulary. You may also be interested in reviewing these Medword pages: Suffixes, USP Drug Listings, Basic Medical Terms, Examples of Transcribed Reports.

Prefix		Translation of Greek or Latin		Examples
Im, in		In, Into		Immersion (act of dipping in); infiltration (act of filtering in); injection (act of forcing liquid into)
Im, in		Not		Immature (not mature); involuntary (not voluntary); inability (not able)
Infra		Below		Infraorbital (below eye); infraclavicular (below clavicle or collarbone)
Inter		Between		Intercostal (between ribs); intervene (come between)
Intra		Within		Intracerebral (within cerebrum); intraocular (within eyes); intraventricular (within ventricles )
Intro		Into, within		Introversion (turning inward); introduce (lead into)
Meta		Beyond, after, change		Metamorphosis (change of form); metastasis change (beyond original position); metacarpal (beyond wrist)
Opistho		Behind, backward		Opisthotic (behind ears); opisthognathous (beyond jaws)
Para		Beside, beyond, near to		Paracardiac (beside the heart); paraurethral (near the urethra)
Per		Through, excessive		Permeate (pass through); perforate (bore through); peracute (excessively acute)
Peri		Around		Periosteum (around bone); periatrial. (around atrium); peribronchial (around bronchus)
Post		After, behind		Postoperative (after operation); postpartum (after childbirth); postocular (behind eye)
Pre		Before, in front of		Premaxillary (in front of maxilla); preoral (in front of mouth)
Pro		Before, in front of		Prognosis (foreknowledge); prophase (appear before)
Re		Back, again, contrary		Reflex (bend back); revert (turn again to); regurgitation (backward flowing, contrary to normal)
Retro		Backward, located behind		Retrocervical (located behind cervix); retrograde (going backward); retrolingual. (behind tongue)
Semi		Half		Semicartilaginous (half cartilage); semilunar(half­moon); semiconscious (half conscious)
Sub		Under		Subcutaneous (under skin); subarachnoid (under arachnoid); subungual (under nail)
Super		Above, upper, excessive		Supercilia (upper brows); supernumerary (excessive number); supermedial (above middle)
Supra		Above, upper, excessive		Suprarenal (above kidney); suprasternal (above sternum); suprascapular (on upper part of scapula)
Sym, syndrome		Together, with		Symphysis (growing together); synapsis (joining together); synarthrosis (articulation of joints together)
Trans		Across, through, beyond		Transection (cut across); transduodenal (through duodenum); transmit (send beyond)
Ultra		Beyond, in excess		Ultraviolet (beyond violet end of spectrum); ultraligation (ligation of vessel beyond point of origin); ultrasonic (sound waves beyond the upper frequency of hearing by human ear)

Prefixes ­ Page 1: "a" To "Con"
Prefixes ­ Page 2: "Contra" To "Hypo"