Terms

Question 1

What does the prefix ‘a, an’ mean?

Answer 1

without, not, lack of

Example: analgesic = without pain

Question 2

What does the prefix ‘ab’ mean?

Answer 2

from or away

Example: abduction - movement away from the midline of the body

Question 3

What does the prefix ‘ad’ mean?

Answer 3

to or toward

Example: adduction = movement toward the midline of the body

Question 4

What does the prefix ‘ante’ mean?

Answer 4

before, in front of

Example: antepartum - before delivery

Question 5

What does the prefix ‘bi, bin’ mean?

Answer 5

two, twice, double

Example: bifocal = two lenses

Question 6

What does the prefix ‘brady’ mean?

Answer 6

slow

Example: bradycardia - slow pulse, heartbeat

Question 7

What does the prefix ‘contra’ mean?

Answer 7

against

Example: contraceptive = prevents pregnancy

Question 8

What does the prefix ‘dis’ mean?

Answer 8

apart, free from

Example: disinfected = free from microorganisms

Question 9

What does the prefix ‘dys’ mean?

Answer 9

bad, painful

Example: dysuria - painful urination

Question 10

What does the prefix ‘ecto, exo, extra’ mean?

Answer 10

outside, beyond

Example: ectocranial = outside the skull

Question 11

What does the prefix ‘endo’ mean?

Answer 11

inner

Example: endoscope - instrument for examining the inside of an organ

Question 12

What does the prefix ‘epi’ mean?

Answer 12

on, upon, over

Example: epidermis = outer layer of skin

Question 13

What does the prefix ‘erythro’ mean?

Answer 13

red

Example: erythrocyte - red blood cell

Question 14

What does the prefix ‘ex’ mean?

Answer 14

out, away from

Example: exhale = to breathe out

Question 15

What does the prefix ‘hemi’ mean?

Answer 15

half

Example: hemisphere = one of two parts of the brain

Question 16

What does the prefix ‘hyper’ mean?

Answer 16

too much, high

Example: hypertension = high blood pressure

Question 17

What does the prefix ‘hypo’ mean?

Answer 17

below, under

Example: hypotension = low blood pressure

Question 18

What does the prefix ‘infra’ mean?

Answer 18

under, below

Example: infrapatellar - under the patella (kneecap)

Question 19

What does the prefix ‘inter’ mean?

Answer 19

between, within

Example: interdisciplinary - between disciplines

Question 20

What does the prefix ‘intra’ mean?

Answer 20

inside

Example: intravenous = within a vein

Question 21

What does the prefix ‘leuk’ mean?

Answer 21

white

Example: leukocyte = white blood cell

Question 22

What does the prefix ‘macro’ mean?

Answer 22

large

Example: macrocyst - large cyst

Question 23

What does the prefix ‘mal’ mean?

Answer 23

bad, illness, disorder

Example: malformed = badly made

Question 24

What does the prefix ‘meta’ mean?

Answer 24

beyond, next, changed

Example: metacarpal - bone in the hand, beyond the wrist

Question 25

What does the prefix 'micro' mean?

Answer 25

small ## Footnote Example: microscopic = too small for the eye to see

Question 26

What does the prefix 'mon, mono' mean?

Answer 26

one ## Footnote Example: monocyte = type of white blood cell with one nucleus

Question 27

What does the prefix 'multi' mean?

Answer 27

many ## Footnote Example: multipara = woman who has given birth to more than one living child

Question 28

What does the prefix 'neo' mean?

Answer 28

new ## Footnote Example: neoplasm = new growth/tumor

Question 29

What does the prefix 'olig' mean?

Answer 29

small, scant ## Footnote Example: oliguria - small amount of urine

Question 30

What does the prefix 'para' mean?

Answer 30

beside, abnormal ## Footnote Example: parathyroid - glands beside the thyroid

Question 31

What does the prefix 'patho' mean?

Answer 31

disease, suffering ## Footnote Example: pathology = study of disease