Medical prefixes made easy! In nursing school, medical school, and other health science courses, you’ll learn about medical terminology, including common medical prefixes.
Below is a list of common medical prefixes, along with the meaning and an example of it being used.
Medical Prefixes (Nursing Prefixes)
“A” means without. Aphasia: phasia refers to communication or speech, so when we add the “a” prefix, it means without the ability to communicate (without speech).
“Ab” means away. Abduction of the arms is when we move them away from the trunk of the body.
“Acou” means hearing. Acoustic trauma means that the hearing has been damaged in some way.
“Acr” means extreme or extremity. Acrocyanosis is something we look for in newborns when perform APGAR scoring, and it refers to cyanosis (blue or pale color) in the extremities (hands/feet).
“Ad” means towards. Adduction of the arms means you are adding them back towards the body.
“Andro” means male or male reproductive system. Androgens are sex hormones that promote male characteristics.
“Angi” means vessel. Angiomas are tumors that consist of blood vessels.
“Ante” means before or in front of. The antecubital region is the region in front of the elbow / forearm.
“Anti” means against or instead of. Antibiotics work against living organisms such as bacteria.
“Arthr” means joint. Arthritis is inflammaion of a joint.
“Auto” means self or own. Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue.
“Bi” means two. Bicuspid valve means a valve that has two cusps.
“Bio” means life. Biology is the study of life.
“Blast” means bud or immature form of something. Blastocytes are the immature cells that mature into different types of cells.
“Brady” means slow. Bradycardia means a slow heart rate (less than 60 bpm in an adult).
“Broncho” means bronchus or bronchi (large tubes in lungs). Bronchoconstriction occurs when the tubes in the lungs narrow.
“Bucco” means cheek. Administering a medication via the buccal route means placing it inside the cheek.
“Cardio” means heart. Cardiologists specialize in the heart.
“Cephal” means head. The Cephalic region in anatomy is the region of the head.
“Cerebro” means brain or cerebrum. A stroke is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), affecting the brain.
“Circum” means around. Circumduction is a movement in anatomy where you make a circular motion with the limbs or other body region.
“Cost” means ribs. Costovertebral is the region where the ribs and vertebrae meet.
“Derm” means skin. The dermis is the middle layer of the skin.
“Dys” means difficult. In dysphagia, phagia refers to eating or swallowing. When we add the prefix dys, it means difficulty swallowing or eating.
“Endo” means within. Endoscopy means you are taking a scope to look inside the body.
“Entero” means intestine. Enteritis is inflammation of the intestine.
“Epi” means above or on top of. Epidermis refers to the layer of skin above or on top of the dermis.
“Erythro” means red. Erythrocytes are your red blood cells.
“Gastr” means stomach. Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach.
“Glosso” means tongue. The glossopharyngeal nerve is cranial nerve 9, and it allows movement of the tongue.
“Gyneco” means female reproductive system. Gynecologists study and specialize in female reproductive health.
“Hemi” means half. The brain has two main cerebral hemispheres, or halves.
“Hemo/hema” means blood. Hematologists specialize in the blood and blood disorders.
“Hepat” means liver. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
“Hydro” means water. Hydronephrosis occurs when water or fluid causes the kidneys to swell.
“Hyper” means excessive or high. Hypernatremia means excessive sodium in the blood.
“Hypo” means low or below. Hyponatremia low level of sodium in the blood.
“Inter” means between. Intercostal refers to the region between the ribs.
“Intra” means inside or within. When we start an IV, we place fluids within the vein/venous system.
“Iso” means equal. Isotonic solutions have the same/equal tonicity as the blood plasma.
“Lipo” means fat. Liposuction sucks fat out of the body.
“Macro” means large. Macrocytic anemia occurs when red blood cells become too large.
“Meningo” means membrane. Meningitis occurs when the membrane of the spinal cord or brain becomes inflamed.
“Meta” means beyond. The metatarsals are the bones just beyond the tarsal bones of the foot.
“Micro” means small. Microcytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are too small.
“Myo” means muscle. Myocardium is the muscle of the heart.
“Nephro” means kidney. If you have a kidney problem, you’ll see a nephrologist.
“Neuro” means nerve. Neurologists study the nervous system.
“Oligo” means scanty, less, or little. Oliguria is little or less urine output.
“Opthalmo” means eye. Opthalmologist is a person who specializes in eye health.
“Osteo” means bone. Osteoporosis means thinning of the bones.
“Oto” means ear. Ototoxic means that something is toxic to the ears or hearing.
“Para” means beside or near. The parathyroid is near the thyroid gland.
“Peri” means around or surrounding. Pericardium is the layer surrounding the heart.
“Phleb” means vein. Phlebotomy is using the vein to remove blood.
“Post” means after. Postpartum is the period after childbirth.
“Pre” means before. Prenatal care is care you get before birth.
“Pseudo” means false or fake. Pseudoscience is something that claims to be actual science but is really fake.
“Pulmo” means lungs. Pulmonologist is a doctor who studies the lungs.
“Rhino” means nose. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal tissues.
“Spleno” means spleen. Splenomegaly is enlargement of the spleen.
“Sub” means below or under. Sublingual is when you administer medication below the tongue.
“Supra” means above or on top of. Supraventricular tachycardia is a fast dysythmia that occurs above the ventricles.
“Tachy” means fast. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate of greater than 100 bpm in an adult.
Thoraco chest Thoracic region is the region of the chest.
“Trans” means across. Transmembrane means it goes across the membrane.
“Uro” means urinary tract. A urostomy is an opening created in the urinary tract.
Medical and Nursing Prefixes Quiz
Test your knowledge on these terms by taking our medical prefixes quiz. You can also review our medical prefixes video.