Medical terms are often constructed from multiple components, including prefixes. Here are some examples of prefixes used in the medical field:a-: A prefix frequently used in medicine to mean "not, without, -less," such as in words like aphonia (without voice). Before a vowel, "a-" often changes to "an-," as seen in anemia (without blood). The prefix "a-" originates from Greek, meaning "not."ab-: A Latin-derived prefix meaning "from, away from, off," found in terms like abnormal (away from normal). In slang, "abs" refers to abdominal muscles.ad-: This Latin prefix signifies "toward" or "in the direction of," used in words like adrenal (toward the kidney).alb-: Originating from the Latin "albus," meaning white, it appears in words like albino, used by the Portuguese to describe "white" people with albinism, characterized by a lack of pigment.colpo-: A Greek-derived combining form meaning a fold or hollow, frequently applied to the vagina, as in colposcopy (vaginal examination).dextro-: From the Latin "dexter," meaning right side. Opposed by levo- (meaning left side), dextro- describes rightward rotation.dia-: A Greek prefix meaning through or completely, used in terms like diagnosis.entero-: Referring to the intestine, this Greek-derived prefix is used in medical terms related to the gut.hetero-: From the Greek "heteros," meaning different, this prefix contrasts with homo- (meaning same), as in heterogeneous and homogeneous.homo-: Derived from the Greek "homos," meaning same, this prefix is used in opposition to hetero-, exemplified in terms like homosexual.hyper-: Signifying excess or above normal, as in hypercalcemia (high blood calcium).hypo-: Indicating low or below normal, hypo- is opposite to hyper-, as in hypocalcemia (low blood calcium).iatr-: A prefix associated with medicine or physicians, from the Greek "iatros," as in iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment).kerato-: A prefix that can refer to the cornea or to "horny" tissue, used in terms like keratocornea.leuko-: Meaning white, from Greek "leukos," it appears in words like leukocyte (white blood cell).levo-: From the Latin "laevus," meaning left side, the opposite of dextro-.litho-: A prefix for stone, used in terms like lithotomy (stone removal procedure).macro-: Derived from the Greek "makros," meaning large, as in macrocyte (large cell).mega-: From the Greek "megas," meaning large, as in megacardia (enlarged heart).melan-: Meaning dark or black, from Greek "melas," used in terms like melanin (dark pigment).micro-: Meaning small, from Greek "mikros," as in microcephaly (small head).neo-: Signifying new, from Greek "neos," used in terms like neonatal (newborn).oligo-: Meaning few, from Greek "oligos," found in terms like oligodactyly (few fingers).onycho-: Pertaining to nails, as in onychomycosis (nail fungal infection).osteo-: Relating to bone, from Greek "osteon," used in terms like osteoporosis (weak bones).oto-: Concerning the ear, from Greek "otos," as in otitis (ear inflammation).patho-: Denoting disease, from Greek "pathos," used in terms like pathology (study of disease).phlebo-: Meaning vein, from Greek "phleps," as in phlebitis (vein inflammation).pneumo-: Relating to air or lungs, from Greek "pneuma," used in terms like pneumonia (lung inflammation).poly-: Meaning many, from Greek "polys," as in polycystic (many cysts).pro-: A versatile prefix from Greek and Latin, meaning "before" or "in place of," as in prognosis (forecast of disease).quasi-: Meaning seemingly, as in quasi-stable.toc-: Derived from Greek "tokos," meaning childbirth, as in tocolytic (inhibiting labor).trans-: From Latin, meaning "across" or "beyond," used in terms like transplant.
