I 50 PREFIXES

becomes one of the protocols of physical therapy, it takes a while to get to that
point, and one is not very steady until that time. E88y access to bathroomB and to
other living areas is crucial. The third necessary condition is the availability of the
physical therapist. Living in the summer and fall months in rural New Hampshire,
l was fortunate to qualify for tho services of the local VNA lVisiling Nurse
Association], nnd a marveloull physical therapist visited me three times a week for
about six weeks. In bot.ween visits, I worked hard to win her approval, and
although it seemed ut first like tack.ling Everest to lift my leg even one inch off the
Roor, let alone walk, within about six week s I could drive, even if I was geltmg
around outside with crutches; within two months I had regained good mobility, and
six months tater I was as good as new, and ever so grateful. ...
Although I consider this procedure to be nothing short of miraculous, like any
major elective s urgery, one should not undertake it unless the pain of daily life
outweighs its joys . ... when the doctors ask you about the pain, on a scale of 1 to 10,
take them seriously. Don't undergo this surgery until it hovers around 8 or 9 ... and
then-well, enjoy the results!
S ulro ~ n Ezrahi ur a pro{a3or of ComporoJive L1teraturt al 1M Ilt brtw University and u a
G~w•m J.'rllow. SM d111uks lur lime ~ IWttn Jn-usakm, l •~l. and Wilmot, Ntw Hampahirt.

?• EXERCISES AND ANSWERS

Complete these exercises and check your answers. An Important part of your success In
learnmg medical tum,no/ogy is checking your answers carefully with the Answtrs to
Exercises beginning on page I 58. Don't forget to wRite, Review, and Repeat!

0 Cilve munlngs for the following prefixes.

1. anti- ___._.,....1•...:..i.......t::::_ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

2. ana- _ _ ...,__ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

3. ad- t - ,1,- r
4. bi- ,/

5. brady- ·•'

6. ab- '
7. a-, an- _ _..;____, __: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
8. ant.c- _ _b.;;...~_ 1~_/_f_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

J t \, er
..,
9 , •__1~ ~ -T-----------------------
COn
L ,
 PREFIXES 1S 1

C, Complete the following sentences with the medical terms listed below.
analy&is ant.igen bradycatdia
anemia appea diapiiea
antibiotic atrophy
antibody bilateral

1. A patient with hearing loss in both ears has a/an 1 , \ 11\( 1.:. r 1,1 \ condition.
2. When airways collapse or are blocked during sleep, a condition called sleep
_ _ _\.._j.;..;
r1...;(;...e....;...
\. _ _ _ may occur.

3. A protein produced by white blood cells in response to a foreign s ubstance, such as

a bacterium or virus, is a/an ,,, 1 b"' ~ l
4. A foreign substance, such as a bacterium or virus, is a/an c h( 1 ~ fi

5. Decrease in hemoglobin in the blood to below the normal range produces a

condition known as - ---=J',.-J.:...

I ..:c _ 1°'
~ --'-rr, ------
6. A condition of frequent loose, watery stools that seem to "flow through" the body is
called _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

7. The separation of substances into their component parts is known as _ _ _ __

8. A medication produced from molds or synthesized in a laboratory to destroy

microorganisms is a/an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

9. A condition in which the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute is _ _ __

10. Having an arm in a cast and not using it can cause _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

(9 Give medical terms for the following meanings.

1. Without speech: - ..!~::::•:.JP.....:..h_oi
_.:..~.:..'_•'- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Lack of menstrua l flow: _...;:o=--
. ~..:....:.t>...;.'-' .;, f _
;;;__ t _~_-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

3. Before birth: - -~O::..!f:.:..-=

l t...:....e---:{)...;:o::..l:..;t=--
. <A-1>_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

4. Glands located near the kidneys: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ glands

5. An irregularity appearing with birth: _ _ _...;.,_' _v.;__1'---

1 .I! _ _ _ _ _ _ anomaly
_ "'

6. Separation of waste materials from the blood when the kidneys fail: _ _ _ _\ _ _r _
152 ~mxE5

G) Gh,e mHnlngs for the following pre~aes .

1 ec- Cl l ( 6 dy•-
\_
... \

2 epi- ,._\ ,/ t: 7 endo- """I ( ~'

,,
3. hemJ- },., lf 8 ex-
c ,r .., C. 0 c..
4 hyper- 9 extra -
t
,
'
5. hypo- 10 m- I
C-

0 Com plete t he following u ntencH using the medic.I terms llstN belo w.
dy1menorrhea dytuna utraht"pallr
dy1phagta endoeicopy mcu1on
dy•plu1a e p1de nnu
dy1pnea exe1110n

1 Pam uaoc1at.ed with meo• LruaJ flow 111 _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __

2. Cutung mto a pa rt of th.- body 111 a/an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _

3 Any a bnormal dewlopment m t1ss ue11 or org&ru1 1.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -·

4 Cutt.mg out of a part of the body LB a/an _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

5 Painful bunung sensauon upon urination i.a _______________

6 Pa.mful breathing that may be caused by anxiety, strenuoUi ~ - or oen.aw

heart oondibons 1B _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _

7 The outer layer of skin 1s the - -- - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - -·

8 Pert.a1rung to outside the li\•er is -----►--------------

9 Difficulty in s wallowmg 1s called _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

l O Vis ual euminnt 1on I via an cnd08C0pt' I of what 1t1 "1t.lun an organ ia

CJ Complete the following me d ical tum1 using the munlng s pro\'lded.

1 High blood pressu rt' 1t- _ _ _ - - - ' ~_ _ _tenaion

2. A mass of blood above the membrane 11urroundmg the bram ia a. an

1

- - -- - - du.raJ bemat - ·•
- -- -
 PREFIXES 153

, _c topic pregnancy.
3. A pregnancy that is out of its normal place is a/an _ _ _ _

4. A condition of excessive (too much) blood sugar is ~1 ~)ll~ 1-,'"mia.

5. A condition of deficient (too little) blood sugar is \i 1

1
\;'" ) ) emia.

,,.crine glands.
6. Glands that secrete hormones within the body are _ _ _ _..,,e-"r,__,,

7. Increase in development (individual cells increase in size) often caused by overuse

[ _;..,_p_h_.._,_______
of a muscle or organ is hyper_

8. Paralysis of half of the body related to a stroke is \ 1c ~ ' plegia.

9. Excessive secretion from a gland in front of the trachea is hyper t l ,11 r...,' t-.:u-~
e_\ _,,_,_1 _o._____
10. Increased formation (numbers of cells) is hyper_

8 Give meanings for the following prefixes.

1. intra- '1\ • l i. , "' 6. inter- \~ " t " 1.. ' I 1

2. mal- h ~-i b 7. meta- l I '' J..

3. para- ".)~ .,. ~ ~ 8. neo-

4. peri- -. ' rr Lt 'l - \ • f"<-") 9. post-

5. poly- r,L,n d 10. pre-

0 Give meanings for the following medical terms.

l. intervertebral li I C
'
r' f' I ,, ~
2. metastasis 1
1--- r, .. I r- r C 1-1 I:;:
3. metacarpals

4. intravenous r ,r r,. ., (' V' ~· I e r"

5. postmortem "
'

6. periosteum
,,,.,. \ ~ r r. r • I rr r

7. precancerous
I
r t' r
8 . neonatal
,.
" I I~ I"\

9. paraplegia - ,.... • ... I , , r ,\ t r c.. 'I,

10. malignant
r v O < <;,
I 54 PREFIXES

0 Complete Heh of the sentences that follow by selecting from the 11st
of terms below. The bold words In each sentence should help you choose
the correct term.

adrenal glands neoplasm polyneuropathy

dyepnea parathyroid glands polyuria
extracranial perianaJ postpartum
intrauterine polydipsia
1
1. An iajury to the outaide of the skull is a/an _ • ...,l_.t_l __
, "_1_ ' _____ lesion.

2. Four email glands in the neck region near (posterior to) another endocrine gland

arc t.hc \., , r, , r \. ,' 1 '

\

3. Common symptoms of d1abclcs ore much urination, or __!;...:,

_ \ - "-''-'-·'- - - -

and much thirst, or _ \.1...._.......;•;''..-\__<-'____

4. People suffering from asthma often have difficult breath.mg, which 11 called

<-\ !:) > , ..... "'"'

5. Bleeding can occur from cracks or sores surroundin1 the operung t.o the rectum

These are __\_ '-·_,_,_ • _

n_->_, _ _ _ _ _ fissures.

6. Two glands each located near (above) a kidney are--" ..:....;..;

,.,.' -----------'-----
7. A new growth, which can be malignant or benign, is a/an _ ,,._ ._ _ _ _ _ __

8. Disease of many nerves is known as a/an _ _ _ __..:._ _.:._ _ _ _ _ __

9. Any problem that affects the fetus within the womb is a/an __
., _ _ _ _ _,,_,..:-:;.._
condition.

10. Women may experience moodiness and sad feelings after birth. a condition known

as _ r_.____:__,_,____ depression.
 "'-tr:\[) ISS

0 Cl~ MUAlftll f~ the f olio.•-. ~ • H

l pro- .,,. ; ,..._

2 quad,, . e pi-a.

3 Nb
,, t 9 n,uo.

' t.ach1-
& lratU
10 •yn

11 ultra •
6 \Ult • 12 \r, L

p,ol•J»- r.n'I IUtClf\

-~
prosthe.1• ~ ,ori
qu.adn~• •ul'l(vt.l
r.laJ»-

l R..miovaJ ur nittm& out of an orsan u a an

2 n..1 lb.at llhow• tJw •trurtun- ol uriana ua&n, .cllWld • • ' - ~ tJ» DarSW
~ ol beannc I.I -

3 An U't.lfiaa1 pan of~ bod"!~ a.an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

4 R.-un-enc. of ~,npt.omB of an illneu 15 a.an _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

& ~ and da.aappearana- of gympt.oau 1.1 a an _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __

6 Rap,d bneuun« LI _....___ r _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __

_..;.._ _

7 If tJw sptD&.l awd 1.1 WV~~ m th~ OUVKal rllClOll para}~ ol all DU b.aba

k.ncrtrn u - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - wtll l'ff.Uh

~ The- __ w-aJ,'1' ha, th,- p&l'1.I and tS on tJw n,ht _,.

of tbr be&rt.. bn WN'D ~ uppt"r and lowt'r ch.&mbrr,

9 lf • paUt-Dl bu a an _ _ _ _ ___.__ _ _ _ _ _ Jutrenolll~ w.a t.baD t!w

comp\("u 1tomach 11' "'mo, Ni

lU Pain tw.,;lu,. k,urnu1~ and 11umhn-. of t1w hand a n - ~ vi ~ twmel

I 56 PREFIXES

0 Deflne 1he following ter m, 1hu ducrlbe ~n1o of the bod~.

!'l '1 ,
1. 11ubacapuJar t... l I I f ,

2. transabdommnl
\ , I
,

3. relropcntoncal ., ' t \ .. '

I
4. aubcut.a.nooua ~

'
5. mt.el"\ crtcbral \ , , t w
.. ,.,. ( d .. C
•
C Select from lhe 1um1 ll11ed below 10 compl••• lh1 1en11.ncH lhat foUo• .
nnl'm1a prola pl!C tachyc.ard11
aphasUl relapse tran1un-thral
paralysis ~m1ss1on

l . After her nmth chtld. ml.l.9Cles in Ms. Smith's utenne wall wea.k.ened cai.wna her
_l
uterus to fall and _ _\_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ through
\ c..
w Vagtna

2. Aft.er Mr. Jones' heart attack, his cardiologist noticed a rapid heart rhythm, or
l e• t. f i:.._. ,( "

3. A cerebrovaacular aoodcnt lCVAl on the lei\, side of the bram can cause a \ON of

spccch,or _ _ __;✓;._;(_Y_
~_)_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __

4. Menorrhagi.a and lack of iron in Sharon's diet led to a condillon of low h~moglobw

and iron deficiency _ _c;,,

__ • _ .._ _.....
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

5. The operation to remove part of Bill's enlarged prostate gland mvoh-ed placing a

catheter through his urethra and removing p1ecet1 of the gland. The surgery. called

a TURP, or __t_ ..._,__--'-- -"'- - resect.ion of the prostate gland, unproved bis

ability to urinate. The prostate gland is at the base of the unnary bladder 1D males

(see Figure 4-18).

 '-lfll[S IS 7

PROSTATE ~ Rect.r-
FIGUR[ 4 -18 f'nts&at• 9lalld. Gl.ANO .....,.

C) Circle the correct muning in bold in each of the followin9 statemenls.

1. Dya- and mat- both mean (outaide, good,~

-
2. Hypo- and sub- both mean (under, above, outaidel
.... -. -

3 . Epi- and hyper- both mean (i.mide, beneath. above )

--
-4. Con- and syn- both mean <apart, near, with t.
-
5. Ultra- and met.a- both mean (new, beyond, without 1

6. Ante-, pre-, and pro- all mPan (before, 1u.rroundin1, betwH-01

7. Ee- and extra- both mean twithin, many, outaide)

8. Endo-, intra-, and in- all mean (painful, within, throufh l

9. Post-, re-, and retro- all mean (behind, ■low, together'

10. Uni- means (one, two, threc1

11. Tri- means (one, two, three).

12. Bi- means (one, two, three!.

I 58 PREFIXES

G) Circle the boldface term that but complelH the munlng of lhe sentences
In the following medical vignettes.

1 AB port of her lintravenoua, po11tpartum, prenatal) care, Beatru underwent

(ultra1ono,e:fthy, endoacopy, urin11ly1i11J to de~rm1ne the age, a1:r.e, and
dev~opmcnt o fr fotua.
2. Ellen's pregnancy test wns pos1t.ive, but she hod cxcructating pel vic pain After a
carefuJ pelvic exnm nnd ultrasound Rcan, the doctors diagnosed a/an (epidural.
~ i c , subscapular) pregnancy. She then underwent emergency surgery to
remove the implanted tissue from the fallop1an tube.
3. After noticing n susp1c1ous-looking mole on her upper arm, Carole was diagnosed
with ~•.!!t. benign, subtotal) melanoma. This type of alun cancer 11 a/an
(intrauterine, extrahepatic, n~.elas_!ic} process and bas a tugh likelihood of
(paralysia, dy■pluia, meta1tuj1) to other areas of the body.
4. Carole's daughter, Annabelle, found a mole on her back and qwckJy had 1t checked
by her physician. Fortunately, after a biopsy, the pathologic exam re·,ealed a
(tran1abdominal, precancerous, perianal) nevus (molcJ that was coru11dcred
(chronic, unilateral, benil(D). In the future, Annabelle will need close follow-up
for other suspicious lesions.
5. Milton's blood pressure was 160/110 mm Hg. Normal blood pressure 1s
120/80 mm Hg. Th reduce Milton's risk of stroke, his physican prescribed
medication to treat his (bradycardia, hypertension, dyspnea)

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
0 1. agaimt
2. up, apart
5. alow
6. away from
8. before, forward
9. ~,th, together
3. toward, near 7 no, not, without 10. through, complete
4. two, both

0 1. bilateral
2. apnea
5. anemia
6. diarrhea
8 ant1biottc
9. bradycardia
3. nnttbody 7. analysis 10. atrophy
4. antigen

G 1. aphasia
2. amenorrhea
3. a ntepnrtum, or prenatal
4. adrenal
5. co~mtal
6 dialysis

G) 1. out, outside 6. bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

2. above, upon 7. within, in, inner
3. half 8. out
4. excessive, too much, above 9. out.side of
5. deficient, too little, below 10. in, into

0 1. dysmenorrhea
2. incision
5. dysurin
6. dyspnea
8. cxtrahcpatic
9. dysphagin
3. dysplasia 7. epidermis 10. endoscopy
4. excision