I.

LATIN AND GREEK PREFIXES USED IN THE ANATOMICAL

TERMINOLOGY
Prefixes Meaning of the prefixes Examples

before/behind

Ante- before, preceding antebrachĭum (forarm)

ante-

3 of 3 prefix 1a
: prior : earlier
antedate
b : anterior :
forward anteroom
2 : prior to : earlier
than antediluvian
Pre- before, ahead of presacrālis (presacral)

Post- after, behind postaortālis (postaortal)

Retro- back, behind retrocavālis (retrocaval)

above/un der

Supra- above supraauriculāris (supraauricular)

Infra- under; below infraspinālis (infraspinal)

Epi- on; upon; epigastrĭum epigastrium)

over
Sub- under; below subarachnoidālis (subarachnoid)

Hypo- below; incomplete;

deficient hypochondrĭum (hypochondrium)

inside/out side

Intra- within intramusculāris (intramuscular)

Endo- within endocervicālis (endocervical)

 Extra- outside of; beyond extracapsulāris (etracapsular)

between

Inter- between intervertebrālis (intervertebral)

Meso- middle mesogastrĭum (mesogastrium)

to/from

Ad- to; toward adductor (adductor)

Ab- from; away from abductor (abductor)

beside, around

Para- beside; beyond; around paraduodenālis (paraduodenal)

Peri- surrounding (outer) pericardĭum (pericardium)

together, joined

Syn- together; joined synarthrōsis (synarthrosis)

Com-(con-) together commissūra (commissure)

II. EXERCISES

1. Make up new words using prefixes and translate into English:

a) extra- cellulāris, e cellular

capsulāris, e capsular b) intra- craniālis, e
cranial glandulāris, e glandular c)
infra- orbitālis, e orbital patellāris, e
patellar
d) supra- claviculāris, e
clavicular scapulāris, e
scapular renālis, e renal
e) para- sternālis, e sternal
vertebrālis, e vertebral f) inter-
costālis, e costal osseus,
a, um bony alveolāris, e
alveolar g) pre- (prae) centrālis, e
central
 axillāris, e axillar

h) retro- mandibulāris, e mandibular

i) sub- cutaneus, a, um cutaneous
linguālis, e lingular

Prefix Meaning Anatomical Example Everyday Example

Antebrachial Antechamber
In front
Ante- (In front of + Arm + (In front of + Room)
of
Pertaining to)
Endometrium Endorphins
Inside,
Endo- (Inside + (Inside + Make +
within
Womb) Morphine)
Epidermis Epidemic
Above,
Epi- (Above + (Upon + The
on, over
Skin) People)
Exocrine gland Exoskeleton
Out,
Exo- (Outside + sift) (Outside +
outside
gland Skeleton)
Extracellular Extraordinary
Beyond,
Extra- (Outside + Cell+ (Outside +
outside
Pertaining to) Normal)
Hypothalamus Hypocrisy
Hypo- Under (Under + (Under +
Thalamus) Decide)
Infraspinatus Infrared
Beneath,
Infra- muscle (Below + (Below
Below
Spine) muscle + Red)
 Interneuron International
Inter- Between (Between + (Between +
Neuron) Nations)
Prefix Meaning Anatomical Example Everyday Example

Intravenous Intamural (Within +

Inside,
Intra- (Inside + Vein + Wall)
within
Pertaining to)
Juxtaglomerular cell
(Beside + Ball of Juxtaposition (Beside
Juxta- Beside
thread*) cell + Position)
* = glomerulus (kidneys)

Parathyroid Paramedic (Beside +

gland Medic)
Beside,
Para- (Beside +
beyond
Thyroid)
gland
Pericardium Perimeter (Around +
Peri- Around (Around + Heart + Measure)
Pertaining to)
Retroperitone Retroactive (Behind +
al (Behind + Done)
Retro- Behind
Stretched
around)
Subscapularis Submarine
Beneath,
Sub- muscle (Under (Below + Sea)
under
+ Spine) muscle
Supraorbital Supranational (Above
Above,
Supra- (Above + Eye + + Nation)
upon
Pertaining to)
Transverse Transatlantic (Across
Across,
Trans- plane + Atlantic)
through
(Across +
Turn)
plane