PII. Prefijos y sufijos en medicina

 MEDICAL PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES

Medical prefixes and suffixes are word parts used to build medical terminology.

• Prefix: added at the beginning → modifies meaning.

• Suffix: added at the end → indicates condition, procedure, or specialty.

1. COMMON MEDICAL PREFIXES

A. Quantity / Number

• uni- / mono- → one

• bi- / di- → two

• tri- → three

• poly- → many

• oligo- → few

Examples:

• unilateral

• polyuria (excessive urination)

B. Size

• macro- → large

• micro- → small

Examples:

• macrocephaly

• microscope

C. Amount / Function

• hyper- → above normal / high

• hypo- → below normal / low

Examples:

• hyperglycemia

• hypotension

D. Speed / Time

• tachy- → fast

• brady- → slow

• proto- → first

Examples:

• tachycardia

• bradycardia

E. Location / Position

• sub- → under

• epi- → upon / on top

• endo- / intra- → inside

• peri- → around

• retro- → behind

• inter- → between

Examples:

• subcutaneous

• epidermis

• endocardium

• pericardium

F. Negation / Absence

• a- / an- → without

• dys- → difficult / abnormal

Examples:

• anemia

• dyspnea

2. COMMON MEDICAL SUFFIXES

A. Diseases / Conditions

• -itis → inflammation

• -osis → condition

• -algia → pain

• -emia → blood condition

• -penia → deficiency

• -plasia → formation / growth

• -megaly → enlargement

Examples:

• arthritis

• neurosis

• myalgia

• anemia

• leukopenia

• hyperplasia

• cardiomegaly

B. Medical Procedures

• -ectomy → removal

• -scopy → visual examination

• -tomy → incision / cut

• -graphy → recording

• -therapy → treatment

Examples:

• appendectomy

• endoscopy

• tracheotomy

• radiography

• chemotherapy

C. Specialties / Professionals

• -ologist / -logy → specialist / study

• -pathy → disease

• -iatry / -iatrist → medical treatment / specialist

Examples:

• cardiologist / cardiology

• neuropathy

• psychiatry / psychiatrist

D. Place

• -arium / -orium → place

  • laboratory

3. HOW TO FORM MEDICAL TERMS

Prefix + root + suffix

Examples:

• hyper + therm + ia → hyperthermia

• endo + card + itis → endocarditis

• brady + card + ia → bradycardia

4. QUICK GUIDE

• Prefix: modifies meaning

• Root: main idea

• Suffix: describes condition, procedure, or specialty