Medical Prefixes that Describe the Position or Direction

The medical prefix term ab- means "away".

Example Word: ab/duct/ion

Word Breakdown: ab- is a prefix that means "away", duct is is a word root that means "to lead or to carry" and -ion is a suffix that means "action or process".

Definition: Abduction is a movement in which a limb or structure is pulled away from the body's median plane.

The medical prefix term ad- means "toward". 

Example Word: ad/duct/ion

Word Breakdown: ad- means "toward",  duct is a word root that means "to lead or to carry" and -ion is a suffix that means "action or process". 

Definition: Adduction is the motion of pulling something toward the midline of the body or towards the midline of a limb.

The medical prefix term ambi- means "both". 

Example Word: ambi/phil/ia

Word Breakdown: ambi- means "both", phil is a word root that means "attraction" and -ai is a suffix that means "condition". 

Definition: Ambiphilia is an attraction to both men and women.

The medical prefix term ante-, anter(o)-, ventr(i)- or ventr(o)- means "anterior or front". 

Example Word: anter(o)/sept/al 

Word Breakdown: Anter(o)- means "front",  sept is a word root for "septum", -al is a suffix that means to "pertaining to". 

Definition: The term anteroseptal refers to the area in front of a septum, most notably the interventricular septum.

Example Word: ventr(o)/crani/al

Word Breakdown: Ventr(o)- means "front",  crani is a word root for "cranium or skull", -al is a suffix that means to "pertaining to". 

Definition: A ventrocranial is a term used to refer to the front of the skull.

The medical prefix term dextr(o)- means "right".

Example Word: dextr(o)/cardi/a

Word Breakdown: Dextr(o)- means "right",  cardi is a word root for "heart", -a is a noun ending suffix with no specific meaning.

Definition: Dextrocardia is a congenital condition characterized by the abnormal position of the heart on the right side of the chest.

The medical prefix term ect(o)-, ex(o)-, extra- or extro-means "out" or "outside". 

Example Word: ect(o)/derm

Word Breakdown: Ect(o)- means "outside",  derm is a word root that refers to the "skin". 

Definition: Following the formation of the three primary germ layers, the ectoderm is the outermost layer of cells of an embryo.

Example Word: ex(o)/therm/ic

Word Breakdown: Ex(o)- means "outside",  therm is a word root that refers to the "heat", -ic is a suffix that means "pertaining to".

Definition: In an exothermic process, heat is released into the environment.

Example Word: extra/cellular 

Word Breakdown: Extra- means "outside",  cellular pertains to the "cell". 

Definition: An extracellular term refers to something occurring or found outside a cell.

The medical prefix term end(o)-, intra- or intro- means "inside" or "within". 

Example Word: end(o)/metr/i/um

Word Breakdown: End(o)- means "inside",  metr/i is a combining form that refers to the "uterus", -um is a noun ending suffix with no specific meaning. 

Definition: Endometrium is the innermost lining layer of the uterus. 

Example Word: intra/muscul/ar

Word Breakdown: Intra- means "inside",  muscul is a word root that refers to the "muscle", -ar is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: The intramuscular refers to the inside of the muscle.

The medical prefix term ep(i)-, super- or supra- means "above". 

Example Word: ep(i)/derm/is

Word Breakdown: Ep(i)- means "above", derm is a word root that refers to the "skin", -is is noun ending suffix with no specific meaning. 

Definition: A layer of tissue that forms the outermost layer of skin is referred to as the epidermis.

Example Word: supra/ren/al

Word Breakdown: Supra- means "above", ren is a word root that refers to the "kidney", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: The suprarenal glands, also known as the adrenal glands, are small glands on top of the kidneys.

Example Word: super/ior

Word Breakdown: Super- means "above", -ior is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Superior refers to being higher or located above.

The medical prefix term inter- means "between". 

Example Word: inter/atri/al

Word Breakdown: Inter- means "between", atri is a word root for "atrium of the heart", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to".  

Definition: The interatrial septum is the wall between the atria of the heart.

The medical prefix term later(o)- means "lateral" or "side". 

Example Word: later(o)/crani/al

Word Breakdown: Later(o)- means "lateral" or "side", crani is a word root for "cranium" or "skull", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to".  

Definition: Laterocranial is the term for the side of the cranium.

The medical prefix term medi(a)-, medi(o)- or mes(o)- means "middle". 

Example Word: medi(o)/tars/al

Word Breakdown: Medi(o)- pertains to "middle", tars is a word root that refers to "ankle", and -al is a suffix term that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Mediotarsal is in the middle of the tarsal (ankle) region.

Example Word:  mes(o)/blast

Word Breakdown: Mes(o)- means "middle", -blast is a suffix that refers to "immature cell". 

Definition: In an embryo, the mesoblast is the middle layer of undifferentiated cells; it becomes the mesoderm.

The medical prefix term juxta- or para- means "near". 

Example Word: juxta/spin/al

Word Breakdown: Juxta- means "near", spin is a word root for "spine", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: The term juxtaspinal refers to an area near the spine.

Example Word: para/thyr/oid

Word Breakdown: Para- in the term parathyroid means "beside" or "near", thyr is a word root for "thyroid gland", -oid is a suffix that means "resembling". 

Definition: Parathyroid glands are four endocrine glands located near the thyroid gland, which secrete parathyroid hormone.

The medical prefix term circum- or peri- means "around" or "surrounding". 

Example Word: circum/gastr/ic

Word Breakdown: Circum- means "around", gastr is a word root for "stomach", -ic is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Circumgastric refers to the area surrounding a stomach.

Example Word: peri/cost/al

Word Breakdown: Peri- means "around", cost is a word root for "rib", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Pericostal refers to the area surrounding a rib.

The medical prefix term dors(o)-, dors(i)- or poster(o)- means "back" or "posterior". 

Example Word: dors(i)/flex/ion

Word Breakdown: Dors(i)- means "back", flex is a word root for "bend", -ion is a suffix that refers to "process". 

Definition: Dorsiflexion can be described as the backward bending or contracting of your hands or feet. 

Example Word: poster(o)/bucc/al

Word Breakdown: Poster(o)- means "back", bucc is a word root for "cheek", -ic is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Posterobuccal refers to the posterior or back part of the cheek.

The medical prefix term levo- or sinistr(o)- means "left". 

Example Word: levo/scoli/o/sis

Word Breakdown: Levo- means "left", scoli/o is a combining form that pertains to "curved", -sis is a suffix that means "condition". 

Definition: The term 'levoscoliosis' refers to a type of scoliosis where the spine curves on the left side.

Example Word: sinistr(o)/ocul/ar

Word Breakdown: Sinistr(o)- means "left", ocul is a word root for "eye", -ar is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: A sinistrocular error occurs when the left eye is favored by habit or for effective vision over the right eye.

The medical prefix term infra- or sub- means "below" or "under". 

Example Word: infra/clavicul/ar

Word Breakdown: Infra- means "below", clavicul is a word root that pertains to the "clavicle" or "collar bone", -ar is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: The infraclavicular fossa is located below the clavicle.

Example Word: sub/cutane/ous. 

Word Breakdown: Sub- means "below", cutane is a word root that pertains to the "skin", -ous is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Subcutaneous refers to the fatty layer that lies under the skin.

The medical prefix term tele- or telo- means "distant".

Example Word: tele/canthus

Word Breakdown: Tele- means "distant", canthus refers to the corner of the eye where the upper and lower lids meet.

Definition: Telecanthus means that the distance between the medial canthi of the eyes increased, whereas the interpupillary distance remains normal.

The medical prefix term dia-, per- or trans- means "through".

Example Word: dia/lysis

Word Breakdown: Dia- is a prefix term that pertains to "through", and -lysis denotes "separating" or "dissolution".

Definition: When the kidneys stop working, dialysis removes and separates wastes and excess fluids from the blood through a machine to be cleaned.

Example Word: per/cutane/ous

Word Breakdown: Per- means "through", cutane is a word root for "skin", -ous is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Percutaneous refers to a form of administration or procedure that passes through the skin, either as an injection or as a topical injection.

Example Word: trans/derm/al

Word Breakdown: Trans- means "through", derm is a word root for "skin", -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to". 

Definition: Transdermal is a form of medication administration in which ingredients are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.