The following flashcard set contains medical prefixes that describe the quantity or number of medical terms.
Check out the quiz version of this flashcard if you want to see how much you remembered.
#1 bi-
The medical prefix term bi- means "two" or "double".
Example Word: bi/pedal
Word Breakdown: Bi- is a prefix that means "double", ped in this term is a word root that refers to "foot" and -al is a suffix that means "pertaining to".
Definition: Bipedal refers to having two legs or two feet.
#2 cent(i)-
The medical prefix term cent(i)- means "hundred".
Example Word: cent(i)/grade
Word Breakdown: Cent(i)- is a prefix that means "hundred", grade refers to "degree" or "rating".
Definition: Centigrade temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is 0° and its boiling point is 100° at standard atmospheric pressure.
#3 dec(a)- or dec(i)-
The medical prefix term dec(a)- or dec(i)- means "ten".
Example Word: dec(i)/bel
Word Breakdown: Dec(i)- is a prefix that means "ten", bel refers to a unit of comparison for communication power or sound intensity.
Definition: Decibels are units of measurement of sound intensity that are one tenth of a bel on the logarithmic scale.
#4 di-
The medical prefix term di- means "two" or "double".
Example Word: di/acid
Word Breakdown: Di- is a prefix that means "double", and acid is a word root that pertains to "sour" or "acid".
Definition: A diacid molecule is capable of neutralizing two protons.
#5 dipl(o)-
The medical prefix term dipl(o)- means "two" or "double".
Example Word: dipl/opia
Word Breakdown: Dipl- is a prefix that means "double", -opia is a suffix that refers to "vision".
Definition: Diplopia is condition also known as double vision.
#6 hapl(o)-
The medical prefix term hapl(o)- means "one" or "single".
Example Word: hapl/oid
Word Breakdown: Hapl- is a prefix that means "single", -oid is a suffix that means "resembling".
Definition: The term haploid refers to a cell that contains only one set of unpaired chromosomes, such as an egg or sperm.
#7 hemi-
The medical prefix term hemi- means "half" or "partial".
Example Word: hemi/sphere
Word Breakdown: hemi- is a prefix that means "half or partial", the word root sphere refers to "an object shaped like a ball (like the moon)".
Definition: The cerebral hemisphere consists of the right and left halves of the cerebrum.
More Examples of Medical Terms Starting with Hemi-
Hemiplegia: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + -plegia ( "paralysis")
Definition: Paralysis affecting one side of the body, typically caused by a stroke or brain injury.
Hemiparesis: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + -paresis ( "weakness")
Definition: Weakness affecting one side of the body, typically caused by a stroke or brain injury.
Hemianopia: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + an- ("without") + -opia ("sight" or "vision")
Definition: Blindness in one half of the visual field, typically caused by a brain injury or disease.
Hemihypertrophy: hemi- ("half" or "partial") + hyper- ("excessive" or "increase") + -trophy ("growth" or "development")
Definition: Enlargement of one side of the body, typically caused by a congenital condition or injury.
Hemiatrophy: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + -atrophy ( "wasting away")
Definition: Wasting away of one side of the body, typically caused by a congenital condition or injury.
Hemisensory: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + sens ("senses") + -ory ("related to")
Definition: Pertaining to sensation in one half of the body, typically caused by a brain injury or disease.
Hemiataxia: hemi- ( "half" or "partial") + ataxia ( "uncoordination")
Definition: Uncoordination affecting one side of the body, typically caused by a brain injury or disease.
#8 hept(a)-
The medical prefix term hept(a)- means "seven".
Example Word: hept(a)/peptide
Word Breakdown: Hept(a)- is a prefix that means "seven", the term peptide refers to a molecule that consists of two or more amino acids.
Definition: Heptapeptide is consists of seven amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
#9 hex(a)-
The medical prefix term hex(a)- means "six".
Example Word: hex(a)/hydr/ate
Word Breakdown: Hex(a)- is a prefix that means "six", hydr is a word root that refers to "water" and -ate is a suffix that means "become".
Definition: The hexahydrate is a chemical compound that consists of six molecules of water.
#10 milli-
The medical prefix term milli- means "thousand".
Example Word: milli/calor/i/e
Word Breakdown: Milli- pertains to "thousand", calor/i is a combining form that means "heat", and -e is a suffix that is used to form nouns.
Definition: Millicalorie is one thousandth of a calorie (a unit of energy or heat).
#11 mon(o)-
The medical prefix term mon(o)- means "one" or "single".
Example Word: mon(o)/cyte
Word Breakdown: Mon(o)- is a prefix meaning "single", -cyte is a suffix that refers to "cell".
Definition: The monocyte is a white blood cell that has a single nucleus.
#12 multi-
The medical prefix term multi- means "many".
Example Word: multi/vitamin
Word Breakdown: Multi- is a prefix meaning "many", vitamins are substances our bodies require in order to develop and function normally.
Definition: Multivitamins contain a combination of vitamins.
#13 nona-, noni-
The medical prefix term nona- or noni- means "nine".
Example Word: noni/gravida
Word Breakdown: Noni- is a prefix that means "nine", gravida is a word root that refers to a "pregnant woman".
Definition: A nonigravida is a woman who is pregnant for the ninth time.
#14 nulli-
nulli- is a medical prefix term that means "none" .
Example Word: nulli/parous
Word Breakdown: nulli- is a prefix that means "none", -parous is a suffix that means "relating to number of times a woman has given birth".
Definition: A nulliparous is a woman who never has given birth.
#15 oct(o)-, oct(a)-
The medical prefix term oct(o)- or oct(a)- means "eight".
Example Word: oct(o)/phobia
Word Breakdown: Oct(o)- is a prefix that means "eight", -phobia is a suffix that means "irrational fear".
Definition: Octophobia is an irrational fear of the number eight.
#16 pent(a)-
The medical prefix term pent(a)- means "five".
Example Word: pent(a)/dactyl
Word Breakdown: Pent(a)- is a prefix that means "five", -dactyl is a suffix that pertains to "fingers" or "toes".
Definition: Pentadactyl is defined as having five digits on a limb.
#17 poly-
The medial prefix term poly- means "many".
Example Word: poly/uria
Word Breakdown: poly- is a prefix that means "many", -uria is a suffix that refers to "urine" or "urination".
Definition: Polyuria refers to excessive production of urine; it is one of the symptoms of diabetes.
#18 prim(i)-
The medical prefix term prim(i)- means "first".
Example Word: prim(i)/gravida
Word Breakdown: Prim(i)- is a prefix meaning "first", -gravida is a suffix term that refers to "pregnant woman".
Definition: A primigravida is a woman who becomes pregnant for the first time or who becomes pregnant once.
#19 quadr(i)-
The medical prefix term quadr(i)- means "four".
Example Word: quadr(i)/plegia
Word Breakdown: Quadr(i)- is a prefix that means "four", -plegia is a suffix that pertains to paralysis.
Definition: Quadriplegia is paralysis of all four limbs.
#20 semi-
The medical prefix term semi- means "half" or "partial".
Example Word: semi/solid
Word Breakdown: semi- is a prefix that means "half or partial", the word solid is a substance with a definite shape and volume.
Definition: A semisolid is characterized by properties that are halfway between those of a solid and those of a liquid.
#21 tetr(a)-
The medical prefix term tetr(a)- means "four".
Example Word: tetr(a)/logy
Word Breakdown: Tetr(a)- is a prefix that means "four", -logy is a suffix that pertains to "study of".
Definition: In Tetralogy of Fallot, four heart defects occur at birth (congenital).
#22 tri-
The medical prefix term tri- means "three".
Example Word: tri/cuspid
Word Breakdown: Tri- is a prefix that means "three", cuspid is a triangular flap of a heart valve.
Definition: Three cusps make up the tricuspid valve, which prevents the backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium.
#23 uni-
The medical prefix term uni- means "one" or "single".
Example Word: uni/cellular
Word Breakdown: Uni- is a prefix meaning "single", cellular means "relating to, or resembling a cell".
Definition: A single-celled organism is considered unicellular.
