Introduction to Athletic Training
Prefixes & Suffixes Chart
Prefix or
Suffix
Definition
(Has to do with…)
Example
Example Definition
A–
Without
asymptomatic
without symptoms
Ab –
Away from
abduct
move away from midline
-able
Fit for
playable
fit for play
Ad –
Move towards
adduct
move towards midline
Adip –
Fat
adipose
fat tisue
Antero –
Towards the front
anterior
in front of
Ante –
Before
antecedent
event before another
Anti –
Against, opposing
antihistamine
drug that limits the effects of
histamine (allergies)
Arthr –
Having to do with joints
arthrogram
picture of a specific joint
-asia
State or condition
hyperplasia
enlargement of organ/tissue
Aud –
Hearing
auditory
relating to sense of hearing
Bi –
Both, two
bilateral
both sides
-blast
To build
osteoblast
bone builder
Cardi –
Having to do with the heart
cardiologist
heart doctor
Cerebro –
Having to do with the brain
cerebrospinal fluid
fluid that lines the central
nervous system
Chondro –
Having to do with cartilage
chondromalacia
bad cartilage
Circum –
Around
circumduction
movement of a joint in a circle
Co – , Con –
With, together
cooperate
to work with another
Contra –
Against
contraindicate
a particular drug or technique
that should not be used
Costo –
Ribs
costochondral
rib cartilage
Cryo –
Cold
cryotherapy
cold therapy
-clast
Break
osteoclast
break down bone
Derm –
Having to do with the skin
dermatomes
area of skin innervated by
nerves
Dis –
Apart
disengage
to separate from an
attachment point
Dors –
Back
dorsiflexion
flexion in a dorsal direction
Dys –
Abnormal
dysfunction
not functioning properly
Ecto – , Exo – ,
Extra –
Outside
Exoskeleton
Outer skeleton
-ectomy
Removal of
menisectomy
removal of the meniscus
Ede –
Swelling
edema
swelling
-emia
In the blood
anemia
iron deficiency in the blood
Endo –
Within
endoskeleton
inner skeleton
Fascia –
Band of tissue
plantar fascia
band of tissue on bottom of
foot
Hemo –
Having to do with the blood
hematoma
bruise
Hemi –
Half
hemisphere
half of a sphere
Hist –
Tissue
histology
study of tissues
Hydro –
Water
hydrostatic
weight in water
Hyper –
Excessive
hyperactive
excessive energy
Hypo –
Deficient
hypothyroidism
low t – cell (thyroid)
production
-ist
Person/professional
cardiologist
Heart doctor
-itis
Inflammation
tendinitis
inflammation of the tendons
Macro –
Large
macrophage
larger cell
Mal – ,
-osis
Bad
malpractice
bad practice (negligence)
Micro –
Small
microtear
very small tear
Mono – , Uni –
One
unilateral
one side
Myo –
Having to do with muscle
myositis
inflammation of a muscle
Nas –
Having to do with the nose
nasal
nose bone
Neuro –
Having to do with the brain,
nerves
neuropathy
disease of the nerves
-ology
the study of
physiology
study of the functions of
living organisms
Oral –
Having to do with the mouth
orally
taken by mouth
-osis
Diseased
tendinosis
tendon pathology
Osteo –
Having to do with bones
osteoporosis
having porous bones
Palmar –
Palm side
palmar arch
arch on the palm side of hand
Path –
Disease
pathology
study of disease
Peri –
Around
perimysium
connective tissue surrounding
the muscle fibers
Post –
After
post operation
after the operation
Pre – ,
Pro –
Before
pre operation
proceed
before the operation
move forward
Prox –
Closer to
proximal
nearer to the trunk
Psuedo –
Fake, false
pseudoephedrine
synthetic ephedrine
Psycho –
Having to do with the mind
psychoanalysis
analysis of the mind
Quadr –
Four
quadriceps
four muscles
Supra –,
Super –
Above
supraspinatus
above the spine (of the scapula)
Sub –
Below
subscapularis
below the scapula
Syn –
Together
synthesis
combination
Therm –
Heat
thermotherapy
heat therapy
Trans –
Across
transdermal
across the skin
Tri –
Three
triceps
three heads of muscle
Vertebro –
Having to do with the vertebrae
vertebral column
spinal column