Unit 11
Descriptive Prefixes, Asepsis, and
Pharmacology
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Prefixes
• Placed in front of words
• Purpose:
– Change meaning or make term clear descriptor
• Often creates adjectival form
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Descriptive Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
homo-
same
hetero-
different
syn-
joined
sym-
joined
super-
excess or above
supra-
above or more than
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Descriptive Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
anti-
against
contra-
against
trans-
across
a-
absence of or lack of
an-
absence of or lack of
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Prefix: homo• homo- = same
• Examples:
– homo/gen/eous = pertaining to same throughout
– homo/later/al = pertaining to same side
– homo/gland/ular = pertaining to same gland
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Prefix: homo• Examples:
– homo/genized milk = same amount of cream throughout
– homo/therm/al = having same body temperature all the
time
– homo/sex/ual = being attracted to same sex
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Prefix: heter/o• heter/o- = different
• Examples:
– hetero/gen/eous = pertaining to different throughout
– hetero/gen/esis = reproduction in which successive
generations are different
– heter/opsia = different vision in each eye
– heter/o/sexual = being attracted to opposite sex
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Sexuality and Identity Terms
Term
Meaning
heterosexual
attracted to opposite sex
homosexual
attracted to same sex
bisexual
attracted to both sexes
crossdresser
dressing as generally identified for opposite
sex
transsexual
alteration of body to be more like opposite
of sex at birth
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Sexuality and Identity Terms
Term
Meaning
transgender
umbrella term for all gender variant people
gender cues
observable characteristics that may
demonstrate gender
gender identity
person’s sense of being male, female, or
other
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Sexuality and Identity Terms
Term
Meaning
intersexed person
sex identity
sexual orientation
person born with characteristics difficult to
categorize as either masculine or feminine
how person identifies physically as male,
female, in between, or other
desire for intimate emotional and/or sexual
relationships with persons of same, other,
or multiple genders/sexes
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Prefixes: sym- and syn• sym- and syn- = different forms of same prefix
meaning together or joined
• Use sym- when followed by sounds of b, m, f,
ph, or p
• Use syn- when followed by any other letters
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Prefix: sym• Examples:
– sym/metry = sameness of parts on each side of dividing
line
• Balanced proportions
– sym/pathy = suffering
• Medical term
– sym/path/oma = tumor of sympathetic nerve
– sym/path/ectomy = excision of sympathetic nerve
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Symmetry and Asymmetry
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Prefix: sym• Examples:
– sym/physis = growing together of parts
– sym/blepharon = eyelids grown together
– sym/podia = lower extremities grown together
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Prefix: syn• Examples:
– syn/dactylism = fingers or toes joined together
– syn/ergetic = pertaining to agents that act together and
produce result greater than sum of individual efforts
– syn/arthrosis = immoveable joint
– syn/drome = group of symptoms that occur together
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Prefixes: super- and supra• super- and supra- = above, beyond, or
excessive
• super– More in common English terms
• Used in a few medical terms
• supra– More common in terms that describe anatomical locations
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Prefix: super• Examples:
–
–
–
–
–
super/ficial = above or on surface
super/ciliary = above eyebrow
super/infection = infection on top of another infection
super/lethal = excessively deadly
super/numerary = exceeding required numbers
• Extra
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Prefix: supra• Above the following anatomical parts:
–
–
–
–
–
supra/lumb/ar = spine
supra/pub/ic = pubis
supra/mamm/ary = breasts
supra/renal = kidneys
supra/inguin/al = groin
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Descriptive Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
epi-
over or upon
extra-
outside of or beyond
sub-
under or below
infra-
below or under
meta-
beyond, after, or
occurring later in a series
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Prefix: epi• epi- = over or upon
• Examples:
– epi/gastr/ic = over stomach
– epi/derm/al = upon skin
• Outermost layer
– epi/crani/al = tissue covering cranium
– epi/stern/al = area above sternum
– epi/cardi/um = tissues upon heart
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Prefix: epi• Inflammation over or upon the following
anatomical parts:
– epi/splen/itis = spleen
– epi/cyst/itis = bladder
– epi/nephr/itis = kidney
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Prefix: epi• Examples:
– epi/nephr/ectomy = excision of tissue upon kidney
– epi/gastr/o/rrhaphy = suture of region over stomach
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Prefix: epi• Examples:
– epi/didymis = small oblong body that rests on testicle
• Contains convoluted tubules
• Involved in sperm production and transportation
– epi/didym/itis = inflammation of epididymis
– epi/didym/ectomy = excision of epididymis
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Dura Mater
• Outer layer of meninges
– Membranes that surround brain and spinal cord
• epi/dur/al = area in layer or space upon dura
mater
• sub/dur/al = pertaining to below dura mater
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Epidural and Subdural
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Prefix: extra• extra = outside or beyond
• Example:
– extra/nuclear = outside nucleus of cell
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Prefix: extra• Outside or beyond the following anatomical
parts:
–
–
–
–
extra/uterine = uterus
extra/articular = joint
extra/cyst/ic = urinary bladder
extra/hepat/ic = liver
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Terms with mamm/o
• mamm/o = combining form for breast
• Examples:
– mamm/o/gram = x-ray picture of breast
– mamm/o/graphy = process of taking x-ray of breast
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Terms with mamm/o
• Examples:
– bi/lateral mamm/o/gram = procedure performed on both
breasts
• bi- = two or both
– mamm/o/tomy = incision into breast tissue
– mamm/o/plasty = surgical repair of breast
– supra/mamm/ary = above breast
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Prefix: sub• sub- = under or below
• Under or below the following anatomical parts:
– sub/abdominal = abdomen
– sub/aur/al = ear
– sub/cutaneous = skin
• Also known as subcu, subq, or s.c.
– sub/lingual = tongue
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Prefix: infra• infra- = under or below
• Many medical terms can be built using either
sub- or infra• Examples:
– infra/stern/al and sub/sternal = below sternum
– infra/costal and sub/costal = below ribs
– infra/pubic and sub/pubic = below pubis
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Prefix: meta• meta- = beyond, after, or occurring later in a
series
• Examples:
– meta/physical = beyond physical or of the spirit
– meta/carpals = bones of hand beyond carpals
• Wrist
– meta/tarsals = bones of foot beyond tarsals
• Ankle
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Bones of the Wrist and Hand
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Prefix: meta• Examples:
– meta/stasis = spread of disease beyond point of origin
• meta/stases = plural form
– meta/static tumor = secondary growth from malignant
tumor
• Primary site
– Site of origin of cancer
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Prefix: ultra• ultra- = beyond or in excess
• Examples:
– ultra/violet (UV) = light waves beyond violet frequency
– ultra/sonic = sound waves beyond audible frequency
– ultra/son/o/graphy = process of making image using
ultrasound
• Also known as sonography
• Used for both diagnostic testing and therapy
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Sepsis
• Poisoned state or infection caused by
absorption of pathogenic bacteria into
bloodstream
– a/sepsis = without sepsis
• Free of infection or infection-causing microorganisms
• Performing procedures in environment free of pathogens
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Sepsis
• sept/o and seps/o = combining forms
• Examples:
– septic/emia = infection in bloodstream
– septic/o/py/emia = infection with pus in bloodstream
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Prefix: anti• anti- = against
• Many drugs categorized by what they work
against:
–
–
–
–
–
anti/pyretic
anti/toxin
anti/narcotic
anti/convulsant
anti/depressant
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Agents that Fight Pathogenic
Organisms
• Antiseptics
– Agents that inhibit growth of organism
– E.g., mercury, iodine, alcohol
• Antibiotics
– Prescription drugs that inhibit growth or destroy
microorganisms
– E.g., penicillin, Keflex, erythromycin
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Agents that Fight Pathogenic
Organisms
• Disinfectants
– Chemical or physical agents that kill microorganisms
– E.g., bleach
• Sterilization
– Process that kills organisms of all sorts
– E.g., autoclave using pressure and steam, bleach (does not
kill spores)
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Prefix: contra• contra- = against
• Usually used with modern English words
• Examples:
–
–
–
–
contra/dict = to speak against what someone says
contra/ry = pertaining to being against each other
contra/cept/ive = against conception
contra/later/al = opposite side
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Prefix: contra• Examples:
– contra/indicat/ion = against indication
•
•
•
•
Should not be used
contra/indicate = verb form
contra/indicated = past tense
Drugs may be contraindicated under certain conditions
– E.g., pregnancy
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Drug Categories
Drug
Action
bronch/o/dilat/or
dilates or enlarges bronchi
de/congest/ant
reduces respiratory congestion
di/ur/etic
increases urine flow
ex/pector/ant
assists in removing respiratory
secretions
controls bleeding
hem/o/stat/ic
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Drug Categories
Drug
Action
endocrine secretions that affect body’s
control mechanisms
sleep agent that produces state of
hypnosis
hormon/es
hypn/o/tic
hypo/glyc/em/ic
lowers blood sugar (glucose)
lax/a/tive
loosens or liquefies stool for relief of
constipation
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Drug Categories
Drug
Action
muscle re/lax/ant
relieves tension in skeletal muscle
sed/a/tive
calms nervous excitement
tran/quil/iz/er
lowers anxiety and mental tension
vas/o/dilat/or
dilates blood vessels
vas/o/press/or
constricts blood vessels and increases
blood pressure
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Prefix: trans• trans- = across or over
• Examples:
– trans/position = position across or over
• Organ placed on other side of body from where normally found
– cardi/ac trans/position = heart on right side of body
– gastr/ic trans/position = stomach on right side of body
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Prefix: trans• Examples:
– trans/fusion = passing blood from one person to another
– percutaneous trans/luminal angioplasty = procedure
performed across lumen of heart artery
– trans/urethr/al resection of the prostate (TURP) =
insertion of instrument up urethra to remove excess
prostate tissue
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Catheter
• Flexible tube
• Catheterization
– Inserting catheter
• Uses:
– Obtain sterile urine sample through urethra
– Enlarge heart vessels or view inside of vessels
• Called trans/catheter therapy or angioplasty
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