Medical Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes

Front

poly

Back

many

Front

sub

Back

Prefix meaning beneath, less than the normal or typical

Front

super, supra

Back

Prefix meaning above, beyond or on the top side

Front

histo

Back

tissue

Front

-phagia

Back

swallowing

Front

-therma

Back

heat

Front

-itis

Back

inflammation of

Front

-malacia

Back

Abnormal softening of tissues of an organ or of tissues themselves

Front

-scopy

Back

Activity using an instrument for viewing

Front

-oma

Back

tumor