Medical Terminology Biotechnology Prefixes

Retro / Retrograde

• Backward/Behind

• In Front of/Before

• Beside

• Smooth/Not Rough

Hemi / Hemisphere

• 3/4

• 1/2

• 1/4

• .16

Micro/Microscope

• Huge

• Large

• Extra Large

• Small

Poly / Polyuria

• Not enough

• Small amount

• Many

• Large amount

Quad/Quadriplegia

• Two

• Five

• Ten

• Four

Sub/Subcutaneous

• Over/On Top/Above

• Under/Below/Beneath

• Side/Beside/On the Left

• Beside/Right/On the Right

Para/Parathyroid

• Beside/Near/Abnormal

• Far Away/Normal

• Conditional

• Above/Close/Abnormal

Ex/Excision

• Treat and Leave Alone

• Cover with a Band-Aid

• Clean Only

• Out Of/Away From/Outside

Dys/Dysfunction

• Good/Great/Fantastic

• Bad/Difficult/Painful

• Normal Behavior

• Surgical Removal