Prefixes Denoting Position and Direction

GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section

Prefixes Denoting Position and/or Direction 

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ab-

From, away from.

abduct (to move away from the midline of the body)

 

ad-

Toward, increase.

adduct (movement toward the midline of the body)

 

ambi-

Both, both sides.

ambidextrous (able to use both hands well)

 

ante–

Before, in front.

antecubital (“the space” in front of the elbow)

 

circum-

Around.

circumoral (around the mouth)

 

de-

Down, from

descend (to come down from)

dia-

Through.

diagnosis (knowledge through testing)

 

ecto-

Outside

ectopic (outside of its normal location)

 

endo-

Within

endocervical (pertaining to the inner lining of the cervix)

 

epi-

Upon, over

epigastric (upon the stomach)

 

ex-

Out, away from, outside

extract (to remove a tooth from [away from] the oral cavity)

 

exo-

Outside, outward

exogenous (originating outside the body)

 

extra-

Outside, beyond

extrahepatic (outside of the liver)

 

hypo-

Under, below, beneath, less than normal

hypoglossal (under the tongue)

 

 in-

In, inside, within, not

intubate (to insert a tube inside [into] an organ or body cavity)

 

infra-

Beneath, below, under

infrapatellar (below the knee)

 

inter-

Between

intercostal (between the ribs)

 

intra-

Within

intravenous (within a vein)

 

juxta-

Near, beside

juxtaarticular (pertaining to a location near a joint)

 

meso-

Middle

mesoderm (the middle of the three layers of the skin)

 

para-

Near, beside, beyond, two like parts

paracervical (near, or beside, the cervix)

 

peri-

Around

perianal (around the anus)

 

pre-

Before, in front

precordial (the region “of the chest wall” in front of the heart)

 

pro-

In front, before

prognosis (knowledge before)

 

re-

Back, again

reactivate (to make active again)

 

retro-

Backward, behind

retroflexion (an abnormal position of an organ in which the organ is tilted backward)

 

sub-

Under, below

sublingual (under the tongue)

 

supra-

Above, over

suprapubic (above, or over, the pubic area)

 

trans-

Across, through

transurethral (across, or through, the urethra)