Medical Terminology
Decode clinical language one meaningful piece at a time.
Lesson 5 of 12
Prefixes: size, time, and negation
A short prefix can reverse a word, indicate an unusual amount, or place an event in time. These contrasts are especially helpful in chart language, but they should be read precisely: hyper- and hypo- describe relative excess and deficiency, not a diagnosis on their own. Negating prefixes may mean absent, deficient, or contrary depending on the word. Check usage and context before drawing conclusions.
Key points
- hyper- means above, excessive, or increased relative to a reference.
- hypo- means below, deficient, or decreased relative to a reference.
- macro- and micro- refer broadly to large and small.
- pre- means before; post- means after.
- a- or an- can indicate absence; anti- means against.
- dys- often signals impaired, difficult, or abnormal function.
Key terms
- hyper-
- Above normal, excessive, or increased.
- hypo-
- Below normal, deficient, or decreased.
- macro-
- Large.
- micro-
- Small.
- pre-
- Before.
- post-
- After.
- dys-
- Difficult, impaired, or abnormal.
Memory tip
Pair opposites - hyper/hypo and pre/post - to retain the distinctions.
Clinical note
A prefix such as hyper- describes a relationship to a reference range; interpretation belongs to the clinician.
Unit checkpoint
Lock it in: match the terms, then test yourself.