Medical prefixes are word parts placed at the beginning of a term that change or sharpen its meaning. Once you recognize a handful of common prefixes, you can decode hundreds of medical words — on lab reports, prescriptions, and discharge summaries — without a dictionary. This quiz covers eight of the most frequently used prefixes in everyday clinical language. Read each question carefully, pick the best answer, and check the explanation to reinforce what you learned. Repeat the quiz anytime to strengthen your recall.
Interactive Quiz0/8 answered
Question 1 of 8
What does the prefix hyper- mean?
Explanation:Hyper- means above or excessive. Hypertension = high blood pressure; hyperthyroidism = overactive thyroid.
Question 2 of 8
The prefix hypo- means:
Explanation:Hypo- means below or under. Hypoglycemia = low blood sugar; hypothermia = low body temperature.
Question 3 of 8
Brady- describes a heart rate that is:
Explanation:Brady- means slow. Bradycardia is a resting heart rate below 60 bpm in adults.
Question 4 of 8
The opposite of brady- when describing heart rate is:
Explanation:Tachy- means fast. Tachycardia is a resting heart rate above 100 bpm in adults.
Question 5 of 8
Peri- in "perioperative" most closely means:
Explanation:Peri- means around or surrounding. Perioperative care includes preparation before, during, and after surgery.
Question 6 of 8
A doctor writes "polyuria." The prefix poly- tells you:
Explanation:Poly- means many or excessive. Polyuria = producing large amounts of urine, common in uncontrolled diabetes.
Question 7 of 8
The prefix anti- means:
Explanation:Anti- means against. Antibiotics work against bacteria; anticoagulants work against clotting.
Question 8 of 8
Pre- in "preoperative" signals:
Explanation:Pre- means before. Preoperative instructions are the steps you follow before surgery.