a-: Absence of, without Example: Atrophy – Wasting away or reduction in muscle size due to lack of use, often resulting from prolonged immobility, nerve damage, or muscle disease.

ab-: Away from Example: Abduction – Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, such as raising the arm or leg to the side, common in physical therapy and exercise routines.

ad-: Toward Example: Adduction – Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body, such as bringing the arm or leg back to its resting position after abduction.

brady-: Slow Example: Bradykinesia – Slowness of movement, often a symptom of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, affecting motor function and coordination.

dys-: Painful, difficult, abnormal, labored Example: Dystonia – A condition characterized by abnormal muscle tone or involuntary muscle contractions, which can lead to repetitive movements, abnormal postures, and impaired function.

hyper-: Above, excessive Example: Hypertonia – Excessive muscle tone, resulting in stiffness or rigidity, commonly seen in conditions like cerebral palsy or stroke.

inter-: Between Example: Intervertebral disc – A fibrocartilaginous structure located between the vertebrae of the spine, providing cushioning and flexibility.

intra-: Within, in Example: Intramuscular injection – An injection administered directly into a muscle, commonly used for vaccines or medication delivery.

poly-: Many, much Example: Polydactyly – A congenital condition characterized by having more than the normal number of fingers or toes, which may require surgical correction for functional or cosmetic reasons.

sub-: Below, under Example: Subscapularis muscle – A muscle located below the scapula (shoulder blade), playing a key role in shoulder rotation and stabilization.

supra-: Above Example: Suprapatellar – Refers to the area above the patella (kneecap), commonly associated with the suprapatellar bursa, which reduces friction and allows smooth movement of the quadriceps tendon over the femur.

sym-: Together, joined Example: Symphysis pubis – A cartilaginous joint where the two pubic bones meet in the pelvis, allowing slight movement for childbirth and pelvic flexibility.

syn-: Together, joined Example: Synarthrosis – A type of immovable joint where bones are joined together, such as in the skull, providing stability and protection to vital organs.

a-, an-: Absence of, without, not Example: Anhidrosis – The absence of sweating, which can result from damage to sweat glands, certain medications, or neurological disorders, potentially leading to overheating or heatstroke.

bi-: Two or both Example: Bilateral – Pertaining to both sides, such as a bilateral rash that appears symmetrically on both sides of the body, often associated with systemic conditions like lupus.

dia-: Through, complete Example: Diaphoresis – Excessive sweating, which may be a symptom of fever, physical exertion, or underlying conditions like hyperthyroidism or a heart attack.

dys-: Difficult, painful, abnormal, labored Example: Dysplasia – Abnormal development or growth of tissue, often referring to precancerous changes in the skin or mucous membranes, such as cervical dysplasia.

epi-: Upon, on, over Example: Epidermis – The outermost layer of the skin, which acts as a protective barrier against environmental damage, pathogens, and water loss.

hyper-: Above, excessive Example: Hyperkeratosis – Thickening of the skin’s outer layer due to excessive keratin production, often seen in conditions like psoriasis, calluses, or warts.

hypo-: Deficient, below, under, incomplete Example: Hypodermic – Pertaining to beneath the skin, often used to describe injections administered into the subcutaneous tissue for rapid absorption of medications.

intra-: Within, in Example: Intradermal – Within the layers of the skin, as in intradermal injections used for allergy testing or tuberculosis screening.

meta-: Change, beyond, after Example: Metaplasia – Transformation of tissue from one type to another, such as the conversion of normal skin cells to a tougher type after chronic irritation or injury.

neo-: New Example: Neoplasm – A new growth of abnormal tissue, which can be benign (like a mole) or malignant (like melanoma), requiring medical evaluation for treatment.

para-: Beside, around, beyond, abnormal Example: Paronychia – Inflammation around a nail, typically caused by bacterial or fungal infection, leading to redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area.

per-: Through Example: Percutaneous – Through the skin, often referring to medical procedures such as percutaneous biopsies or drug administration through patches.

pro-: Before Example: Prodromal – Referring to the early symptoms that occur before a disease becomes fully evident, such as tingling before a herpes outbreak or fever before a rash in measles.

sub-: Under, below Example: Subcutaneous – Located beneath the skin, as in the subcutaneous fat layer that provides insulation and cushioning to the body.

trans-: Through, across, beyond Example: Transdermal – Referring to medications applied to the skin that are absorbed into the bloodstream, such as transdermal nicotine patches or hormone replacement therapy.

uni-: One Example: Unilateral – Pertaining to one side, as in a unilateral skin lesion or rash that affects only one side of the body, often seen in conditions like shingles.