| Prefix | Meaning and Example |
| a-, an- | G. lacking, without
ex: asexual = without sex |
| ab- | L. away from
ex: abduction = away from |
| ad- | L. to, toward
ex: adduction = lead towards |
| af- | L. to, toward
ex: afferent, bring towards |
| amphi- | G. on both sides, double
ex: amphiarthrosis = two joints |
| andro- | G. a male
ex: androgen = male producing |
| ante- | L. forward, before
ex: antebrachium = forearm |
| anti- | G. against, reverse, opposed to
ex: antihelix = reverse coil |
| apo- | G. from
ex: apocrine = secreting from |
| auto- | G. autos, self
ex: autonomic, self governing |
| basi- | L. pertaining to the base
ex: basiocciptal = occipital base |
| bi- | L. twice, double
ex: bicipital = two heads |
| brachy- | G. short
ex: brachycephaly = short head |
| cephalo- | G. head
ex: cephalometry = head measure |
| circum- | L. around, about
ex: circumduction = lead around |
| chondro- | G. chondras, cartilage
ex: chondrocyte = cartilage cell |
| co-, com-, con- | L. together, with
ex: constrictor = draw together |
| de- | L. away from, down
ex: deglutition = swallow down |
| di- | G. double, twice
ex: diaplegia = both sides |
| di-, dia- | G. through, between
ex: diaphragm, wall between |
| dis- | L. apart, away
disarticulate: joint apart |
| e-, ecto-, ex- | G. on outer side
ex: ectoderm = outer layer |
| extra- | L. extra, outside
extradural = outside the dura |
| em-, en- | G. in, on
ex: embolism = wedge inside |
| en-, endo- | G. within
ex: endocardium = within heart |
| epi- | G. upon, over
ex: epicardium = over heart |
