The prefix meaning 'bad or painful' is which?

Study for the SkillsUSA Medical Terminology Exam. Use our comprehensive quiz to test your knowledge with multiple choice questions and get explanations and hints for each question. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

The prefix meaning 'bad or painful' is which?

Explanation:
Understanding prefixes helps decode medical terms. The prefix that means bad or painful is dys-. It shows up in words like dysuria (painful urination), dysfunction (impaired or abnormal function), and dysplasia (abnormal development), all signaling a problematic or painful condition. The other prefixes have different meanings: eu- means good or normal, hyper- means above or excessive, and hypo- means below or deficient. So, the meaning “bad or painful” is conveyed by dys-.

Understanding prefixes helps decode medical terms. The prefix that means bad or painful is dys-. It shows up in words like dysuria (painful urination), dysfunction (impaired or abnormal function), and dysplasia (abnormal development), all signaling a problematic or painful condition. The other prefixes have different meanings: eu- means good or normal, hyper- means above or excessive, and hypo- means below or deficient. So, the meaning “bad or painful” is conveyed by dys-.

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