The prefix meaning 'without' is?

Study for the Healthcare Science End of Pathway Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare efficiently for your exam!

Multiple Choice

The prefix meaning 'without' is?

Explanation:
The idea being tested is how medical terms express absence or lack. The prefix that means without is a- or an-, used to show that something is missing or not present. The form depends on the following sound: a- before a consonant root and an- before a vowel root, which helps pronunciation. Examples include anemia (without blood), apnea (without breathing), anhydrous (without water), and anaerobic (without oxygen). The other prefixes don’t convey this exact sense as cleanly: anti- means against, while non- and un- are general negations used in everyday English and medical terms, but they don’t specifically denote absence of the substance or feature.

The idea being tested is how medical terms express absence or lack. The prefix that means without is a- or an-, used to show that something is missing or not present. The form depends on the following sound: a- before a consonant root and an- before a vowel root, which helps pronunciation. Examples include anemia (without blood), apnea (without breathing), anhydrous (without water), and anaerobic (without oxygen). The other prefixes don’t convey this exact sense as cleanly: anti- means against, while non- and un- are general negations used in everyday English and medical terms, but they don’t specifically denote absence of the substance or feature.

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