A, An-

• Meaning: Without, not
• Example: Anoxia –the absence of oxygen in tissues.

Brady-

• Meaning: Slow
• Example: Bradypnea –abnormally slow breathing.

Cyano

• Meaning: Blue
• Example: Cyanoderma –a bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen, also referred to as cyanosis.

Dys-

• Meaning: Difficult, painful, abnormal
• Example: Dysphonia –a condition involving difficulty speaking or having an abnormal voice, often caused by issues in the larynx or vocal cords.

Endo-

• Meaning: Within, inside
• Example: Endotracheal intubation –the insertion of a tube through the mouth into the trachea to maintain an open airway.

Eu-

• Meaning: Good, normal
• Example: Eucapnia –a normal level of carbon dioxide in the blood, essential for maintaining pH balance and respiratory health.

Hyper-

• Meaning: Excessive, above
• Example: hyperresonance –an increased echo heard during percussion of the chest, often indicating air trapping in conditions like pneumothorax or emphysema.

Hypo-

• Meaning: Below, deficient
• Example: Hypoxemia –low levels of oxygen in the blood, which can impair the delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs. It is often caused by respiratory disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, COPD, or pulmonary embolism.

Para-

• Meaning: Beside, near
• Example: Paranasal –beside the nose.

Poly-

• Meaning: Many, excessive
• Example: Polysomnography –a test to study multiple aspects of sleep, often used to diagnosis sleep disorders.

Tachy-

• Meaning: Fast
• Example: Tachypnea –rapid breathing.