Which prefix means out of, outside, away from?

Study for the Introduction to Medical Terminology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which prefix means out of, outside, away from?

Explanation:
Directions in medical terms are indicated by prefixes. The one that means out of, outside, away from is ex-. It comes from Latin ex-, meaning out of, and it signals movement away from the origin or toward the exterior. You can see it in exhale (air out of the lungs), exocrine glands (secrete outside the gland into ducts or surfaces), and exterior (the outside). This stands in contrast to ad-, which means toward; post-, which means after; and inter-, which means between. Recognizing that outward or outwardward meaning is the key to selecting this prefix.

Directions in medical terms are indicated by prefixes. The one that means out of, outside, away from is ex-. It comes from Latin ex-, meaning out of, and it signals movement away from the origin or toward the exterior. You can see it in exhale (air out of the lungs), exocrine glands (secrete outside the gland into ducts or surfaces), and exterior (the outside). This stands in contrast to ad-, which means toward; post-, which means after; and inter-, which means between. Recognizing that outward or outwardward meaning is the key to selecting this prefix.

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