Which prefix means under, below, deficient?

• A. Under, below, deficient
• B. Excessive, above normal
• C. Inflammation
• D. Surgical repair

Answer: (A)

Prefixes in medical terms tell you about location or amount. The one that conveys under, below, or deficient is hypo-. It shows up in words like hypodermic (under the skin), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature). So the meaning “under, below, deficient” matches hypo- in all those contexts. The other options point to different ideas: hyper- means above normal, -itis denotes inflammation, and -plasty refers to surgical repair.