The prefix meaning 'half' is which?

Prepare for the Briggs Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Ensure your success!

Multiple Choice

The prefix meaning 'half' is which?

Explanation:
Half is conveyed in medical terms by the prefix hemi-, from Greek hemi- meaning half or one side. It is used for structures that are literally one half of a whole, such as a hemisphere (one half of a sphere, like the brain) or hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body). While semi- also means half or partial, it often indicates a partial or not strictly half, and is used in non-anatomical contexts (semicircle, semiannual). Mono- means one, and bi- means two, which don’t describe half. So hemi- is the best fit.

Half is conveyed in medical terms by the prefix hemi-, from Greek hemi- meaning half or one side. It is used for structures that are literally one half of a whole, such as a hemisphere (one half of a sphere, like the brain) or hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body). While semi- also means half or partial, it often indicates a partial or not strictly half, and is used in non-anatomical contexts (semicircle, semiannual). Mono- means one, and bi- means two, which don’t describe half. So hemi- is the best fit.

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