Neuro prefixes and suffixes
This common prefix means 'nerve' or 'nervous system'
What is neuro-?
This serves as the starting position to describe anatomical features and positions (i.e., body erect, the palms face out, and the arms and face are facing forward).
What is the anatomical position?
This plane divides the brain into left and right halves
What is the sagittal plane?
This term describes a direction toward the front of the body or toward the stomach.
What is Anterior?
This is when the vocal folds come together during phonation.
What is Adduction?
This prefix means 'brain'
What is cerebro-?
This orientation describes the body as it appears when examining a patient face-to-face.
What is clinical orientation?
A sagittal section that divides the brain into equal left and right halves.
What is the midsagittal plane?
Structures that are on the same side of the body.
What is Ipsilateral?
Separation of the vocal folds during breathing is known as this.
What is Abduction?
This prefix means within or inside
What is intra-?
This term refers to the front surface of the body in anatomical position.
What is anterior (ventral)?
This plane divides the brain into anterior and posterior portions.
What is the coronal plane?
In regard to limbs, this term refers to the point nearest to the limb’s attachment.
What is Proximal?
A type of movement that requires the knees to bend in order to sit is called this.
What is Flexion?
This suffix means paralysis or weakness
What is -plegia?
In this orientation, clinicians are viewing the brain from the patient’s feet rather than the top of the head.
What is clinical orientation?
This plane divides the brain into superior and inferior sections.
What is the horizontal plane?
Also referred to as “opposite sided”, an antonym of Ipsilateral.
What is Contralateral?
People who sleep on their stomachs are in this position.
What is Pronate position?
This suffix means recording or writing
What is -graphy?
SLPs rely on anatomical orientation rather than clinical orientation when interpreting this.
What is neuroimaging?
This type of brain section is taken at an angle that is not aligned with the standard sagittal, coronal, or horizontal planes and is often used to visualize specific structures better.
What is an oblique section?
A specific point where contralateral nerve tracts cross from the left side of the body to the right, or vice versa.
What is Decussation?
People who lie down with the ventral surface facing upward are in this position.
What is the Supine position?