hypo-
below normal, deficient, under
From Greek hypo, under, below
Meaning
What does hypo- mean?
hypo- is a prefix meaning below normal, deficient, under. It comes from Greek hypo, under, below.
Inside words it is spelled hyp.
Shortens to hyp- before a vowel, as in hypoxia, and can simply mean beneath, as in a hypodermic needle.
In real words
Medical words with hypo-
hypoglycemia
a lower than normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood · UK spelling: hypoglycaemia
hyponatremia
an abnormally low level of sodium in the blood · UK spelling: hyponatraemia
a body temperature that has fallen below normal
beneath the skin; used of injections given under the skin and the needles and syringes for them
too little oxygen reaching the body's tissues
underdevelopment of an organ or part, which stays smaller or less mature than normal
hypoxemia
too little oxygen in the blood · UK spelling: hypoxaemia
hypokalemia
too little potassium in the blood · UK spelling: hypokalaemia
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with hypo-
In the dictionary
More terms built with it
Terms in our life science dictionary that list hypo- among their word parts.
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- MedlinePlus: Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean
- 1.3 Common Prefixes – Medical Terminology 2e
- HYPO- Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Size, speed and sameness
hypo- is one of 9 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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