Medical Prefix
per-
through
From Latin per, through, throughout
Meaning
What does per- mean?
per- is a prefix meaning through. It comes from Latin per, through, throughout.
Per- (through) is easy to mix up with peri- (around): percutaneous means through the skin, not around it.
In real words
Medical words with per-
done through the skin, usually with a needle or catheter, as percutaneous coronary intervention
done or occurring through the mouth, as a drug taken by mouth
done or occurring by way of the rectum, as a perrectal examination
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with per-
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 1.3 Common Prefixes – Medical Terminology 2e
- Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean
- Prefixes – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
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Practice it
Time and direction
per- is one of 10 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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