Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2026

What does the prefix "A-" or "An-" signify in medical terminology?

With Without Away To, toward

Correct Answer:

Without

Explanation:

The prefix "A-" or "An-" in medical terminology indeed signifies the absence or lack of something. For instance, in the term "aseptic," the prefix indicates a condition that is free from contamination, and "anemia" signifies a lack of sufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin. Therefore, it is appropriate to identify "B. Without" as the correct interpretation of this prefix. Other prefixes in medical terminology, such as "ad-" meaning "to" or "toward," and "ab-" meaning "away" from, serve different functions, but "A-" or "An-" specifically denotes absence or lack, making it distinct and clearly aligned with the meaning of "without."

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