Ivy Tech Medical Terminology Practice Test

What does the prefix para- mean?

Near Beside Through Against

Correct Answer:

Beside

Explanation:

Para- indicates a relationship of being beside or alongside something. It’s used in medical terms to describe position relative to another structure, not just proximity. For example, paraspinal muscles lie beside the spine, and paranasal sinuses are near the nose. That adjacency sense is why Beside is the best choice. The other options don’t fit as well: through points to a path or channel, against to oppose, and near is close but less precise in this prefix’s typical medical usage.

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