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What does ad- mean in medical terms?
ad-
Meaning: toward, near
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what ad- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using ad-
adduction
ad- (toward) + duct (to lead) + ion (action) = movement toward the midline of the body
ad- (toward) + duct (to lead) + ion (action) = movement toward the midline of the body
adhesion
ad- (to, toward) + hes (to stick) + ion (action) = the sticking together of surfaces
ad- (to, toward) + hes (to stick) + ion (action) = the sticking together of surfaces
adrenal
ad- (near) + renal (relating to the kidney) = situated near the kidney
ad- (near) + renal (relating to the kidney) = situated near the kidney
Shortened forms
Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.
Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.