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What does cata- mean in medical terms?
cata-
Meaning: down, downward
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what cata- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using cata-
catabolism
cata- (down) + bol (change) + ism (process) = the breaking down of substances in the body
cata- (down) + bol (change) + ism (process) = the breaking down of substances in the body
cataplexy
cata- (down) + plexy (a striking, a blow) = a sudden brief loss of muscle tone
cata- (down) + plexy (a striking, a blow) = a sudden brief loss of muscle tone
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.