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What does epi- mean in medical terms?
epi-
Meaning: upon, over, above
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what epi- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using epi-
epidermis
epi- (upon) + dermis (skin) = the outer layer of skin lying upon the dermis
epi- (upon) + dermis (skin) = the outer layer of skin lying upon the dermis
epigastric
epi- (above) + gastric (relating to the stomach) = relating to the region above the stomach
epi- (above) + gastric (relating to the stomach) = relating to the region above the stomach
epidural
epi- (upon) + dural (relating to the dura mater) = situated upon the dura mater
epi- (upon) + dural (relating to the dura mater) = situated upon the dura mater
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.