What does hepta- mean in medical terms?

hepta-

Meaning: seven

Type: Prefix

A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what hepta- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using hepta-

heptapeptide
hepta- (seven) + peptide (a chain of amino acids) = a peptide made of seven amino acids
heptavalent
hepta- (seven) + valent (having combining power) = having a valence of seven

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.