What does inter- mean in medical terms?

inter-

Meaning: between

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using inter-

intercellular
inter- (between) + cellular (relating to cells) = between cells
intercostal
inter- (between) + costal (relating to a rib) = between the ribs
intervertebral
inter- (between) + vertebral (relating to a vertebra) = between vertebrae

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.