What does intro- mean in medical terms?

intro-

Meaning: into, inward

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using intro-

introitus
intro- (into) + itus (a going) = an entrance or opening into a body cavity
introspection
intro- (inward) + spection (looking) = examination of one's own thoughts by looking inward

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.