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What does micro- mean in medical terms?
micro-
Meaning: small
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what micro- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using micro-
microscope
micro- (small) + scope (instrument for viewing) = an instrument for viewing small objects
micro- (small) + scope (instrument for viewing) = an instrument for viewing small objects
microorganism
micro- (small) + organism (a living being) = a living organism too small to be seen with the naked eye
micro- (small) + organism (a living being) = a living organism too small to be seen with the naked eye
microcephaly
micro- (small) + cephal (head) + y (condition) = an abnormally small head
micro- (small) + cephal (head) + y (condition) = an abnormally small head
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.