What does supra- mean in medical terms?
supra-
Meaning: above, over
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what supra- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using supra-
suprarenal
supra- (above) + renal (relating to the kidney) = situated above the kidney
supra- (above) + renal (relating to the kidney) = situated above the kidney
supraorbital
supra- (above) + orbital (relating to the eye socket) = above the eye socket
supra- (above) + orbital (relating to the eye socket) = above the eye socket
suprapubic
supra- (above) + pubic (relating to the pubic bone) = above the pubic bone
supra- (above) + pubic (relating to the pubic bone) = above the pubic bone
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.