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
supraorbital
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

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.