What does trans- mean in medical terms?
trans-
Meaning: across, through, beyond
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what trans- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using trans-
transfusion
trans- (across) + fus (to pour) + ion (action) = the transfer of blood from one person or container to another
trans- (across) + fus (to pour) + ion (action) = the transfer of blood from one person or container to another
transdermal
trans- (through) + dermal (relating to the skin) = passing through the skin
trans- (through) + dermal (relating to the skin) = passing through the skin
transplant
trans- (across) + plant (to place) = tissue or an organ moved to another site or person
trans- (across) + plant (to place) = tissue or an organ moved to another site or person
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.