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What does ultra- mean in medical terms?
ultra-
Meaning: beyond, excessive
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what ultra- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using ultra-
ultrasound
ultra- (beyond) + sound (sound) = sound at a frequency beyond human hearing, used in imaging
ultra- (beyond) + sound (sound) = sound at a frequency beyond human hearing, used in imaging
ultraviolet
ultra- (beyond) + violet (the color violet) = light beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum
ultra- (beyond) + violet (the color violet) = light beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum
ultrastructure
ultra- (beyond) + structure (arrangement) = the fine structure of cells beyond the resolution of a light microscope
ultra- (beyond) + structure (arrangement) = the fine structure of cells beyond the resolution of a light microscope
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.