What does the prefix ab- mean?

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Master the Dean Vaughn Medical Terminology Test. Engage with flashcards and quizzes, detailed explanations provided. Enhance your medical vocabulary for exam success.

Multiple Choice

What does the prefix ab- mean?

Explanation:
Ab- expresses moving away from a reference point. In medical terms this often means away from the body's midline or away from a given baseline. For example, abduction describes moving a limb away from the midline, and an abductor is the muscle that does that action. You also see ab- in abnormal, indicating something away from what’s normal. This contrasts with prefixes that mean toward, across, or against, so the meaning here is clearly “away from.”

Ab- expresses moving away from a reference point. In medical terms this often means away from the body's midline or away from a given baseline. For example, abduction describes moving a limb away from the midline, and an abductor is the muscle that does that action. You also see ab- in abnormal, indicating something away from what’s normal. This contrasts with prefixes that mean toward, across, or against, so the meaning here is clearly “away from.”

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