Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

What is the correct meaning of the prefix "epi-"?

1. Within

2. Above, upon

3. Surrounding, around

4. Under, below

The correct answer is: Above, upon

The prefix "epi-" derives from Greek, meaning "above" or "upon." It is often used in medical and scientific terminology to denote a position that is relative to something else, indicating that it is situated atop or on the surface of another structure. For example, in the term "epidermis," it describes the outer layer of skin that sits on top of the underlying layers. This understanding of "epi-" is crucial for interpreting various medical terms, as it provides context about location and relationship to other anatomical structures or systems. In contrast, the other prefixes have distinct meanings: "within" refers to something inside a boundary, "surrounding" describes an encircling position, and "under" indicates a position that lies beneath something else. Each of these serves a different purpose and conveys different spatial relationships.