What does the prefix DYS- mean?

What does the prefix DYS- mean?

• A. Painful, difficult
• B. Within, inner
• C. Above
• D. Outside of

Answer: (A)

Dys- signals that something is bad, painful, or difficult. That makes it the best choice for describing conditions or functions that are troublesome or abnormal, as in dysuria (painful or difficult urination) or dystonia (abnormal, difficult muscle control). The other options refer to location or direction: within/inner is intra- or endo-, above is supra- or ep-, and outside of is exo- or ecto-, which describe where something is rather than the quality of the function.

Dys- signals that something is bad, painful, or difficult. That makes it the best choice for describing conditions or functions that are troublesome or abnormal, as in dysuria (painful or difficult urination) or dystonia (abnormal, difficult muscle control). The other options refer to location or direction: within/inner is intra- or endo-, above is supra- or ep-, and outside of is exo- or ecto-, which describe where something is rather than the quality of the function.