Which prefix means excessive, increased and is used in terms like hyperglycemia?

• A. Hyper-
• B. Post-
• C. Sub-
• D. Trans-

Answer: (A)

The concept tested is how prefixes express degree or amount. The prefix that means excessive or above normal is hyper-. It comes from Greek and is used to indicate higher-than-normal levels in many body systems. When we say hyperglycemia, the glucose level in the blood is higher than normal, which is exactly what hyper- conveys. This same prefix appears in other conditions like hyperthermia (high body temperature), hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperlipidemia (high fats in the blood). Other prefixes describe different ideas: post- means after, sub- means under or below, trans- means across or through. They don’t indicate excess, which is why they aren’t the correct fit here.