Which prefix means Hard?

Which prefix means Hard?

• A. Sept-
• B. tope
• C. Scler(a)
• D. Antr-

Answer: (C)

Hard is conveyed by the prefix scler- (sclero-). This prefix shows up in terms like sclerosis, the hardening of tissue, and scleroderma, which refers to hardened skin. A handy association is the sclera, the tough, white outer layer of the eye, reinforcing the idea of something hard. The other options don’t express hardness: sept- comes from septum, a wall or barrier; antr- relates to the antrum, a cavity; tope- isn’t a standard medical prefix for hard and isn’t used to form a term meaning hardness.

Hard is conveyed by the prefix scler- (sclero-). This prefix shows up in terms like sclerosis, the hardening of tissue, and scleroderma, which refers to hardened skin. A handy association is the sclera, the tough, white outer layer of the eye, reinforcing the idea of something hard.

The other options don’t express hardness: sept- comes from septum, a wall or barrier; antr- relates to the antrum, a cavity; tope- isn’t a standard medical prefix for hard and isn’t used to form a term meaning hardness.