During surgery, one cm of subcutaneous fat is revealed. What does the prefix in the word subcutaneous mean?
A. Across
B. Under
C. Around
D. Within
My study group thinks it's C but I think it's D. Are either of us right?
Neither is correct. The prefix sub- means "under."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sub-
To determine the meaning of the prefix in the word "subcutaneous," we can break down the word:
"Sub-" is a prefix that comes from the Latin term meaning "under" or "below."
"Cutaneous" refers to the skin.
Therefore, "subcutaneous" literally means "under the skin."
Considering this, the correct answer is B. "Under."
Your study group initially thought it was C. "Around," which is incorrect in this context. "Subcutaneous" specifically refers to something that is located beneath or below the skin, not around it.
Your suggestion of D. "Within" is also incorrect because "subcutaneous" does not imply being inside the skin but rather under it.
So, the correct answer is B. "Under."