What it means
The beginning of words for something lying on top of or outside something else. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, an epidural is given into the space on top of the dura around the spinal cord, the epigastric area is above the stomach, and the epiglottis is the flap over the voice box.
Related terms
peri-
A word beginning that means around or near.
epidural anesthesia
Pain relief or numbness from an anesthetic drug given through a thin catheter into the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord.
endometrium
The inner lining of the uterus, which thickens each month and is shed as the menstrual period if no pregnancy begins.