What it means
The beginning of words for something around a place or a time. The pericardium is the sac around the heart, perineal care cleans the area around the genitals and anus, perioperative means around the time of surgery, and peripheral means at the outer edges of the body.
Related terms
para-
A word beginning that means beside, near, beyond or abnormal.
peripheral nervous system
All the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, which link them to the rest of the body.