The prefix Dura- denotes which property?

• A. Hard
• B. Soft
• C. Flexible
• D. Brittle

Answer: (A)

Dura- denotes hardness. This prefix comes from the Latin durus, meaning hard or tough, and it’s seen in anatomy with the dura mater, the outer, very tough membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. That sense of strength and rigidity carries over to how the prefix is used in medical terms, indicating something hard or durable. The other properties—soft, flexible, or brittle—don’t fit because they would come from different roots that describe those qualities rather than the hard, tough characteristic conveyed by dura-.