Final answer:
The prefix brachy- means 'short.' It appears in medical terms such as brachytherapy, where short-length radioactive seeds are used to provide targeted cancer treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prefix brachy- refers to the concept of shortness. In medical terminology, this prefix is often used to describe something that is short in length or duration. For instance, the term brachytherapy is a method of cancer treatment where radioactive seeds or sources are implanted close to the area requiring treatment. These seeds deliver a high dose of radiation over a short period, effectively treating the cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
In anatomical terms, the prefix is associated with structures that are considered short in comparison to similar structures; for example, the brachium (arm) is proximal and thus closer to the body compared to the antebrachium (forearm).