4 Suffix

are word parts that are located at the end of words. Suffixes can alter the meaning of medical terms. It is important to spell and pronounce suffixes correctly.

Suffixes in medical terms are common to English language suffixes. Suffixes are not always explicitly stated in the definition of a word. It is common that suffixes will not be explicitly stated when defining a medical term in the workplace. However, when transcribing or reading medical reports the suffix is always clearly written. In order to properly spell and pronounce medical terms, it is helpful to learn the suffixes.

 

SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-a noun ending, no meaning
-ac pertaining to
-ad toward
-al pertaining to
-algia pain
-amnios amnion, amniotic fluid
-apheresis removal
-ar pertaining to
-ary pertaining to
– asthenia weakness
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-carcinoma cancerous tumour
-cele hernia, protrusion, swelling
-centesis surgical puncture to aspirate fluid
-crine to secrete
-cyesis pregnancy
-cyte cell
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-desis surgical fixation, fusion
-drome run, running
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-e noun ending, no meaning
-eal pertaining to
-ectasis stretching out, dilation, expansion
-ectomy excision, surgical removal, cut out
-emesis vomiting
-emia in the blood
-esis condition
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-gen substance or agent that produces or causes
-genic producing, originating, causing
-gram the record, radiographic image
-graph instrument used to record; the record
-graphy process of recording, radiographic imaging
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-ia condition of, diseased state, abnormal state
-iasis condition
-iatrist specialist
-iatry specialty, treatment
-ic pertaining to
-ictal seizure, attack
-ior pertaining to
-ism state of
-itis inflammation
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-logist specialist who studies and treats
-logy study of
-lysis separating, loosening, dissolution
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-malacia softening
-megaly enlarged, enlargement
-meter instrument used to measure
-metry measuring, process of measuring
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-oid resembling
-oma tumour, swelling
-opia vision
-opsy viewing, process of viewing
-osis abnormal condition, increased number (blood)
-ous pertaining to
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-paresis slight paralysis
-pathy disease
-penia abnormal reduction in number
-pepsia digestion
-pexy surgical fixation, suspension
-phagia swallowing, eating
-phobia aversion, abnormal fear
-physis growth
-plasia formation, development, growth
-plasm growth, substance, formation
-plasty surgical repair
-plegia paralysis
-pnea breathing
-poiesis formation
-ptosis prolapse, drooping
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-rrhage excessive bleeding
-rrhagia excessive bleeding,
-rrhaphy repairing, suturing
-rrhea discharge, flow
-rrhexis rupture
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-salpinx fallopian tube, uterine tube
-sarcoma malignant tumour
-schisis split, fissure
-sclerosis hardening
-scope instrument used for visual examination
-scopic pertaining to visual examination
-scopy process of visually examining
-spasm sudden, involuntary contraction of muscle
-stasis stop, control, standing
-stenosis constriction, narrowing
-stomy creation of artificial opening
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-thorax chest cavity, chest
-tocia labour, birth
-tome instrument used to cut
-tomy incision, cut into
-tripsy surgical crushing
-trophy nourishment, development
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-um structure
-uria urine, urination
-us no meaning

 

 

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Building a Medical Terminology Foundation Copyright © 2020 by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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