Medical Suffixes Quiz

Medical Suffixes

• -algia: Pain (e.g., neuralgia, nerve pain)
• -dynia: Pain (e.g., sternodynia, sternum pain)
• -cide/-cidal: Destroying/killing (e.g., suicidal, likely to kill oneself; bactericidal)
• -crine: Secreting (e.g., endocrine, gland that secretes hormones into the bloodstream)
• -ectomy: Removal of (e.g., appendectomy, removal of the appendix)
• -tomy: Incision (e.g., craniotomy, incision into skull)
• -edema: Swelling (e.g., lymphedema, swelling as a result of obstructed lymph nodes)
• -emesis: Vomiting (e.g., hematemesis, vomiting blood)
• -emia: Blood (e.g., anemia, deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin)
• -emic: Related to blood (e.g., uremic, having excessive urea in blood)

More Medical Suffixes

• -genesis: Production of (e.g., pathogenesis, production or development of a disease)
• -gram: A recording or data (e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG), heart scan)
• -gen: Producing substance (e.g., carcinogen, cancer-causing agent)
• -megaly: Enlargement (e.g., hepatomegaly, enlargement of liver)
• -oma: Tumor, neoplasm (e.g., myoma, neoplasm of muscle tissue)
• -oxia: Oxygen (e.g., anoxia, lack of oxygen)

Additional Suffixes

• -penia: Deficiency (e.g., leukopenia, deficiency in white blood cells)
• -pepsia: Digestion (e.g., dyspepsia, impaired digestion)
• -phoria: Feeling (e.g., euphoria, feeling of well-being)
• -plegia: Paralysis (e.g., quadriplegia, paralysis of all four limbs)
• -rrhea: Flow, discharge (e.g., menorrhea, flow of menstruation)
• -rrhage: Discharge heavily (e.g., hemorrhage, heavy bleeding)
• -porosis: Lessening in density (e.g., osteoporosis, lessening or decrease of bone density)
• -spasm: Contraction/constriction (e.g., bronchospasm, spasm in the bronchi)

Body System Suffixes

• -derma/-dermis: Skin (e.g., epidermis, over or upon the skin)
• -uria: Urine (e.g., polyuria, excessive urination)
• -pathy: Disease (e.g., osteopathy, bone disease)

Test your knowledge of common medical suffixes with this quiz. Explore the meanings and examples of suffixes that are used in various medical terms. This is perfect for anyone studying medicine or healthcare.