Medical Terminology Chapter 2 Quiz

Medical Terminology Suffixes and Prefixes

• -cele: Protrusion or hernia; example: rectocele.
• -centesis: Surgical puncture; example: thoracentesis.
• -cyte: Refers to a cell; example: leukocyte.
• -desis: Surgical binding; example: arthrodesis.
• -dynia/-algia: Indicates pain; example: arthrodynia.
• -ectasis/-ectasia: Means expansion or dilation; example: angiectasis.
• -ectomy: Refers to surgical removal; example: appendectomy.
• -edema: Excessive fluid in tissues; example: angioedema.
• -emesis: Means vomiting; example: hematemesis.
• -emia: Refers to blood; example: uremia.
• -genic: Denotes origin or producing; example: osteogenic.
• -gram: Means written; example: electrocardiogram.
• -graph: Refers to a device for graphic recording; example: electrocardiograph.
• -graphy: The act of graphic recording; example: Electrocardiography.
• -ian/-iatrist/-ist/-logist/-logy/-ics/-iatry/-iatrics: Specialties of, study of, or practice of; example: pediatrician.
• -iasis: Converts a verb to a noun indicating a condition; example: cholelithiasis.
• -ism: A condition, process, or state; examples: dwarfism, gigantism.
• -itis: Refers to inflammation; example: appendicitis.
• -lith: Indicates stone or calcification; example: pneumolith.
• -lysis: Means disintegration; example: hemolysis.
• -malacia: Refers to softening; example: osteomalacia.
• -megaly: Indicates enlargement; example: gastromegaly.
• -metry: The act of measuring; example: audiometry.
• -meter: A device for measuring; example: audiometer.
• -oid: Resembling or like; example: android.
• -oma: Refers to a tumor; example: gastroma.
• -opsy: Visual examination; example: biopsy.
• -osis: Indicates an abnormal condition; examples: osteoporosis, arthrosis.
• -pathy: Refers to disease; example: cardiopathy.
• -ac/-al/-an/-aneous/-ar/-ary/-eal/-eous/-iac/-iatric/-ic/-ical/-oid/-otic/-ous/-tic/-ular: Converts a root or noun to an adjective; examples include geriatric and orthopedic.
• -penia: Reduction in size or quantity; example: leukopenia.
• -pexy: Surgical fixation; example: hysteropexy.
• -phobia: Indicates fear; example: claustrophobia.
• -plasia: Refers to abnormal formation; example: chondroplasia.
• -plasty: Surgical repair; example: rhinoplasty.
• -plegia: Refers to paralysis; example: hemiplegia.
• -pnea: Relates to breath or respiration; example: tachypnea.
• -poiesis: Indicates producing; example: erythropoiesis.
• -porosis: Means porous condition; example: osteoporosis.
• -ptosis: Downward displacement; example: nephroptosis.
• -rrhage: Refers to flowing forth; example: hemorrhage.
• -rrhaphy: Means suture; example: herniorrhaphy.
• -rrhea: Indicates discharge; example: diarrhea.
• -rrhexis: Refers to rupture; example: hysterorrhexis.
• -sclerosis: Indicates hardness; example: arteriosclerosis.
• -scope: Refers to a device for viewing; example: arthroscope.
• -scopy: The act of viewing; example: arthroscopy.
• -spasm: Means muscular contraction; example: arteriospasm.
• -stasis: Level or unchanging; example: hemostasis.
• -stenosis: Refers to narrowed or blocked; example: arteriostenosis.
• -stomy: Indicates a permanent opening; example: colostomy.
• -tome: An instrument for cutting; example: osteotome.
• -tomy: Means incision; example: osteotomy.
• -tripsy: Refers to crushing; example: lithotripsy.

Medical Terminology Prefixes

• ab-: Means away from, outside of; example: abnormal.
• ad-: Refers to toward or near to; example: addiction.
• ante-/pre-: Indicates before; examples: antepartum, premature.
• anti-: Means against; example: antibiotic.
• bi-: Refers to two; example: biannual.
• brady-: Indicates abnormally slow; example: bradycardia.
• con-/sym-/syn-: Means with; examples include congenital, sympathetic, synarthrosis.
• contra-: Indicates against; example: contralateral.
• dia-: Means across or through; example: diagnosis.
• dys-: Signifies painful, bad, or difficult; example: dyspnea.
• ec-/ecto-: Refers to outside or away from; example: ectopy.
• en-/endo-: Indicates inside; example: endoscopy.
• epi-: Means upon; example: epigastric.
• ex-/exo-: Signifies outside; example: exoskeleton.
• extra-: Refers to beyond; example: extrasystole.
• hemi-/semi-: Means half.
• hyper-: Indicates above or beyond normal; example: hypergastric.
• hypo-: Means below or below normal; example: hypogastric.
• infra-: Refers to inside or below; example: infrastructure.
• inter-: Means between; example: intercostal.
• intra-: Refers to inside; example: intracerebral.
• macro-: Indicates big; example: macrocyte.
• meso-: Refers to middle; example: mesothelium.
• meta-: Means beyond; example: metacarpal.
• micro-: Indicates small; example: microscope.
• mono-/uni-: Refers to one; example: monocyte.
• neo-: Means new; example: neoplasm.
• olig-/oligo-: Indicates a few; example: oliguria.
• pan-: Refers to everywhere; example: pancarditis.
• para-: Means alongside or like; example: paraplegia.
• post-: Indicates after; example: postsynaptic.
• quadri-: Refers to four; example: quadriceps.
• retro-: Means backward or behind; example: retroperitoneal.
• tachy-: Signifies abnormally high rate; example: tachycardia.
• tri-: Refers to three; example: triceps.