Medical Terminology Chapter 2

Suffixes and Prefixes in Medical Terminology

• Suffix: The word ending that typically indicates a procedure, disease, disorder, or condition.
• Common medical suffixes:
  • -logist: One who studies or a specialist.
  • -logy: Study of.
  • -itis: Inflammation, often used to indicate inflammation of organs or tissues.
  • -pathy: Disease.
  • -oma: Tumor or mass.
  • -uria: Relating to urine.
  • -emia: Relating to blood conditions.
  • -rrhage: To flow profusely.
  • -ectomy: Surgical removal.
  • -plasty: Surgical repair.
  • -tomy: Surgical incision.

Roots and Combining Forms

• Root genet-: Refers to origin or gene. Combined with:
  • -ic: Pertaining to (genetic).
  • -ics: Knowledge of (genetics).
  • -ist: Specialist (geneticist).
• Combining form cardi/o: Refers to the heart; related to cardiology and cardiopathies.
• Combining form dermat/o: Used for skin-related terms like dermatitis and dermatology.
• Combining form arthr/o: Relates to joints, used in terms like arthroscopy, arthrodesis, and arthroplasty.
• Roots hem/o and hemat/o: Both denote blood.

Diagnostic and Pathologic Suffixes

• Diagnostic suffixes produce terms identifying diseases or procedures.
• Pathologic suffixes describe symptoms or signs of disease processes.
• Examples include:
  • -philia: Attraction.
  • -crit: To separate.
  • -gram: Record.
  • -lysis: Destruction.
  • -edema: Accumulation of fluid in tissues.

Surgical Suffixes

• Surgical suffixes describe invasive procedures performed on the body:
  • -centesis: Surgical puncture to withdraw fluid.
  • -desis: Fixation of a joint or organ.
  • -rrhaphy: Surgical suture.
  • -stomy: Surgical formation of an opening.

Key Medical Concepts

• Combining forms are essential for constructing medical terms for specialized fields.
• Understanding suffixes and roots aids in deciphering unfamiliar medical vocabulary.
• Each suffix and combining form has specific applications and meanings that are critical in healthcare communication.