Medical Terminology - Suffixes for Diseases

Questions and Answers

What does the suffix -algia or -dynia indicate?

pain

What does the suffix -asthenia signify?

weakness

What does the suffix -cele represent?

hernia, protrusion

What does the suffix -cytosis refer to?

abnormal cell condition Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ectasis mean?

dilated, stretched out Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -edema denote?

swelling Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -emesis indicate?

vomiting Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -emia signify?

condition of the blood Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ia represent?

state, condition Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -iasis or -osis indicate?

abnormal condition Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ism mean?

state of, condition Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -itis indicate?

inflammation Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -lith represent?

stone Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -lysis or -lytic signify?

destruction Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -malacia mean?

abnormal softening Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -megaly indicate?

enlargement, large Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -oma refer to?

tumor, mass Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -pathy signify?

disease Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -penia represent?

too few Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -phobia mean?

fear Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -plegia denote?

paralysis Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ptosis indicate?

drooping Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -rrhage or -rrhagia signify?

bursting forth Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -rrhea refer to?

discharge, flow Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -rrhexis mean?

rupture Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -sclerosis indicate?

hardened condition Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -spasm mean?

involuntary muscle contraction Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -stasis denote?

stopping Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -stenosis refer to?

narrowing Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -toxic mean?

poison Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -uria signify?

condition of the urine Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medical Terminology Suffixes Indicating Diseases or Abnormal Conditions

-algia, -dynia: Refers to pain; commonly used to describe specific types of pain, such as neuralgia (nerve pain).
-asthenia: Indicates weakness; often associated with conditions such as myasthenia gravis (grave muscular weakness).
-cele: Denotes hernia or protrusion; examples include meningocele (herniation of the meninges).
-cytosis: Describes an abnormal cell condition, often indicating an increase in cell number, such as erythrocytosis (increased red blood cells).
-ectasis: Refers to dilation or stretching out of a structure; commonly used in terms like bronchiectasis (dilated airways).
-edema: Indicates swelling, typically due to fluid retention, as seen in peripheral edema (swelling in limbs).
-emesis: Means vomiting; for example, hyperemesis refers to severe or excessive vomiting.
-emia: Signifies a blood condition; examples include anemia (a deficiency of red cells in the blood).
-ia: Represents a state or condition; used in various medical terms to indicate pathological states.
-iasis, -osis: Indicates an abnormal condition; often used in contexts like cholelithiasis (gallstones) or psoriasis (a skin condition).
-ism: Reflects a state or condition; examples include alcoholism, which denotes a condition of alcohol dependence.
-itis: Refers to inflammation; widely used in conditions like arthritis (inflammation of the joints).
-lith: Denotes stone; often seen in terms like nephrolith (kidney stone).
-lysis, -lytic: Indicates destruction; commonly related to the breakdown of cells or substances, as in hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells).
-malacia: Refers to abnormal softening of tissue; conditions like osteomalacia (softening of bones) exemplify its usage.
-megaly: Indicates enlargement; used to describe conditions like splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).
-oma: Refers to tumor or mass; used in terms like carcinoma (cancerous tumor).
-pathy: Denotes disease; frequently used in terms such as cardiomyopathy (heart disease).
-penia: Indicates too few or a deficiency; examples include leukopenia (low white blood cell count).
-phobia: Refers to fear; utilized in conditions such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).
-plegia: Denotes paralysis; often seen in terms like hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body).
-ptosis: Refers to drooping; commonly used in terms like blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid).
-rrhage, -rrhagia: Indicates bursting forth; examples include hemorrhage (excessive bleeding).
-rrhea: Means discharge or flow; often used in terms like diarrhea (abnormal discharge of fluid from the intestines).
-rrhexis: Refers to rupture; used in contexts like hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
-sclerosis: Indicates a hardened condition; seen in terms such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
-spasm: Refers to an involuntary muscle contraction; conditions like bronchospasm are examples.
-stasis: Means stopping; used in terms like homeostasis (maintaining stable internal conditions).
-stenosis: Refers to narrowing; commonly associated with blood vessels, like aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aorta).
-toxic: Indicates poison; used in terms like hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver).
-uria: Denotes a condition of the urine; examples include proteinuria (presence of protein in urine).

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Description

Explore medical terminology with a focus on suffixes indicating diseases or abnormal conditions. This quiz will enhance your understanding of terms related to pain, weakness, hernias, and more. Ideal for students in medical-related fields.