Medical Terminology Suffixes Quiz

Medical Suffixes and Their Meanings

• -algia: Refers to pain, commonly seen in medical terminology (e.g., neuralgia).

• -cele: Indicates a hernia; often used to describe abnormal protrusions (e.g., meningocele).

• -centesis: A surgical procedure involving a puncture to remove fluid (e.g., amniocentesis).

• -coccus: Describes a berry-shaped bacterium; plural form is -cocci.

• -cyte: Refers to a cell, often used in contexts like erythrocyte (red blood cell).

• -dys: Related to difficulty or abnormality, commonly used to describe functional issues (e.g., dysphagia).

• -ectomy: Signifies excision, removal, or resection of a body part (e.g., appendectomy).

• -emia: Denotes a blood condition, such as anemia (low red blood cells).

• -genesis: Refers to the formation or production of something, critical in developmental contexts (e.g., pathogenesis).

• -gram: Represents a record, typically resulting from imaging or testing (e.g., electrocardiogram).

• -graph: An instrument used for recording data, especially in diagnostic imaging (e.g., radiograph).

• -graphy: The process of recording or imaging, often applied in medical imaging disciplines (e.g., angiography).

• -itis: Indicates inflammation, commonly seen in conditions like arthritis.

• -logy: The study of a particular subject (e.g., biology).

• -lysis: Refers to breakdown, destruction, or separation in biological contexts (e.g., hemolysis).

• -malacia: Indicates softening of tissues or structures, crucial in certain degenerative diseases (e.g., osteomalacia).

• -megaly: Signifies enlargement of an organ or body part (e.g., splenomegaly).

• -oma: Refers to a tumor or mass, can be benign or malignant (e.g., carcinoma).

• -opsy: Means to view, often used to describe tissue examination (e.g., biopsy).

• -osis: Indicates a condition, typically abnormal or pathological (e.g., fibrosis).

• -pathy: Refers to a disease condition, prevalent in various medical terminologies (e.g., neuropathy).

• -penia: Signifies a deficiency in a particular substance or cell type (e.g., leukopenia).

• -rrhea: Denotes flow or discharge, often seen in clinical descriptions (e.g., diarrhea).

• -sclerosis: Refers to hardening of tissues or organs (e.g., arteriosclerosis).

• -stasis: Indicates controlling or stopping of a process, frequently used in blood flow contexts (e.g., hemostasis).

• -stomy: Refers to the creation of an opening, often for bodily solutions (e.g., colostomy).

• -therapy: Denotes treatment, applicable in various medical contexts (e.g., psychotherapy).

• -tomy: Refers to an incision or cutting into a body part (e.g., laparotomy).

• -trophy: Indicates development or nourishment of tissues (e.g., hypertrophy).

• -um, -ium: Indicates a structure or tissue type (e.g., epithelium).

• -us: Signifies structure or substance (e.g., fungus).

• -y: Represents condition or process, commonly used in medical and biological terms.

• -ac, -iac: Pertaining to a particular thing or condition (e.g., cardiac).

• -al, -ar, -ary, -eal: Pertaining to or producing; used to specify relationships in terminology.

• -genic: Indicates production or formation, often related to cause (e.g., carcinogenic).