Medical Terminology Suffixes Quiz

Common Suffixes in Medical Terminology

• -a, -e, -y: General suffixes used in various terms.
• -emia: Refers to blood conditions.
• -esis, -osis, -ia, -ism: Indicate conditions or states.
• -ole, -ule, -ula: Denote small sizes; used in terms like arteriole.
• -ion, -tion: Indicate the process or action of a verb.
• -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -ory, -ous, -ic, -tic, -eal: Pertaining to or relating to a specific subject.
• -centesis: Surgical procedure involving puncturing to withdraw fluid.
• -desis: Surgical binding or stabilization.
• -clasis: Surgical breaking or refracturing.
• -tripsy: Surgical crushing.
• -pexy: Surgical fixation.
• -plasty: Surgical repair or reconstruction.
• -rrhaphy: Surgical suturing.
• -ize: To make or become.
• -lysis: Breakdown or decomposition.
• -gram: A record or image.
• -graph: Instrument for recording.
• -graphy, -metry, -scope: Techniques related to recording, measuring, or viewing.
• -tomy: Surgical incision.
• -stomy: Formation of an opening.
• -ectomy: Surgical removal of a body part.

Specific Medical Terms

• -algia, -dynia: Indicate pain; e.g., fibromyalgia (muscle pain).
• -blast: Refers to a developing cell.
• -cele: Indicates a herniation or swelling.
• -cide: Refers to killing; e.g., pesticide.
• -crine: Relates to secretion.
• -cyte: Indicates a cell type, e.g., erythrocyte (red blood cell).
• -emesis: Refers to vomiting; e.g., hyperemesis (excessive vomiting).
• Edema: Swelling due to excess fluid; lymphedema specifically refers to lymph fluid accumulation.
• -gen: Refers to something that produces or generates; e.g., glycogen (a form of stored sugar).
• -genic: Pertaining to the production of; e.g., carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
• -genesis: The process of formation; e.g., carcinogenesis (cancer formation).
• -carcin/o: Relating to cancer; e.g., carcinoma (cancerous tumor).
• -itis: Indicates inflammation; e.g., appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix).
• -lepsy: Refers to seizures; e.g., epilepsy (seizure disorder).
• -lith: Refers to stone; e.g., rhinolith (stone in the nose).
• -lithiasis: Presence or formation of stones; e.g., cholelithiasis (gallbladder stones).
• -mania: Obsession or mental disorder; e.g., pyromania (obsession with fire).
• -megaly: Enlargement of an organ; e.g., cardiomegaly (enlargement of the heart).
• -oma: Refers to tumors; e.g., hematoma (mass of blood).
• -pathy: Indicates a disease condition; e.g., myopathy (muscle disease).
• -penia: Refers to deficiency; e.g., leukocytopenia (low white blood cell count).
• -philia: Indicates abnormal attraction; e.g., necrophilia (attraction to dead bodies).
• -phobia: Refers to an abnormal fear; e.g., necrophobia (fear of dead bodies).
• -phasia: Relates to speech; e.g., aphasia (loss of ability to speak).
• -phagia: Refers to eating or swallowing.
• -pepsia: Relates to digestion.
• -ptosis: Indicates drooping or prolapse; e.g., blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid).
• -rrhagia, -rrhage: Refer to excessive flow or bleeding.