Medical Terminology Suffixes Quiz

Study Notes

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.