Medical Terms Suffixes Flashcards

Study Notes

Medical Terminology Suffixes

-rrhaphy: Refers to the process of suturing wounds or tissue. Used in procedures where tissue is stitched together.
-rrhea: Indicates a flow or discharge, often used to describe secretions from organs, such as diarrhea or rhinorrhea (nasal discharge).
-rrhexis: Denotes rupture, typically used in medical contexts to describe the breaking or tearing of an organ or tissue.
-sclerosis: Signifies hardening of a structure or tissue, often associated with conditions like multiple sclerosis or arteriosclerosis.
-scopy: Relates to examination using an instrument, such as endoscopy, which allows for visual inspection of internal organs.
-spasm: Represents involuntary twitching or contraction of muscles, often leading to issues like muscle cramps or spasms.
-stasis: Refers to the cessation or stopping of a process, commonly used in phrases like blood stasis, indicating halted circulation.
-stomy: Describes the surgical creation of an opening, such as colostomy, which provides an alternative passage for bodily waste.
-tome: Denotes a cutting instrument, typically used in surgical contexts for precise incisions or sample collection.
-tomy: Indicates incision, often performed during surgical procedures to access internal structures.
-tripsy: Refers to the surgical crushing of a structure, commonly associated with procedures like lithotripsy, which breaks down kidney stones.
-trophic/-trophy: Relates to nutrition or growth, often used in contexts such as hypertrophy (increase in size) or atrophy (decrease in size).

Description

Test your knowledge of medical term suffixes with these flashcards. Each card provides a specific suffix along with its definition, helping you learn important terminology in the medical field. Perfect for students and healthcare professionals alike.