Suffixes in Medical Terminology

Study Notes

Suffixes in Medical Terminology

-centesis indicates a surgical procedure involving puncture.
-cise means to cut or remove.
-ectomy refers to the surgical removal or excision of something.
-gram denotes a record or image obtained through a specific diagnostic method.
-lysis indicates the destruction or breakdown of something.
-algia signifies pain.
-ectasis indicates dilation or expansion of a body part or structure.
-emia refers to a condition involving the blood.
-itis signifies inflammation.
-malacia denotes softening or weakening of a tissue.
-cidal pertains to killing or being lethal.
-form refers to shape or form.
-ology indicates the study or science of a particular subject.
-opia relates to vision or eyesight.
-pnea means breathing.
-uria indicates a condition involving urine.
-plasty denotes surgical repair or reconstruction.
-scopy refers to a visual examination using a scope.
-stasis signifies the stopping or control of a process or flow.
-stomy indicates the creation of a new opening.
-tomy signifies an incision.
-tripsy refers to crushing.
-oma indicates a tumor.
-osis denotes an abnormal condition or state.
-pathy refers to a disorder or disease.
-penia indicates a deficiency or reduction in something.
-phagia signifies swallowing.
-phasia relates to speech.
-plegia denotes paralysis.
-ptosis denotes drooping or falling.
-sclerosis indicates hardening or stiffening of a tissue.

Surgical Procedures

-centeis refers to a surgical procedure, such as an amniocentesis (procedure to obtain amniotic fluid).
-cise means to cut or remove, as in circumcision (the surgical removal of the foreskin).
-ectomy signifies the removal or excision of something, like appendectomy (removal of the appendix).

Medical Records and Examinations

-gram refers to a record, such as an electrocardiogram (a record of the heart's electrical activity).
-scopy means a visual exam, like colonoscopy (visual examination of the colon).

Conditions and Processes

-lysis refers to destruction, like hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells).
-algia signifies pain, like neuralgia (pain in a nerve).
-ectasis means dilation, like bronchiectasis (dilation of the bronchi).
-emia describes a blood condition, like anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells).
-it is indicates inflammation, like tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils).
-malacia means weakening of, like osteomalacia (softening of the bones).
-osis signifies an abnormal condition, such as osteoporosis (porous bones).
-pathy refers to a disorder, like neuropathy (a disorder that affects the nerves).
-penia means a deficiency or decrease, like leukopenia (a deficiency of white blood cells).
-phagia means swallowing, like dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
-plegia refers to paralysis, like hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body).
-ptosis signifies drooping or falling, like blepharoptosis (drooping of the eyelid).
-sclerosis means hardening, like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Other Terms

-cidal pertains to killing, like bactericidal (killing bacteria).
-form refers to shape, like fusiform (spindle-shaped).
-ology signifies the study of, like cardiology (the study of the heart).
-opia relates to vision, like myopia (nearsightedness).
-pnea means breathing, like apnea (cessation of breathing).
-uria refers to urine, like hematuria (blood in the urine).
-stomy means a new opening, like colostomy (a surgically created opening in the colon).
-tomy signifies an incision, like tracheotomy (an incision into the trachea).
-tripsy refers to crushing, like lithotripsy (crushing of kidney stones).
-oma indicates a tumor, like carcinoma (a cancerous tumor).
-stasis means stop or control, like hemostasis (stopping of bleeding).
-plasty signifies surgical repair, like rhinoplasty (surgical repair of the nose).

Description

Explore the various suffixes used in medical terminology with this quiz. Each suffix is explained, highlighting its significance in medical language and procedures. This will enhance your understanding of medical terms and their applications in healthcare.