Suffixes in Medical Terminology

Study Notes

Suffixes: Metry-Tomy

-metry: Refers to the process of measuring; essential in various scientific and medical contexts for quantification.
-orna: Denotes tumor or cancer, indicating growths that can be benign or malignant.
-opsy: Indicates a medical examination or inspection, commonly associated with biopsies to assess tissue.
-osis: Represents an abnormal condition or process, used in medical terminology to describe diseases or disorders.
-oxia: Relates to oxygenation, critical for assessing blood oxygen levels in medical evaluations.
-pathy: Refers to disease, often used to denote specific types of pathologies, such as neuropathy.
-penia: Indicates deficiency or lack, commonly used in terms like thrombocytopenia to signify a reduction in blood components.
-phagia/-phagy: Relates to the manner of eating, such as in the terms dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
-plasty: Indicates surgical repair of a body part, used in procedures such as rhinoplasty (nose surgery).
-plegia: Means paralysis, often used in terms like paraplegia, referring to paralysis of the lower limbs.
-rrhage/-rrhagia: Indicates excessive flow, used in contexts like hemorrhage, which refers to bleeding.
-rrhapy: Signifies a suture or stitching in surgical procedures, critical for wound closure.
-rrhea: Refers to flow or discharge, commonly seen in terms like diarrhea (abnormal intestinal discharge).
-rrhexis: Indicates rupture, often in medical contexts referring to ruptured organs or tissues.
-sclerosis: Signifies abnormal hardening of tissues, as seen in various conditions like arteriosclerosis.
-scope: Refers to an object used for viewing, part of tools like endoscopes for internal examination.
-scopy: Denotes a study, typically involving observation or examination of organs or tissues.
-stenosis: Indicates narrowing of an open passage in the body, relevant in conditions like aortic stenosis.
-tomy: Refers to cutting or incision, commonly used in surgical terminology to describe procedures such as laparotomy.

Description

This quiz explores various suffixes commonly used in medical terminology, including their meanings and applications. Test your knowledge on terms related to measurement, pathology, and surgical procedures. Perfect for students in health sciences or anyone interested in the language of medicine.