Types of Suffixes

Suffixes

• Suffixes are divided into two types: Adjective and Procedural.

Adjective Suffixes

• Adjective suffixes are found at the end of a word and provide more information about a noun or noun phrase.
• Examples of adjective suffixes:
  • -al, -eal: pertaining to a part of the body, process, or condition (e.g., peritoneal, inguinal)
  • -ar, -ary: pertaining to a part of the body, process, or condition (e.g., vascular, pulmonary)
  • -ic: pertaining to a part of the body, process, or condition (e.g., chronic, gastric)

Procedural Suffixes

• Procedural suffixes describe procedures used in patient care, treatment, diagnosis, and surgical procedures.
• Examples of procedural suffixes:
  • -centesis: surgical procedure to remove fluid (e.g., thoracentesis, amniocentesis)
  • -ectomy: removal, excision, resection (e.g., hysterectomy, cholecystectomy)
  • -gram: record (e.g., mammogram)
  • -graphy: process of recording (e.g., mammography)
  • -lysis: separation, breakdown, destruction (e.g., dialysis)
  • -plasty: surgical repair (e.g., angioplasty)
  • -scopy: process of visual examination (e.g., laparoscopy)
  • -stomy: opening (e.g., colostomy)
  • -therapy: treatment (e.g., chemotherapy)

Suffix Examples

• Examples of suffixes with their meanings and examples:
  • -algia: condition of pain (e.g., fibromyalgia)
  • -blast: immature (e.g., lymphoblast)
  • -cyte: cell (e.g., lymphocyte)
  • -ectasis: dilation, expansion (e.g., caliectasis)
  • -emesis: vomiting (e.g., emesis gravidarum)
  • -esis: condition, action, process (e.g., thoracentesis)
  • -globin: protein in blood (e.g., hemoglobin)
  • -itis: inflammation (e.g., appendicitis)
  • -ism: medical condition (e.g., aneurysm)
  • -logy: study of (e.g., pathology)
  • -logist: someone who studies (e.g., pathologist)
  • -oma: tumor, mass (e.g., hepatoma)
  • -osis: abnormal condition (e.g., fibrosis)
  • -pathy: disease condition (e.g., cardiomyopathy)
  • -penia: deficiency (e.g., leukopenia)
  • -phasia: difficulty (e.g., dysphasia)
  • -rrhea: flow, discharge (e.g., menorrhea)
  • -scope: instrument used to visualize (e.g., cystoscope)
  • -scopy: visual examination (e.g., cystoscopy)
  • -stasis: stoppage of blood, fluids (e.g., hemostasis)
  • -trophy: denotes food, nutrition, growth (e.g., atrophy)
  • -tripsy: mechanical force or sound waves (e.g., lithotripsy)