Medical Terminology Suffixes for Nursing - RegistreredRN

ac,ic,ar,ary,ous

referring to/pertaining to

celiac

referring to bowels

gastric

referring to stomach

venous

referring to veins

algia

pain

neuralgia

pain along a nerves path

apheresis

remove blood from the body,filter some components out, and then return the blood back to the body

aquapheresis ( treatment for cognitive heart failure)

removes excess water from the body

asthenia

weakness of something

myasthenia gravis

weakness of the muscles

centesis

to punture surgically

aminocentesis

amniotic sac is punctured surgically and fluid is removed for testing

cide

killer

fungicide

to kill fungus causing an infection

crine

secrete

eccrine glands

secret out sweat

cyte

cell

erythrocyte

red blood cell

drome

running or occuring

syndrome

signs or symptoms that are running or occurring together

ectasis

to expand or dilate

angioectasis

dilation of a blood vessel

ectomy

to cut out

tonsillectomy

surgically cut out the tonsils

emia

pertaining to blood

anemia

not enough blood cells

ferrent

to carry

afferent

nerves carry signals to the CNS

efferent

nerves carry signals away from the CNS

fuge

drive away

centrifuge

spins blood around to drive away red blood cells to one side

gen

producing or causing something

carcinogen

causing cancer

gram

to record,picture,or draw something

mammogram

an x-ray image of breast tissue to detect cancer

graphy

writing or recording

radiography

records images of the body

ia

refers to a condition

pneumonia

a condition affecting the lungs

iatrics

a specialty

pediatrics

specializing in children

ism,osis,ty

state or condition of something

hypothyroidism

state of having an underactive thyroid

scoliosis

state of having a crooked spine

immunity

a state of being immune to something

itis

inflammation

Dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

logy, logist

the study of something or one who studies

nephrologist

studies the kidney

biology

the study of life

lysis

something breaking down or apart

hemolysis

breaking down of red blood cells

mania

consumed or obsessed with something

kleptomania

the obsession with stealing items

malacia

softening or weakening of something

osteomalacia

softening of the bone

megaly

enlargement

splenomegaly

enlarged spleen

oma

tumor or growth

sarcoma

type of tumor that arises from connective tissue

opia

vison

myopia

when vision is good at looking at objects up close, but not so good when looking at objects far away

pathy

disease or suffering

neuropathy

disease of the nerves

paresis

weak or paralyzed

Gastroparesis

stomach seizes up and delays emptying its contents

penia

something is decreased or lacking

leukopenia

decrease in white blood cells

pepsia

digestion

dyspepsia

indigestion

phagia

eating or consuming

dysphagia

difficulty eating or swallowing

phobia

fear

lilapsophobia

fear of tornados or severe storms

plasia

growth or development of something

Hyperplasia

cells in an organ begin to grow or develop abnormally

plasm

living part or the substance of something

cytoplasm

the substance that makes up a cell

plasty

to reshape something

Rhinoplasty

reshaping of the nose

plegia

paralysis

quadraplegia

paralysis affecting all four limbs

pnea

breathing

sleep apnea

temporarily stop breathing during sleep

poiesis

producing or making

erythropoiesis

body’s process of making red blood cells

ptosis

sagging or dropping down

hysteroptosis

having a lot of babies can cause the uterus to drop down or sag

rrhage

heavy bleeding

hemorrhage

bleeding

rrhagia

heavy or abnormal discharge of something

menorrhagia

abnormally long heavy period

rrhea

sudden discharge of something

diarrhea

sudden discharge of stool

sclerosis

hardening or stiffening of something

atherosclerosis

plaque builds up and causes hardening of the arteries

scope

tool used to help you see

scopy

examination with that tool

spasm

twitching or contraction of muscle tissue