Med Term Suffixes

-a,-ia,-on,-os,-is,-us,-um,-ium

names a thing when attached to root word

refers to, pertains to

-al, -tic, -ic, -iac, -oius, -ous, -ent

add to nouns, makes adjectives, expresses relationships

pertains to, refers to, concerning

-an, -ion, -ian

pertains to, process of, procedure of

sect/ion: cutting up/process of

-ance, -ancy

means state of, condition of

pregnancy

-er, -or

added to verbs to make adjectives or nouns

means one who, process of

doct/or

practition/er

-form

means shape, resembles

denti/form : tooth,shaped -

-gen, -throph, -plas

means beginning, produce, development; cause

carcino/gen/esis

hyper/trophy

-gram

means to record, write

cardio/gram

-graph

an instrument

cardiograph

-graphy

procedure of, process of using an instrument to make a recording

cardiography

-ia, -ity

add to adjectives or nouns to express, quality, condition, state of

chlamyd/ia

-ible, -ile

add to verbs

means ability to, capacity of, refers to

flex/ible

-ician

means person- belonging to, associated with, one who

ped/iatr/ician

-ics, -tics

art of, science of

aqua/tics

-id

add to verbs

state of, condition of, refers to, pertains to

flacc/id -

-ist

add to verbs

a specialist one who practices ‘something’

dermatologist

-ite

nature of

cellul/ite

-ion, -tion, -ition, -ation, -iation, -ing, -y

procedure of, process of, action of, condition of

hyster,ectom/y

-itis, -isy, -icy

add to nouns

to express condition of inflammation, infection

sinus/itis

pleur/isy

-ium, -olus, -iole, -cule, -culus, -cle, -culum, -ellum

add to noun

small, smaller, lesser

bronch/iole

ventri/cle

cut/icle

cereb/ellum

-ize, -ate

add to nouns or adjectives

act like, use, subject to, make into, refer to

hypnot/ize

im/person/ate

-ma, -mata, -men, -mina, -ment, -ure

add to verbs

many, multiple, act of

liga/ment: binding/act of

carcino/mata

-oid, -form

add to nouns

likeness, resembles

epiderm/oid

-o/log/y

process of the study of, science of, knowledge of,

biology

-oma

add to nouns

tumor, swelling

lip/oma

carcin/oma

-osis, -esis, -asis, -iasis, -sis

add to nouns

condition, medical condition, disease, state of

scoli/osis

kyph/osis

-ous

add to nouns

material, refers to, state of

ser/ous -

-tic

add to verb

relates to, pertains to, refers to

caus/tic

-centesis

to remove fluid

abdomino/centesis

-ec/tom/y

put, cut, procedure of removal

ex/cis/ion

hyster/ectomy

-o/pex/y

to fixate, position or to attach

nephro/pex/y

-oplast/y

plastic surgery to improve function, looks, or relieve pain

rhino/plasty

-o/rraph/y

surgically to suture or repair

nephro/rrhaphy

-o/tom/y

cutting into, to open, make incision

tracheo/tom/y

-os/tom/y

new permanent opening or mouth

col/ostom/y

-o/tripsy

crushing or destroying

litho/tripsy

-o/desis

binding or stabilizing

arthro/desis

-clasis

to break down

osteo/clasis

-lysis

to loosen, destroy

entero/lysis

-cis

to cut

circum/cis/ion

-cide

to kill

germacide

pesto/cide -

-stasis

to stop or control

hemo/stasis-

-sis

medical condition or disease

necro/sis

-age

something is related to

mass/age

tri/age

-iatr/y

to treat, to heal or cure

psych/iatry

-therap/y

to treat or cure

chemo/therapy

-sect/ion

to cut or make several slices of a body part'

hepato/sect/ion