Common Suffixes

1.5 Parts Used to Build Medical Language

-ac

Pertaining to

-al

Pertaining to

-ar

Pertaining to

-ary

Pertaining to

-eal

Pertaining to

-ic

Pertaining to

-tic

Pertaining to

-ous

Pertaining to

-ia

Condition

-ism

Condition

-ium

Tissuse/Structure

-y

Condition/Procedure

-icle

Small

-ole

Small

-ule

Small

-ula

Small

-iatrics

Medical science

-iatry

Medical science

-iatrist

Specialist in medicine of

-ist

Specialist

-logist

Specialist in the study of

-logy

Study of

-algia

Pain

-dynia

Pain

-cele

Hernia (a bulging of tissue into an area where it doesn’t belong)

-emia

Blood condition

-iasis

Presence of

-itis

Inflammation

-lysis

Loosen/Break down

-malacia

Abnormal softening

-megaly

Enlargement

-oid

Resembling

-oma

Tumor

-osis

Condition

-pathy

Disease

-penia

Deficiency

-ptosis

Drooping

-rrhage

Execessive flow

-rrhea

Flow

-rrhexis

Rupture

-spasm

Involuntary contraction

-centesis

Puncture

-gram

Written record

-graph

Instrument used to produce a record

-graphy

Writing procedure

-meter

Instrument used to measure

-metry

Process of measuring

-scope

Instrument used to look

-scopy

Process of looking

-desis

Binding/Fixation

-ectomy

Removal

-pexy

Surgical Fixation

-plasty

Reconstruction

-rrhaphy

Suture

-stomy

Creation of an opening

-tomy

Incision