medical terminology: suffixes

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

refers to or pertains to

ex. derma = skin, nephron = kidney, cementum = thin layer of tooth

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

pertains to, referring tom concerning

ex. neural = refers to nerves, neoplastic = referring to a new form, recipient = one who receives

-an, -ion, -Ian

pertains to, the process of, procedure of

ex. section = process of cutting up

-ance, -ancy

state of, condition of

ex. pregnancy = the condition of conception

-er, -or

one who, process of

ex. doctor = one who teaches, practitioner = one who performs

-form

shape, resembles

ex. dentiform = tooth shaped

-gen, -troph, plas-

beginning, produce, development, cause

ex. carcinogenesis = cancer producing condition, hypertrophy = excess development process, neoplasm = new formation or development

-gram

to record, write

ex. cardiogram = record of heart beats

-graph

an instrument

ex. cardiograph = instrument that records heart beats

-graphy

process of using an instrument to make a recording

ex. cardiography = procedure of using an instrument to record heart beats

-ia, -ity

to express, quality, condition, state of

ex, chlamydia = state of, acidity = excess acid

-ible, -ile

ability or capacity to, refers to

ex. flexible = bend ability, contractile = together, draw, able to

-ician

person, associated with, one who

ex. pediatrician = doctor associated with children

-ics, -tics

art of, science of

ex. aquatics = art of water exercise

-id

state of, condition of

ex. flaccid = state of weakness

-ist

a specialist who practices something

ex. anesthetist = specialist who practices without

-ite

nature of

ex. cellulite = nature of cells

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

procedure of, process of, action of

ex. hysterectomy = procedure of cutting uterus, prohibition = process of prohibiting

-itis, -isy, -icy

to express the condition of inflammation

ex. sinusitis = inflammation of sinus cavity, pleurisy = inflammation of lung covering

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

small, smaller, lesser

ex. alveolus = small cavity, bronchiole = small bronchi, ventricle = small belly

-ize, -ate

act like, use, subject to

ex. hypnotize = acts like sleep impersonate = act like human

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

many, multiple, results from health condition, act of

ex. ligament = the act of binding, carcinomata = many crab-like tumors

-oid, -form

likeness, resembles

ex. epidermoid = likeness of the upper skin, vermiform = resembles worm shape

-o/log/y

process of the study of, science of

ex. biology = science of life

• y denotes the process/procedure of

-oma

tumor, swelling

ex. lipoma = fatty tumor, glaucoma = cloudy swelling, carcinoma = crab-like tumor

-osism -esis, -asis, -iasis, -sis

condition, medical condition, disease, state of

ex. scoliosis = condition of crookedness, kyphosis = humpback condition, lordosis = swayback condition

-ous

material, refers to, state of

ex, serous = composed of serum, state of being composed of serum

-tic

relates to, pertains to

ex. caustic = relates to burning

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

ex. abdominocentesis = remove fluid from belly through surgical puncture

-ectomy

procedure or removal, cut out

ex. hysterectomy = to cut out the uterus

-opexy

to fixate, position or attach

ex. salpingopexy = repositioning or attachment of tube, nephropexy = reposition or attachment of kidney

-oplasty

plastic surgery, to improve function, to relieve pain

ex. rhinoplasty = cosmetic, reconstructive repair of nose

-orrhaphy

surgically suture or repair

ex. nephrorraphy = procedure of repairing kidney

-otomy

cutting into, to open

ex. tracheotomy = cut into the windpipe

-ostomy

new or permanent opening

ex. colostomy = opening the colon

-otripsy

crushing or destroying

ex. lithotripsy = stone crushing, neurotripsy = nerve crushing procedure

-odesis

binding or stabilization

ex. arthrodesis = joint binding

-clasis

to break down

ex. osteoclasis = bone refactoring

-lysis

to loosen or destroy

ex. enterolysis = to destroy the intestine

-cis

to cut

ex. circumcision = cutting around

-cide

to kill

ex. herbicide = to kill plans, germicidal = pertaining to killing bacteria

-stasis

to stop or control

ex. hemostasis = controlling or stopping bleeding

-sis

medical condition or disease

ex. necrosis = death or dying

-age

something is related to

ex. massage = relates to kneading, triage = relates to sorting

-iatry

to treat, to heal, to cure

ex. psychiatry = to cure or treat the mind

-therapy

to treat or cure

ex. chemotherapy = chemical treatment process, hydrotherapy = water treatment process

-section

to cut or make several slices of a body part

ex. hepatosection = to make several cuts into the liver