Common Medical Suffixes

MA

-algia

pain; gastralgia (stomach pain)

-cele

hernia, protrusion; cytocele (protrusion of the bladder)

-cise

cut; excise (to cut out)

-cyte

cell; erythrocyte (red cell)

-dynia

pain; cardiodynia (heart pain)

-ectasis

dilation; bronchiectasis (dilated bronchi)

-gen

that which produces; mutagen (that which produces mutations)

-genesis

produces/generates; osteogenesis (bone formation)

-genic

produces/produced by; carcinogenic (producing cancer)

-ia

state/condition; hemiplegia (condition of being half paralyzed)

-iasis

abnormal condition; lithiasis (abnormal condition of stones)

-ism

state of; hypothyroidism (state of low thyroid)

-itis

inflammation; cellulitis (inflammation of cells)

-logist

one who studies; cardiologist (one who studies the heart)

-logy

study of; cardiology (study of the heart)

-lysis

destruction; osteolysis (bone destruction)

-malacia

abnormal softening; chondromalacia (abnormal cartilage softening)

-megaly

enlargement, large; cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)

-oma

tumor/mass; carcinoma (cancerous tumor)

-osis

abnormal condition; cyanosis (abnormal condition of being blue)

-pathy

disease; myopathy (muscle disease)

-plasia

development/growth; dysplasia (abnormal development)

-plasm

formation/development; neoplasm (new formation)

-ptosis

drooping; proctoptosis (drooping rectum)

-rrhage

discharge, flow; rhinorrhea (discharge from the nose)

-rrhexis

rupture; hysterorrhexis (ruptured uterus)

-sclerosis

hardening; arteriosclerosis (hardening of an artery)

-stenosis

narrowing; angiostenosis (narrowing of a vessel)

-therapy

treatment; chemotherapy (treatment with chemicals)

-trophy

nourishment, development; hypertrophy (excessive development)