Suffixes to Know for Medical Terminology

This flashcard set targets memorizing and understanding the meanings of various suffixes often used by healthcare providers. These suffixes are efficient for understanding surgical, diagnostic, pathological, grammatical, and diminutive forms in the healthcare field.

-ectomy

excision; removal

-centesis

surgical puncture

-pexy

fixation of an organ

-clasis

to cause a surgical fracture

-plasty

surgical repairing

-tripsy

to shatter or crush

-lysis

separation; destruction; loosening

-rrhaphy

suture (stitching sutures through tissues)

-ostomy

to create an opening

-scope

instrument for examination

-scopy

procedure for visual examination

-graph

instrument for recording

-graphy

process of recording

-meter

instrument for measuring

-metry

act of measuring

-gram

the results of recording

-algia, -dynia,

pain

-plasia, -plasm

a formation or growth

-gen, -genesis

forming; producing origin

-rrhage, -rrhagia

bursting forth (of)

-edema

swelling

-cele

hernia; swelling

-lith

stone; calculus

-osis

an abnormal condition; increase

-ic

pertaining to

-al

pertaining to

-ous

pertaining to

-ile

pertaining to

-cian or -ist

a specialist

-esis

condition

-ia

condition

-ism

condition

-ule

small; minute

-pathy

condition

-ary

pertaining to

-ar

pertaining to

-megaly

abnormal enlargement

-oma

tumor growths

-rrhexis

rupture, tearing, or bursting of an organ

-phagia

eating, consuming, or swallowing

-phasia

speaking

-taxis

movement of a displaced body part back into its normal position

-rrhea

flow or discharge

-iasis

abnormal condition

-tomy

incision

-clasia

surgical fracture

-pnea

breathing

-exia

state of; condition

-oid

resemblance of

-malacia

softening

-graft

transplanted tissue

-ptysis

spitting or coughing up

-sclerosis

abnormal hardening

-stenosis

narrowing

-ectasis

expansion or stretching of an organ

-phonia

voice, sound, or speech

-osmia

sound

-toxic

pertaining to something poisonous or destructive

-dipsia

thirst

-esthesia

feeling or sensation

-palsy

paralysis or weakness

-algesia

sensitivity to pain

-cyesis

pregnancy

-tocia

childbirth; labor

-arche

beginning

-cide

killing

-crine

secretion

-desis

fusion of two anatomical parts