Medical Terminology Suffixes and Roots

Combining Vowels and Foundational Elements

• Combining Vowel: The letter o serves as the primary combining vowel in medical terminology to connect roots and word elements.

Diagnostic, Imaging, and Examination Suffixes

• -gram (spelled g r a m): Refers to the record of radiographic imaging.
• -graph: Refers to the instrument used to record.
• -graphy (spelled graphi): Refers to the process of recording radiographic imaging.
• -opsy (spelled o p s y): Refers to a view of or viewing.

Pathological Conditions, Neoplasms, and Structural Suffixes

• -cyte (spelled c y t e): Refers to a cell.
• -gen (spelled g e n): Refers to a substance or agent that provides or causes.
• -genic (spelled g e n I c): Refers to producing, originating, or causing.
• -megaly (spelled m e g a l y): Denotes enlargement.
• -oma (spelled o m a): Denotes a tumor or swelling.
• -osis (spelled OSIS): Denotes an abnormal condition.
• -pathy (spelled pathe): Denotes disease.
• -plasia (spelled p l a s I a): Denotes a condition of formation, development, or growth.
• -plasm (spelled p l a s m): Denotes growth, substance, or formation.
• sarcoma (spelled s a r c o m a, also referenced in context as sarcon sarcoma): Defined as a malignant tumor.
• -sis (spelled SIS): Denotes a state of.
• status: Refers to control, stop, or standing.

Descriptive and Relational Suffixes

• -al (spelled AL): Means pertaining to.
• -ic (spelled IC): Means pertaining to.
• -ior (spelled I o r): Means pertaining to.
• -oid (spelled o I d): Means resembling.
• -ous (spelled OUS): Means pertaining to.

Fields of Study and Medical Specialists

• -logist: Refers to one who studies and treats, functioning as a specialist.
• -logy (spelled l o g y): Refers to the study of.