Suffixes

-al or -eal

pertaining to

-ar

pertaining to

-ary

pertaining to

-ic

pertaining to

-tion or -ion or -ation

pertaining to a process or state

-genic

caused by

-algia

condition of pain; pain

-asthenia

lack of strength

-dynia

pertaining to pain

-ectasis

expansion or dilation

-emia

blood condition

-emesis

vomiting

-genesis

origin or production

-ia

condition, disease

-ism

condition of

-itis

inflammation of

-malacia

softening/weakening of

-megaly

enlargement

-oid

resembling

-oma

tumor, mass

-osis

condition, abnormal condition of

-pathy

disease condition

-penia

lack of; abnormal reduction

-phobia

extreme sensitivity to, irrational fear of

-plegia

paralysis

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-rrhage or -rrhagia

bursting forth of blood

-sclerosis

hardening

-spasm

an involuntary muscular contraction

-stenosis

constricting or narrowing of an anatomical passage

-uria

condition of urine

Procedural Suffixes:

These endings to words describe medical procedures.

Suffix

Meaning

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

-cision

process of cutting

-ectomy

removal, resection, excision

-gram

record

-graphy

process of recording

-lysis

separation, breakdown, destruction

-lytic

inhibition of, annihilation of, or decomposition of

-meter

a measuring instrument

-metry

process of obtaining measurement

-plasty

surgical repair or correction

-scopy

process of visual examination

-stomy

opening

-therapy

treatment

-tomy

incision, to cut into

Other Suffixes:

Suffix

Meaning

-cyte

cell

-ory

characteristic, purpose, or ability; or connection to a body system, organ, or disease process

-ile

ability to do something

-icle -ole -ula -ule

small “dimunitive“ effect