MedTerms Lesson #8

SuffixMeaningExample

-plasty

Surgical repair of

Rhinoplasty (RI-no-plas-te): Surgical reconstruction of the nose

-pexy

Fixation of; suturing in place

Nephropexy (NEF-ro-peks-e): Surgical fixation of a floating kidney

-tome

A cutting instrument

Adenotome (AD-e-no-tom): Instrument for excising a gland, especially the adenoid gland

-rrhea

Current; stream; to flow; to discharge

Pyorrhea (PI-o-re-a): A discharge of purulent matter

-sclerosis

Dryness; hardness

Arteriosclerosis (ar-TE-re-o-skle-ro-sis): Hardening, thickening, and loss of elasticity in an arterial wall

-scope

Instrument for viewing

Otoscope (O-to-skop): Instrument for viewing the ear

-sis; -osis

Condition; status; process

Osteoporosis (OS-te-o-por-o-sis): Loss of bone mass

-spasm

Involuntary sudden movement

Bronchospasm (BRONG-ko-spazm): Abnormal narrowing with partial obstruction of the lumen due to spasm

-stasis

Stop

Hemostasis (he-MOS-ta-sis): An arrest of bleeding

-tripsy

Crushing

Lithotripsy (LITH-o-trip-se): Use of sound waves to crush stones obstructing the bladder, gallbladder, ureter, or urinary bladder