Section 1.2 suffixes

Section 1.2 suffixes

A suffix is a group of letters positioned at the end of a medical term. It attaches to the end of a root or combining form. Suffixes can have more than one meaning. If a suffix begins with a consonant, add a combining vowel to the root. If a suffix starts with a vowel, no combining vowel is needed. An occasional medical term can have two suffixes. For example, the root gene, meaning origin or gene, is teamed with the suffix-tic, which means pertaining to, to form the word genetic, pertaining to a gene.

Again, the root gene- is teamed with the suffix -tics, which means knowledge of, to form the word genetics, the knowledge of or the science of the inheritance of characteristics. Also, the root gene-can be teamed with two suffixes, _tic, pertaining to, and -ist, a specialist, to form the word geneticist, pertaining to a specialist in genetics. There can be more than one suffix in a single word.

Using the combining form of cardi/o, in the medical specialty of cardiology, a cardiologist will often diagnose a cardiopathy. The suffix -logy, which means study of; the suffix -logist, which means one who studies or a specialist; and the suffix

-pathy, which means disease, all give different meanings in the sentence "in the specialty of cardiology, a cardiologist will often diagnose a cardiopathy."

Another example of the use of suffixes is in the medical specialty of dermatology, when a dermatologist will often diagnose a case of dermatitis ( Table 1.1 E Eigure I.D.