Comprehensive Guide to Medical Suffixes

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Medical Terminology: Suffixes

Introduction to Medical Suffixes

Medical suffixes are word endings that modify the meaning of root words, often indicating a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech. Understanding these suffixes is essential for interpreting and constructing medical terms accurately.

Common Medical Suffixes and Their Meanings

The following table provides a quick reference for common medical suffixes, their definitions, and examples of their use in medical terminology.

Suffix	Definition	Example
-phobia	Abnormal fear	Hydrophobia (fear of water)
-ion	Action; process	Contraction (process of contracting)
-praxia	Activity; practice	Apraxia (loss of ability to perform purposeful movements)
-philia	Attracted to; tendency toward	Hemophilia (tendency to bleed excessively)
-para	Bearing offspring	Multipara (woman who has given birth more than once)
-arche	Beginning	Menarche (onset of menstruation)
-desis	Binding or surgical fusion	Arthrodesis (surgical fusion of a joint)
-emia	Blood condition	Anemia (lack of blood)
-some	A "body" of a specified sort	Lysosome (body containing digestive enzymes)
-clast, -clastic	To break	Osteoclast (cell that breaks down bone)
-pnea	Breathing	Apnea (absence of breathing)
-ose	Carbohydrate	Glucose (a simple sugar)
-cyte	Cell	Leukocyte (white blood cell)
-itis	Inflammation	Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
-oma	Tumor	Carcinoma (cancerous tumor)
-ectomy	Surgical removal	Appendectomy (removal of the appendix)
-plasty	Surgical repair	Rhinoplasty (surgical repair of the nose)
-rrhea	Discharge, flow	Diarrhea (frequent discharge of feces)
-algia, -dynia	Pain; suffering	Neuralgia (nerve pain)
-megaly	Enlargement	Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)
-penia	Decrease in; deficiency	Leukopenia (deficiency of white blood cells)
-lysis	Destruction; detachment	Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells)
-rrhagia, -rrhage	Excessive flow or discharge	Hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)
-pathy	Disease	Neuropathy (disease of the nerves)
-plasty	Surgical repair	Angioplasty (surgical repair of a blood vessel)
-stomy	Surgical creation of a new opening	Colostomy (creation of an opening in the colon)
-tomy	Incision into	Tracheotomy (incision into the trachea)
-scopy	Process of viewing	Endoscopy (visual examination within)
-graphy	Writing; record	Angiography (imaging of blood vessels)
-gram	Record; picture	Electrocardiogram (record of heart's electrical activity)
-meter	An instrument used to measure	Spirometer (measures lung capacity)
-scope	An instrument used to view	Microscope (instrument to view small objects)
-logy	The study of	Biology (study of life)
-logist	One who specializes	Cardiologist (heart specialist)
-genic	Producing; forming	Carcinogenic (cancer-causing)
-oid	Resembling	Android (resembling a man)
-osis	Condition	Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin)
-penia	Deficiency	Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
-plasia	Formation; development	Hyperplasia (increased cell production)
-poiesis	Formation; production	Hematopoiesis (formation of blood cells)
-rrhexis	Rupture	Hysterorrhexis (rupture of the uterus)
-spasm	Twitching; involuntary contraction	Myospasm (muscle spasm)
-stasis	Stopping or controlling	Hemostasis (stopping of bleeding)
-uria	Urine	Polyuria (excessive urination)
-emia	Blood condition	Leukemia (cancer of blood-forming tissues)
-itis	Inflammation	Arthritis (inflammation of a joint)
-oma	Tumor	Lipoma (fatty tumor)
-ectomy	Surgical removal	Mastectomy (removal of the breast)
-plasty	Surgical repair	Neuroplasty (surgical repair of a nerve)
-rrhaphy	Suturing	Myorrhaphy (suturing of a muscle)
-cele	Swelling; herniation	Cystocele (herniation of the bladder)
-trophy	Nourishment; development	Atrophy (lack of development)
-malacia	Softening	Osteomalacia (softening of bone)
-megaly	Enlargement	Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen)
-pathy	Disease	Myopathy (muscle disease)
-plegia	Paralysis; stroke	Hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body)
-paresis	Partial paralysis	Hemiparesis (weakness of one side of the body)
-phagia	To eat	Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
-phasia	Speech	Aphasia (loss of ability to speak)
-esthesia	Sensation or feeling	Anesthesia (loss of sensation)
-mania	A mental disorder; madness	Pyromania (obsession with fire)
-lepsy	Seizure; attack	Epilepsy (neurological disorder with seizures)
-algia	Pain	Myalgia (muscle pain)
-dynia	Pain	Gastrodynia (stomach pain)
-asthenia	Loss of strength	Myasthenia (muscle weakness)
-cyte	Cell	Erythrocyte (red blood cell)
-blast	Embryonic stage of development	Osteoblast (bone-forming cell)
-genesis	Producing; forming	Pathogenesis (development of disease)
-genic	Producing; forming	Pathogenic (causing disease)
-oid	Resembling	Mucoid (resembling mucus)
-osis	Condition	Neurosis (mental disorder)
-penia	Deficiency	Osteopenia (low bone density)
-plasia	Formation; development	Dysplasia (abnormal development)
-poiesis	Formation; production	Erythropoiesis (production of red blood cells)
-rrhexis	Rupture	Cardiorrhexis (rupture of the heart)
-spasm	Twitching; involuntary contraction	Vasospasm (spasm of a blood vessel)
-stasis	Stopping or controlling	Bacteriostasis (inhibition of bacterial growth)
-uria	Urine	Hematuria (blood in urine)
-emia	Blood condition	Polycythemia (increased red blood cells)
-itis	Inflammation	Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin)
-oma	Tumor	Glioma (tumor of glial cells)
-ectomy	Surgical removal	Gastrectomy (removal of the stomach)
-plasty	Surgical repair	Angioplasty (repair of a blood vessel)
-rrhaphy	Suturing	Tenorrhaphy (suturing of a tendon)
-cele	Swelling; herniation	Encephalocele (herniation of brain tissue)

Suffixes Indicating Noun Endings and Adjectives

-a, -e, -es, -is, -y, -os, -um, -us: Suffixes that indicate singular nouns. Example: fungus (singular), fungi (plural).
-ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ical, -ous, -tic: Suffixes meaning "pertaining to." Example: cardiac (pertaining to the heart), muscular (pertaining to muscle).
-oid: Resembling. Example: thyroid (resembling a shield).

Suffixes Indicating Procedures

-centesis: Surgical puncture to remove fluid. Example: amniocentesis (removal of amniotic fluid).
-ectomy: Surgical removal. Example: tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils).
-plasty: Surgical repair. Example: angioplasty (repair of a blood vessel).
-rrhaphy: Suturing. Example: herniorrhaphy (surgical repair of a hernia).
-scopy: Visual examination. Example: colonoscopy (examination of the colon).
-stomy: Creation of an opening. Example: tracheostomy (opening in the trachea).
-tomy: Incision. Example: laparotomy (incision into the abdomen).

Suffixes Indicating Conditions or Diseases

-algia, -dynia: Pain. Example: cephalalgia (headache).
-emia: Blood condition. Example: hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
-itis: Inflammation. Example: bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi).
-megaly: Enlargement. Example: hepatomegaly (enlarged liver).
-oma: Tumor. Example: melanoma (tumor of melanocytes).
-osis: Abnormal condition. Example: nephrosis (kidney disorder).
-pathy: Disease. Example: myopathy (muscle disease).
-penia: Deficiency. Example: leukopenia (low white blood cell count).
-phobia: Fear. Example: claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces).
-plegia: Paralysis. Example: paraplegia (paralysis of lower limbs).
-rrhea: Discharge. Example: otorrhea (ear discharge).
-spasm: Involuntary contraction. Example: blepharospasm (eyelid spasm).
-uria: Urine condition. Example: proteinuria (protein in urine).

Suffixes Indicating Specialists and Fields of Study

-er, -ist, -ian, -ician, -logist: One who specializes. Example: dermatologist (skin specialist).
-iatrist, -iatrician: Physician or one who treats. Example: psychiatrist (mental health physician).
-logy: The study of. Example: pathology (study of disease).

Suffixes Indicating Other Actions or States

-lysis: Destruction. Example: autolysis (self-destruction of cells).
-phoresis: Transmission. Example: electrophoresis (movement of particles in an electric field).
-trophy: Nourishment, development. Example: hypertrophy (increase in cell size).
-gen, -gene, -genesis, -genic: Producing or forming. Example: carcinogen (cancer-causing agent).
-ase: Enzyme. Example: lipase (enzyme that breaks down fat).

Summary Table: Suffixes by Function

Function	Suffixes
Condition/Disease	-emia, -itis, -megaly, -oma, -osis, -pathy, -penia, -phobia, -plegia, -rrhea, -spasm, -uria
Procedure	-centesis, -ectomy, -plasty, -rrhaphy, -scopy, -stomy, -tomy
Specialist/Field	-er, -ist, -ian, -ician, -logist, -iatrist, -iatrician, -logy
Other Actions/States	-lysis, -phoresis, -trophy, -gen, -gene, -genesis, -genic, -ase
Noun/Adjective Endings	-a, -e, -es, -is, -y, -os, -um, -us, -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic, -ical, -ous, -tic, -oid

Conclusion

Mastering medical suffixes is foundational for understanding medical terminology. Recognizing these common endings will help you decode complex terms, communicate effectively in healthcare settings, and excel in medical-terminology coursework.