medical suffixes
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- -al; -ac; -ic
- Pertaining to (Cardial or cardiac pertains to the heart)
- -algia
- Pain (Nostalgia - my childhood caused me pain)
- -clast
- Break or destroy (Osteoclast - large cells that break down or destory bone matrix)
- -cide
- To kill (Suicide - to kill oneself)
- -centesis
- A piercing
- -blast
- Bud or germ (Fibroblast - bud or germ that forms fibers of connective tissue)
- -ase
- Signifies an enzyme (Protease is a protein enzyme)
- -arche
- Beginning; origin (Menarche - beginning or origination of menstral cycle)
- -aps; -apt
- Fit; fasten
- -crine
- Release; secrete (Endocrine organs release or secrete hormones and other substances)
- -ectomy
- A cutting out (Tonsilectomy is a cutting out of the tonsils)
- -emesis
- Jordan Vomiting
- -emia
- Refers to a blood condition (Leukemia is a blood condition of white blood cells)
- -flux
- Flow (*The flux capacitor allows the uranium to flow in Back to the Future)
- -gen
- An agent that initiates (aGENt that initiates)
- -genesis
- gods ===Creation;
- -gram
- Something written (Telegram - something written then sent via wire)
- -graphy
- To write; draw
- -hydrate
- Containing water
- -ia, -sia, -osis
- Condition; process
- -iasis
- Abnormal condition
- -in
- Signifies a protein
- -ism
- Signifies a "condition of"
- -itis
- Signifies an "inflammation of"
- -lemma
- Rind; peel (Think "lemon"; lemons have a rind or peel)
- -lepsy
- Seizure (Epilepsy is a seizure disorder)
- -lith
- Stone; rock
- -logy
- Study of (Histology is the study of tissues)
- -lunar
- moon; moonlike
- -lysis
- Breaking down
- -malacia
- Softening
- -mania
- Compulsion
- -megaly
- Enlargement
- -metric, -metry
- Measurement; length
- -oid
- Like; in the shape of
- -oma
- Tumor (Carcinoma is a cancer tumor)
- -opia
- Vision; vision condition (Myopia is a vision condition)
- -oscopy
- Viewing (Colonoscopy is a viewing of the colon)
- -ose
- Signifies a carbohydrate
- -ostomy
- Formation of an opening
- -otomy
- Cut
- -penia
- Lack
- -philic
- Loving (Hydrophilic = water loving)
- -phobic
- Fearing (Hydrophobic = water fearing)
- -phragm
- Partition (Diaphram is the partition which separates the lungs)
- -plasia
- Growth; formation
- -plasm
- Form; shape
- -plasty
- Shape; make (Rhinoplasty shapes or makes a nose)
- -plegia
- Paralysis
- -pnea
- Breath; breathing (Sleep apnea affects breathing)
- -rhage, -rrhage
- Excessive discharge
- -rhaphy; -rrhaphy
- Sew; suture
- -rhea, -rrhea
- Flow (Diarrhea)
- -some
- Body (Somebody)
- -tensin, -tension
- Pressure
- -tonic
- Pressure; tension
- -tomy
- To cut
- -tripsy
- Crushing
- -ule
- Small; little
- -uria
- Refers to a urine condition