Medical Suffixes Overview

Overview

This lecture covers common medical suffixes, their meanings, and examples to help understand medical terminology, especially for conditions, procedures, and descriptions.

Suffixes Indicating Reference or Condition

• -ar, -ary, -ous, -ic: pertaining to or referring to (e.g., celiac—bowels, gastric—stomach, venous—veins).
• -ia, -ism, -osis, -ty: state or condition of something (pneumonia, hypothyroidism, scoliosis, immunity).
• -iatric(s): specialty field (pediatrics).

Suffixes for Procedures and Processes

• -centesis: surgical puncture to remove fluid (amniocentesis).
• -ectomy: cutting out or removal (tonsillectomy).
• -apheresis: removing blood, filtering, and returning it.
• -plasty: reshaping surgically (rhinoplasty).
• -scopy: process of viewing with a scope (colonoscopy).
• -stomy: creating an opening (colostomy).
• -tomy: cutting/incision (hysterectomy).
• -graphy: recording or imaging process (radiography).

Suffixes for Medical Conditions

• -algia, -dynia: pain (neuralgia).
• -asthenia: weakness (myasthenia gravis).
• -cyte: cell (erythrocyte—red blood cell).
• -emia: blood condition (anemia).
• -itis: inflammation (dermatitis).
• -lith: stone or calculus.
• -lysis: breakdown or separation (hemolysis).
• -megaly: enlargement (splenomegaly).
• -oma: tumor or growth (sarcoma).
• -pathy: disease (neuropathy).
• -paresis, -plegia: weakness or paralysis (gastroparesis, quadriplegia).
• -penia: deficiency or decrease (leukopenia).
• -phobia: fear (lilapsophobia).
• -plasia: growth or development (hyperplasia).
• -sclerosis: hardening (atherosclerosis).
• -stenosis: narrowing (renal artery stenosis).
• -spasm: contraction or twitch (bronchospasm).
• -stasis: stopping or balancing (homeostasis).
• -ptosis: sagging or prolapse (hysteroptosis).
• -rrhage, -rrhagia: heavy bleeding (hemorrhage).
• -rrhea, -rhea: abnormal flow or discharge (diarrhea, menorrhea).
• -trophy: nourishment or growth (atrophy).
• -uria: urine condition (hematuria).

Suffixes Describing Function or Activity

• -crine: to secrete (endocrine).
• -gen: producing or causing (carcinogen).
• -gram: recording or image (mammogram).
• -phasia: speaking or eating (dysphasia).
• -pnea: breathing (apnea).
• -poiesis: formation/production (erythropoiesis).

Key Terms & Definitions

• -algia — pain
• -centesis — surgical puncture to remove fluid
• -ectomy — surgical removal
• -emia — blood condition
• -itis — inflammation
• -megaly — enlargement
• -oma — tumor or mass
• -pathy — disease or disorder
• -penia — deficiency
• -plasty — surgical repair
• -plegia — paralysis
• -rrhea — flow or discharge
• -sclerosis — hardening
• -trophy — growth or nourishment
• -uria — urine condition

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and memorize the definitions and examples of each suffix.
• Complete assigned readings on medical terminology suffixes if provided.