Common Medical Suffixes

Suffixes Meaning Example

A
TOP
ac pertaining to cardiac
al pertaining to femoral
algia pain arthralgia
apheresis removal leukapheresis
ar pertaining to malar
ary pertaining to biliary
ase enzyme alkaline phosphatase
asthenia weakness myasthenia
C
TOP
capnia carbon dioxide hypocapnia
cele hernia; protrusion hydrocele
centesis surgical puncture to aspirate fluid amniocentesis
cidal killing suicidal
coccus (pl.
berryshaped ( a form of bacterium) pneumococcus
cocci)
crine separate; secrete endocrine
crit to separate hematocrit
cyte cell leukocyte
D
TOP
desis surgical fixation; fusion arthrodesis
E
TOP
eal pertaining to calcaneal
ectasis stretching out; dilatation; expansion bronchiectasis
ectomy excision or surgical removal tonsillectomy
emesis vomiting hematemesis
emia blood condition anemia
esis condition diaphoresis
G
TOP
gen substance or agent that produces or causes antigen
genesis origin; cause iatrogenesis
genic producing; originating; causing organogenic
gram record; x-ray film echocardiogram
graph instrument used to record radiograph
graphy process of recording; xray filming arteriography
I
TOP
ia condition of diseased or abnormal state hypoxia
ial pertaining to arterial
iasis condition psoriasis
iatry physician; treatment psychiatry
ic pertaining to apneic
ician one who physician
ictal seizure; attack postictal
ism state of embolism
itis inflammation colitis
L
TOP
lepsy seizure epilepsy
lysis loosening; dissolution; separating hydrolysis
lytic destroy; reduce thrombolytic
M
TOP
malacia softening chondromalacia
mania madness; insane desire pyromania
megaly enlargement hepatosplenomegaly
meter instrument used to measure thermometer
metry measurement oximetry
polymorph
morph form; shape
(polymorphonuclear)
O
TOP
odynia pain arthrodynia
oid resembling hyoid
ologist one who studies & practices (specialist) cardiologist
ology study of oncology
oma tumor; swelling hematoma
oorhagia rapid flow of blood menorrhagia
opia vision (condition) myopia
opsy to view biopsy
orrhaphy suturing; repairing herniorrhaphy
orrhea flow; excessive discharge menorrhea
orrhexis rupture capsulorrhexis
abnormal condition (means increased when used with blood cell
osis dermatosis
word roots)
ostomy creation of an artificial opening colostomy
otomy cut into or incision craniotomy
ous pertaining to parous
oxia oxygen hypoxia
P
TOP
paresis slight paralysis hemiparesis
pathy disease neuropathy
penia abnormal reduction in number cytopenia
pepsia digestion dyspepsia
pexy surgical fixation; suspension urethropexy
phagia eating; swallowing odynophagia
phobia abnormal fear of or aversion to specific objects or things claustrophobia
phonia sound or voice hyperphonia
phoria feeling euphoria
physis growth hypophysis
plasia formation; development; a growth hyperplasia
plasm growth; substance; formation cytoplasm
plasty plastic or surgical repair arthroplasty
plegia paralysis paraplegia
pnea breathing apnea
poiesis formation hematopoiesis
porosis passage osteoporosis
prandial meal postprandial
ptosis dropping; sagging; prolapse splanchnoptosis
ptysis spitting hemoptysis
S
TOP
salpinx fallopian tube hydrosalpinx
sarcoma malignant tumor angiosarcoma
sclerosis hardening atherosclerosis
scope instrument used for visual examination endoscope
scopic visual examination arthroscopic
scopy visual examination colonoscopy
sepsis infection sepsis
spasm sudden involuntary muscle contraction vasospasm
stalsis contraction peristalsis
stasis control; stop hemostasis
stenosis constriction; narrowing stenosis
T
TOP
thorax chest hemithorax
tocia birth; labor dystocia
tome instrument used to cut keratome
tripsy surgical crushing lithotripsy
trophy nourishment atrophy
U
TOP
ule little pustule
uria urine; urination pyuria