Common Medical Suffixes

Question 1

-algia

Answer 1

pain
Ex. gastralgia (stomach pain)

Question 2

-cele

Answer 2

hernia, protusion
Ex. cystocele (protrusion of the bladder)

Question 3

-cise

Answer 3

cut
Ex. excise (to cut)

Question 4

-cyte

Answer 4

cell
Ex. erythrocyte (red cell)

Question 5

-dynia

Answer 5

pain
Ex. cardiodynia (heart pain)

Question 6

-ectasis

Answer 6

dilation
Ex. bronchiectasis (dilated bronchi)

Question 7

-gen

Answer 7

that with produces
Ex. mutagen (that which produces mutation)

Question 8

-genesis

Answer 8

produces, generates
Ex. osteogenesis

Question 9

-genic

Answer 9

produces, produced by
Ex. carcinogenic (produces cancer)

Question 10

-ia

Answer 10

state, condition
Ex. hemiplegia (condition of being half paralyzed)

Question 11

-iasis

Answer 11

abnormal condition
Ex. lithiasis (abnormal condition of stones)

Question 12

-ism

Answer 12

state of
Ex. hypothyroidism (state of low thyroid)

Question 13

-itis

Answer 13

inflammation
Ex. cellulitis (inflammation of cells)

Question 14

-logist

Answer 14

one who studies
Ex. cardiologist (one who studies the heart)

Question 15

-logy

Answer 15

study of
Ex. cardiology (study of the heart)

Question 16

-lysis

Answer 16

destruction
Ex. osteolysis (bone destruction)

Question 17

-malacia

Answer 17

abnormal softening
Ex. chondromalacia (abnormal cartilage softening)

Question 18

-megaly

Answer 18

enlargement, large
Ex. cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)

Question 19

-oma

Answer 19

tumor, mass
Ex. carcinoma (cancerous tumor)

Question 20

-osis

Answer 20

abnormal condition
Ex. cyanosis (abnormal condition of being blue)

Question 21

-pathy

Answer 21

disease
Ex. myopathy (muscle disease)

Question 22

-plasia

Answer 22

development, growth
Ex. dysplasia (abnormal development)

Question 23

-plasm

Answer 23

formation, development
Ex. neoplasm (new development)

Question 24

-ptosis

Answer 24

drooping
Ex. proctoptosis (drooping rectum)

Question 25

-rrhage

Answer 25

excessive, abnormal flow
Ex. hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)

Question 26

-rhea

Answer 26

discharge, flow
Ex. rhinorrhea (discharge from the nose)

Question 27

-rrhexis

Answer 27

rupture
Ex. hysterorrhexis (ruptured uterus)

Question 28

-sclerosis

Answer 28

hardening
Ex. arteriosclerosis (hardening of an artery)

Question 29

-stenosis

Answer 29

narrowing
Ex. angiostenosis (narrowing of a vessel)

Question 30

-therapy

Answer 30

treatment (chemotherapy (treatment with chemicals)

Question 31

-trophy

Answer 31

nourishment, development
Ex. hypertrophy (excessive development)