Commonly Used Surgical, Diagnostic, Pathological, Related and Grammatical Suffixes Flashcards
Chapter 2: Suffixes
-centesis (surgical suffixes)
Surgical puncture. Ex. arthrocentesis is a surgical puncture to remove fluid in a joint by using a needle inserted into the joint space. It may also help to obtain samples of synovial fluid for diagnostic purposes and to instill medications.
-clasis (surgical suffixes)
to break; surgical fracture. Ex. osteoclasis: a surgical fracture of a bone. Osteoclasis is performed to correct a deformity of a bone.
-desis (surgical suffixes)
binding, fixation (of a bone or joint). Ex. arthrodesis: binding or fixation of a joint. Arthrodesis fuses bones across the joint space in a degenerated, unstable joint.
-ectomy (surgical suffixes)
excision, removal. Ex. appendectomy: excision or the appendix.
-lysis (surgical suffixes)
separation; destruction; loosening. Ex. thrombolysis: destruction or separation of a blood clot. Drug therapy is usually used to dissolve a blood clot.
-pexy (surgical suffixes)
fixation (of an organ). Ex. mastopexy: fixation of the breast(s). Mastopexy is an elective surgery, affixes sagging breasts in a more elevated position, commonly improving their shape.
-plasty (surgical suffixes)
surgical repair. Ex. Rhinoplast: surgical repair of the nose. Rhinoplasty is a type of surgery that changes the size or shape of the nose.
-rrhaphy (surgical suffixes)
suture. Ex. myorrhaphy: suture of a muscle.
-stomy (surgical suffixes)
forming an opening (mouth). Ex. Tracheostomy: forming an opening (mouth) into the trachea. A tracheostomy is an artificial opening created to bypass an obstructed upper airway.
-tome (surgical suffixes)
instrument to cut. Ex. Osteotome: instrument to cut bone. An osteotome is a surgical chisel used to cut through bone.
-tomy (surgical suffixes)
incision. Ex. Tracheotomy: incision of the trachea. Tracheotomy opens a direct airway through the neck and into the trachea.
-tripsy (surgical suffixes)
crushing. Ex. Lithotripsy: crushing a stone. Lithotripsy is a surgical procedure to remove a stone or calculus in the kidney, ureter, bladder, or gallbladder.
-gram (diagnostic suffixes)
record, writing. Ex. electrocardiogram: record of electrical activity in the heart.
-graph (diagnostic suffixes)
instrument for recording. Ex. electrocardiograph: instrument for recording electrical activity in the heart.
-graphy (diagnostic suffixes)
process of recording. Ex. electrocardiography: process of recording electrical activity in the heart.
-scope (diagnostic suffixes)
instrument for examining. Ex. endoscope: instrument for examining within. An endoscope is a flexible or rigid instrument consisting of a tube and optical system for observing the inside of a hollow organ or cavity.
-scopy (diagnostic suffixes)
visual examination. Ex. endoscopy: visual examination within. Endoscopy is performed to visualize a body cavity or canal using a specialized lighted instrument called an endoscope.
-algia (pathological and related suffixes)
pain. Ex. Neuralgia: pain of a nerve. Neuralgic pain usually occurs along the path of a nerve.
-dynia (pathological and related suffixes)
pain. Ex. Otodynia: pain in the ear. Otodynia, also called otalgia, is commonly known as an earache.
-cele (pathological and related suffixes)
hernia, swelling. Ex. Hepatocele: hernia or swelling of the liver.
-ectasis (pathological and related suffixes)
dilation, expansion. Ex. Bronchiectasis: dilation or expansion of the bronchi.
-emesis (pathological and related suffixes)
vomiting. Ex. hyperemesis: excessive vomiting.
-emia (pathological and related suffixes)
blood condition. Ex. Leukemia: white blood.
Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells (leukocytes).
-gen (pathological and related suffixes)
forming, producing, origin. Ex. Carcinogen: forming, producing or origin of cancer. A carcinogen is a substance or agent, such as a cigarette, that causes the development or increases the incidence of cancer.
-genesis (pathological and related suffixes)
forming, producing, origin. Ex. Carcinogenesis: forming, producing or origin of cancer. Carcinogenesis is the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells, commonly as a result of chemical, viral, or radioactive damage to genes.
-itis (pathological and related suffixes)
inflammation. Ex. Gastritis: inflammation of the stomach.
-malacia (pathological and related suffixes)
softening. Ex. Chondromalacia: softening of cartilage.
-megaly (pathological and related suffixes)
enlargement. Ex. Cardiomegaly: enlargement of the heart.
-oma (pathological and related suffixes)
tumor. Ex. Neuroma: tumor of a nerve. A neuroma is a benign tumor composed of nerve tissue.
-osis (pathological and related suffixes)
abnormal condition; increase (used primarily with blood cells). Ex. Cyanosis: dark blue or purple discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane, that indicates a deficiency of oxygen in the blood.
-pathy (pathological and related suffixes)
disease. Ex. Myopathy: disease of muscle.
-penia (pathological and related suffixes)
decrease, deficiency. Ex. Osteopenia: decrease in bone mass. Osteopenia is characterized by bone loss that is not as severe as that in osteoporosis.
-phobia (pathological and related suffixes)
fear. Ex. Hemophobia: fear of blood. Hemophobia is an abnormal aversion to the sight of blood.
-plegia (pathological and related suffixes)
paralysis. Ex. Quadriplegia: paralysis of four. Quadriplegia is a paralysis of four extremities, both arms and legs.
-ptosis (pathological and related suffixes)
prolapse, downward displacement. Ex. Blepharoptosis: prolapse or downward displacement of the eyelid. Blepharoptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid(s).
-rrhea (pathological and related suffixes)
discharge, flow. Ex. Diarrhea: discharge or flow through. Diarrhea is an abnormally frequent discharge or flow of fluid fecal matter from the bowel.
-rrhexis (pathological and related suffixes)
rupture. Ex. Arteriorrhexis: rupture of an artery.
-sclerosis (pathological and related suffixes)
abnormal condition of hardening. Ex. Arteriosclerosis: abnormal condition of hardening of an artery.
-spasm (pathological and related suffixes)
involuntary contraction, twitching. Ex. Blepharospasm: involuntary contraction or twitching of the eyelid.
-stenosis (pathological and related suffixes)
narrowing, stricture. Ex. Arteriostenosis: abnormal narrowing or stricture or an artery.
-toxic (pathological and related suffixes)
poison. Ex. Hepatotoxic: pertaining to poison in the liver. Alcohol and drugs are examples of agents that have destructive effects on the liver.
-ac (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Cardiac: pertaining to the heart.
-al (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Neural: pertaining to a nerve.
-ar (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Muscular: pertaining to muscle.
-ary (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Pulmonary: pertaining to the lungs.
-eal (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Esophageal: pertaining to the esophagus.
-ic (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Thoracic: pertaining to the chest.
-ior (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Posterior: pertaining to the back (of the body).
-ous (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Cutaneous: pertaining to the skin.
-tic (grammatical suffixes, adjective)
pertaining to. Ex. Acoustic: pertaining to hearing.
-ia (grammatical suffixes, noun)
condition. Ex. Pneumonia: condition of the lung(s). Pneumonia is an infection of the lung, usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or diseases.
-ism (grammatical suffixes, noun)
condition. Ex. Thyroidism: condition of the thyroid gland. Thyroidism is a condition caused by overactivity of the thyroid gland.
-iatry (grammatical suffixes, noun)
medicine; treatment. Ex. Psychiatry: treatment of the mind.
-ist (grammatical suffixes, noun)
medicine; treatment. Ex. Hepatologist: specialist in the study of blood.
-y (grammatical suffixes, noun)
condition; process. Ex. Neuropathy: condition of nerve diseases. Neuropathy is the study of disorders of the nerves.
-icle (grammatical suffixes, diminutive)
small, minute. Ex. Ventricle: small cavity, as of the brain or heart.
-ole (grammatical suffixes, diminutive)
small, minute. Ex. Arteriole: small or minute artery.
-ule (grammatical suffixes, diminutive)
small, minute. Ex. Venule: small or minute vein.
