Medical Terminology - SUFFIXES/PREFIXES Flashcards
-ectomy
to cutout, to remove
Mastectomy: A general term for removal of the breast.
A MASTECTOMY is generally performed due to breast cancer.
-stomy
to create a new permanent opening
Tracheostomy: Surgery to create an opening (stoma) into the windpipe.
A TRACHEOSTOMY may be made as an emergency measure if the airway is blocked.
-tomy
cutting into
Hysterectomy: An operation to remove the uterus.
A HYSTERECTOMY is most commonly performed as a treatment for fibroids, cancer or severe dysplasia of the uterus, and for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
-plasty
surgical repair
Rhinoplasty: Plastic surgery on the nose.
RHINOPLASTY may be performed to repair nasal fractures and other structural problems.
-centesis
surgical puncture to remove fluid
Pneumocentesis: a procedure in which a lung is punctured to drain fluid contents.
Usually people with cirrhosis have ascitic fluid in their body and paracentesis or PNEUMOCENTESIS are performed to remove this ascitic fluid from body.
-osis
a condition of
Neurosis: A chronic disorder featuring irritability of the nervous system (nervousness) and characterized by anxiety and/or extreme behavior dedicated to avoid anxiety situations.
NEUROSIS involves chronic distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations
-itis
inflammation of
Otitis: Inflammation of the ear.
A symptom of OTITIS is ear pain.
-pathy
any disease of
Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.
Peripheral NEUROPATHY, a result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet.
-algia
pain
Myalgia: Pain in the muscles or within muscle ‘tissue.
While the most common cause is the overuse of a muscle or group of muscles, acute MYALGIA may also be due to viral infections, especially in the absence of a traumatic history.
-rrhea
flow or excessive discharge
Rhinorrhea: Medical term for a runny nose.
A cold can often cause RHINORRHEA.
a-, an-, ar-
2 examples
without or not
Anaphia: The inability to feel touch.
A spinal cord injury could cause anaphia.
Anaerobic: Not requiring oxygen.
Anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen to grow.
ad-
2 examples
near, toward
Adduction: Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. The opposite of adduction is abduction.
Jumping jacks involve ADDUCTION and abduction of the arms.
Adrenal: Toward the kidney
Two of the most important ADRENAL hormones are cortisol and aldosterone.
ab-
2 examples
away from
Abduction: The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body. The opposite of abduction is adduction.
Jumping jacks involve adduction and ABDUCTION of the arms.
Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.
The patient’s test results were abnormal indicating a possible infection.
ante-
2 examples
before
Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior.
The ANTERIOR surface of the heart is toward the breast bone (the sternum).
Antepartum: before giving birth
The women had high blood pressure and protein in her urine during her ANTEPARTUM doctor visit indicating she may have developed pre-eclampsia.
anti-
2 examples
against
Antibiotic: A drug used to treat bacterial infections.
The ANTIBIOTIC helped treat her bacterial infection.
Anticoagulant: An agent that is used to prevent the formation of blood clots.
The patient was given an ANTICOAGULANT after he suffered from a stroke.
de-
2 examples
take away, remove
Decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose, making it easier for a person to breathe.
The doctor prescribed a DECONGESTANT in order to help their patient breathe easier during allergy season.
Decortication: Removal of part or all of the outer surface of an organ such as the lung, kidney, or brain.
During the DECORTICATION the surgeon removed the restrictive layer of fibrous tissue overlying the lung, chest wall, and diaphragm to allow the lung to reexpand.
dia-
2 examples
through (as in running through)
Dialysis: The process of removing waste products and excess fluid from the body.
DIALYSIS is necessary when the kidneys are not able to adequately filter the blood.
Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements.
The patient was advised to drink a lot of fluids so they would not get dehydrated during their bout with DIARRHEA.
dis-
2 examples
from
Distention: The state of being distended, enlarged, swollen from internal pressure.
On inhalation there is DISTENTION of the lungs due to the increased air pressure within the lungs.
Dissect: To cut apart or separate tissue, as for anatomical study or in surgery. Also, an artery is said to dissect when its wall is torn, as in a dissecting aneurysm. The students had to DISSECT the cadavers in their anatomy class to study different characteristics.
hemi-
2 examples
half
Hemithorax: Half of the thorax or, more simply, one side of the chest.
A chest X-ray showed a mass in the right HEMITHORAX.
Hemiplegic: Pertaining to hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body.)
A stroke can often cause someone to become a hemiplegic.
hyper-
2 examples
high, too much, excessive
Hyperthyroid: Having an excessive amount of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland or from taking too much thyroid hormone.
Due to his HYPERTHYROID condition the patient experienced increased heart rate, weight loss, and depression.
Hypertensive: Having abnormally high blood pressure
The obese patient was HYPERTENSIVE due to many years of drinking and smoking.
hypo-
2 examples
low, too little
Hypothyroid: Deficiency of thyroid hormone which is normally made by the thyroid gland which is located in the front of the neck.
Due to his HYPOTHYROID condition the patient experienced weight gain, depression, and extreme fatigue.
Hypotensive: Having abnormally low blood pressure
The patient was HYPOTENSIVE after severe blood loss.
hydro-
2 examples
water
Hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain.
Due to a physical obstruction the baby was born with HYDROCEPHALUS.
Hydronephrosis: Distention of the kidney with urine.
The patient suffered from HYDRONEPHROSIS due to a kidney stone blocking his ureter.
inter-
2 examples
between
Intercostal: situated between the ribs.
The internal INTERCOSTAL muscles are responsible for forced exhalation.
Intercurrent (disease): A disease that intervenes during the course of another disease.
A patient with AIDS may develop an intercurrent bout of pneumonia.
intra-
2 examples
within
Intradermal: In the skin.
An INTRADERMAL injection is given into the skin.
Intracranial: Within the cranium, the bony dome that houses and protects the brain.
An INTRACRANIAL hemorrhage is bleeding within the cranium.
