Suffixes

Question 1

‐ac/‐al/ ‐eal

Answer 1

pertaining to (descriptive)

Cardiac ‐ pertaining to the heart

Question 2

‐ar / ‐ary

Answer 2

pertaining to (descriptive)

Pulmonary ‐ pertaining to the lungs

Question 3

‐clast/‐clasia/‐clasis

Answer 3

to break (descriptive)

Osteoclast ‐ large cells that function to break
down, reabsorb or digest bone

Question 4

‐derma

Answer 4

skin (descriptive)

Pyoderma ‐ pus within the skin

Question 5

‐ema

Answer 5

state of; condition (descriptive)

Erythema ‐ redness of skin

Question 6

‐ectasis

Answer 6

dilatation of tubular vessel (descriptive)

Bronchiectasis ‐ dilation of the bronchiole tubes

Question 7

‐emesis/‐emetic

Answer 7

vomiting (descriptive)

Antiemetic ‐ substance that prevents vomiting

Question 8

‐gen/‐genesis

Answer 8

forming, producing, origin (descriptive)

Histogenesis ‐ identifying the type of tissue from
which tumour cells form

Question 9

‐ia

Answer 9

condition (descriptive)

Pneumonia ‐ condition of the lungs

Question 10

‐iac/‐ic/‐itic

Answer 10

pertaining to (descriptive)

Celiac ‐ pertaining to the abdominal cavity

Question 11

‐logy

Answer 11

study of (descriptive)

Radiology ‐ medical speciality concerned with the study of x‐rays

Question 12

‐lucent

Answer 12

to shine; clear (descriptive)

Radiolucent ‐ indicates that x‐rays pass through easily, appears ‘dark’ on image.

Question 13

‐lysis

Answer 13

separation, breakdown (descriptive)

Hemolysis ‐ red blood cells are destroyed

Question 14

‐opaque

Answer 14

obscure (descriptive)

Radiopaque ‐ indicates that x‐rays do not
penetrate easily, appears ‘white’ on image.

Question 15

‐pnea

Answer 15

breathing (descriptive)

Dyspnea ‐ shortness of breath, breathlessness

Question 16

‐poiesis

Answer 16

to make or form (descriptive)

Hematopoiesis ‐ the normal formation of blood
cells in the bone marrow

Question 17

‐version

Answer 17

turning (descriptive)

Inversion ‐ an abnormal condition where a body
part or organ is turned inward/inside out

Question 18

‐ac/‐al/ ‐eal

Answer 18

pertaining to (diagnostic)

Cardiac ‐ pertaining to the heart

Question 19

‐ar / ‐ary

Answer 19

pertaining to (diagnostic)

Pulmonary ‐ pertaining to the lungs

Question 20

‐clast/‐clasia/‐clasis

Answer 20

to break (diagnostic)

Osteoclast ‐ large cells that function to break
down, reabsorb or digest bone

Question 21

‐derma

Answer 21

skin (diagnostic)

Pyoderma ‐ pus within the skin

Question 22

‐ema

Answer 22

state of; condition (diagnostic)

Erythema ‐ redness of skin

Question 23

‐ectasis

Answer 23

dilatation of tubular vessel (diagnostic)

Bronchiectasis ‐ dilation of the bronchiole tubes

Question 24

‐emesis/‐emetic

Answer 24

vomiting (diagnostic)

Antiemetic ‐ substance that prevents vomiting

Question 25

‐gen/‐genesis

Answer 25

forming, producing, origin (diagnostic)

Histogenesis ‐ identifying the type of tissue from
which tumour cells form

Question 26

‐ia

Answer 26

condition (diagnostic)

Pneumonia ‐ condition of the lungs

Question 27

‐iac/‐ic/‐itic

Answer 27

pertaining to (diagnostic)

Celiac ‐ pertaining to the abdominal cavity

Question 28

‐logy

Answer 28

study of (diagnostic)

Radiology ‐ medical speciality concerned with
the study of x‐rays

Question 29

‐lucent

Answer 29

to shine; clear (diagnostic)

Radiolucent ‐ indicates that x‐rays pass through
easily, appears ‘dark’ on image.

Question 30

‐lysis

Answer 30

separation, breakdown (diagnostic)

Hemolysis ‐ red blood cells are destroyed

Question 31

‐opaque

Answer 31

obscure (diagnostic)

Radiopaque ‐ indicates that x‐rays do not
penetrate easily, appears ‘white’ on image.

Question 32

‐pnea

Answer 32

breathing (diagnostic)

Dyspnea ‐ shortness of breath, breathlessness

Question 33

‐poiesis

Answer 33

to make or form (diagnostic)

Hematopoiesis ‐ the normal formation of blood
cells in the bone marrow

Question 34

‐version

Answer 34

turning (diagnostic)

Inversion ‐ an abnormal condition where a body
part or organ is turned inward/inside out

Question 35

‐centesis

Answer 35

surgical puncture to
remove fluid

Amniocentesis ‐ an obstetric procedure where a
small amount of amniotic fluid is removed.

Question 36

‐ectomy

Answer 36

removal, excision,
resection

Oophorectomy ‐ surgical removal of the ovaries

Question 37

‐gram

Answer 37

record

Electrocardiogram ‐ a record of the electricity
flowing through the heart

Question 38

‐graphy

Answer 38

Process of recording

Radiography ‐ the process of recording an image
of the body by using ionizing radiation

Question 39

‐opsy

Answer 39

view of

Biopsy ‐ removal of a small piece of living tissue
for a microscopic view

Question 40

‐ostomy

Answer 40

surgical opening

Colostomy ‐ surgical creation of an opening
joining the colon to the outside of the abdominal
wall

Question 41

‐otomy / ‐tomy

Answer 41

excision, cutting

Thoracotomy ‐ a surgical opening into the
thoracic cavity

Question 42

‐plasty

Answer 42

surgical repair or
correction

Angioplasty – procedure that dilates a narrowed
blood vessel by using a balloon catheter

Question 43

‐scopy

Answer 43

visual examination

Arthroscopy ‐ the visual examination of the
internal structures of a joint by using a specially
designed endoscope

Question 44

‐tripsy

Answer 44

to crush

Lithotripsy ‐ a procedure for eliminating a stone in the kidney, ureter, bladder or gallbladder by using a non‐invasive high energy shock wave to
crush it