Suffixes Flashcards
‐ac/‐al/ ‐eal
pertaining to (descriptive)
Cardiac ‐ pertaining to the heart
‐ar / ‐ary
pertaining to (descriptive)
Pulmonary ‐ pertaining to the lungs
‐clast/‐clasia/‐clasis
to break (descriptive)
Osteoclast ‐ large cells that function to break
down, reabsorb or digest bone
‐derma
skin (descriptive)
Pyoderma ‐ pus within the skin
‐ema
state of; condition (descriptive)
Erythema ‐ redness of skin
‐ectasis
dilatation of tubular vessel (descriptive)
Bronchiectasis ‐ dilation of the bronchiole tubes
‐emesis/‐emetic
vomiting (descriptive)
Antiemetic ‐ substance that prevents vomiting
‐gen/‐genesis
forming, producing, origin (descriptive)
Histogenesis ‐ identifying the type of tissue from
which tumour cells form
‐ia
condition (descriptive)
Pneumonia ‐ condition of the lungs
‐iac/‐ic/‐itic
pertaining to (descriptive)
Celiac ‐ pertaining to the abdominal cavity
‐logy
study of (descriptive)
Radiology ‐ medical speciality concerned with the study of x‐rays
‐lucent
to shine; clear (descriptive)
Radiolucent ‐ indicates that x‐rays pass through easily, appears ‘dark’ on image.
‐lysis
separation, breakdown (descriptive)
Hemolysis ‐ red blood cells are destroyed
‐opaque
obscure (descriptive)
Radiopaque ‐ indicates that x‐rays do not
penetrate easily, appears ‘white’ on image.
‐pnea
breathing (descriptive)
Dyspnea ‐ shortness of breath, breathlessness
‐poiesis
to make or form (descriptive)
Hematopoiesis ‐ the normal formation of blood
cells in the bone marrow
‐version
turning (descriptive)
Inversion ‐ an abnormal condition where a body
part or organ is turned inward/inside out
‐ac/‐al/ ‐eal
pertaining to (diagnostic)
Cardiac ‐ pertaining to the heart
‐ar / ‐ary
pertaining to (diagnostic)
Pulmonary ‐ pertaining to the lungs
‐clast/‐clasia/‐clasis
to break (diagnostic)
Osteoclast ‐ large cells that function to break
down, reabsorb or digest bone
‐derma
skin (diagnostic)
Pyoderma ‐ pus within the skin
‐ema
state of; condition (diagnostic)
Erythema ‐ redness of skin
‐ectasis
dilatation of tubular vessel (diagnostic)
Bronchiectasis ‐ dilation of the bronchiole tubes
‐emesis/‐emetic
vomiting (diagnostic)
Antiemetic ‐ substance that prevents vomiting
‐gen/‐genesis
forming, producing, origin (diagnostic)
Histogenesis ‐ identifying the type of tissue from
which tumour cells form
‐ia
condition (diagnostic)
Pneumonia ‐ condition of the lungs
‐iac/‐ic/‐itic
pertaining to (diagnostic)
Celiac ‐ pertaining to the abdominal cavity
‐logy
study of (diagnostic)
Radiology ‐ medical speciality concerned with
the study of x‐rays
‐lucent
to shine; clear (diagnostic)
Radiolucent ‐ indicates that x‐rays pass through
easily, appears ‘dark’ on image.
‐lysis
separation, breakdown (diagnostic)
Hemolysis ‐ red blood cells are destroyed
‐opaque
obscure (diagnostic)
Radiopaque ‐ indicates that x‐rays do not
penetrate easily, appears ‘white’ on image.
‐pnea
breathing (diagnostic)
Dyspnea ‐ shortness of breath, breathlessness
‐poiesis
to make or form (diagnostic)
Hematopoiesis ‐ the normal formation of blood
cells in the bone marrow
‐version
turning (diagnostic)
Inversion ‐ an abnormal condition where a body
part or organ is turned inward/inside out
‐centesis
surgical puncture to
remove fluid
Amniocentesis ‐ an obstetric procedure where a
small amount of amniotic fluid is removed.
‐ectomy
removal, excision,
resection
Oophorectomy ‐ surgical removal of the ovaries
‐gram
record
Electrocardiogram ‐ a record of the electricity
flowing through the heart
‐graphy
Process of recording
Radiography ‐ the process of recording an image
of the body by using ionizing radiation
‐opsy
view of
Biopsy ‐ removal of a small piece of living tissue
for a microscopic view
‐ostomy
surgical opening
Colostomy ‐ surgical creation of an opening
joining the colon to the outside of the abdominal
wall
‐otomy / ‐tomy
excision, cutting
Thoracotomy ‐ a surgical opening into the
thoracic cavity
‐plasty
surgical repair or
correction
Angioplasty – procedure that dilates a narrowed
blood vessel by using a balloon catheter
‐scopy
visual examination
Arthroscopy ‐ the visual examination of the
internal structures of a joint by using a specially
designed endoscope
‐tripsy
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
