Suffixes Flashcards
-ac
pertaining to (cardiac: pertaining to the heart)
-al
pertaining to (intestinal: pertaining to the intestine)
-an, -ian
characteristic of, pertaining to, belonging to (ovarian cyst: a cyst of the ovary)
-ar
relating to (muscular: relating to muscles)
-ary
relating to, connected with (salivary: relating to saliva)
-ase
enzyme (sucrase: an enzyme that digests sucrose)
-atresia
abnormal closure (biliary atresia: closure or absence of bile ducts)
-blast
grow, produce (osteoblast: a bone-producing cell)
-cele
swelling, tumor (meningocele: a hernia of the meninges)
-centesis
puncture of a cavity (thoracocentesis: puncture of the chest cavity to remove fluid)
-cide
kill (bactericide: a chemical that kills bacteria)
-clast
destroy, break down (osteoclast: a bone-reabsorbing cell)
-desis
binding, stabilizing, fusion (arthrodesis: the surgical immobilization of a joint)
-dipsia
thirst (polydipsia: excessive thirst)
-dynia
pain (gastrodynia: stomach pain)
-ectasia, -ectasis
expansion (atelectasis: without expansion)
-ectomy
excision, cutting out (thyroidectomy: removal of the thyroid)
-emia
pertaining to blood (hypokalemia: low blood potas- sium level)
-form
structure (spongiform: resembling a sponge)
-gen
producing (carcinogen: a substance that produces cancer)
-genesis
production of, origin of (spermatogenesis: pro- duction of sperm)
-globin
protein (myoglobin: a muscle protein)
-gram
record, writing (electroencephalogram: a record of the electrical activity of the brain)
-graph
an instrument for making records (ultrasonography: the use of ultrasound to produce an image)
-ia
condition (pneumonia: condition of inflammation of the lungs)
-iasis
diseased condition (cholelithiasis: gallstones)
-ic
pertaining to (atomic: pertaining to atoms)
-ile
having qualities of (febrile: feverish)
-ism
condition, process (alcoholism: condition of being dependent on alcohol)
-ist
practitioner, specialist (neurologist: a specialist in diseases of the nervous system)
-it is
inflammation (hepatitis: inflammation of the liver)
-lepsy
seizure (narcolepsy: a sudden onset of sleep)
-lith
stone, crystal (otoliths: stones in the inner ear)
-logy
study of (virology: the study of viruses)
-lysis
break down (hemolysis: rupture of red blood cells)
-megaly
enlargement (splenomegaly: enlargement of the spleen)
-meter
a measuring instrument (spirometer: an instrument to measure pulmonary volumes)
-ness
state of, quality (illness: state of being ill)
-oid
the appearance of (ovoid: resembling an oval or egg)
-ole
small, little (arteriole: small artery)
-oma
tumor (carcinoma: malignant tumor)
-opia
eye (hyperopia: farsightedness)
-ory
pertaining to (regulatory: pertaining to regulation)
-ose
having qualities of (comatose: having qualities of a coma)
-osis
state, condition, action, process (keratosis: abnormal growth of the skin)
-ostomy
creation of an opening (colostomy: creation of an opening between the intestine and the abdominal wall)
-otomy
cut into (tracheotomy: cut into the trachea)
-ous
pertaining to (nervous: pertaining to nerves)
-pathy
disease (retinopathy: disease of the retina)
-penia
lack of, deficiency (leukopenia: lack of white blood cells)
-philia
love of, tendency (hemophilia: a clotting disorder; “love of blood”)
-phobia
an abnormal fear (acrophobia: fear of heights)
-plasia
growth (hyperplasia: excessive growth)
-plasty
formation, repair (rhinoplasty: plastic surgery on the nose)
-plegia
paralysis (hemiplegia: paralysis of the right or left half of the body)
-poiesis
production (erythropoiesis: production of red blood cells)
-ptosis
dropping, falling (hysteroptosis: falling of the uterus)
-rrhage
burst forth (hemorrhage: loss of blood from blood vessels)
-rrhea
discharge, flow (diarrhea: frequent discharge of feces)
-scope
instrument to examine (microscope: instrument to examine small objects)
-spasm
involuntary contraction (blepharospasm: twitch of the eyelid)
-stasis
to be still, control, stop (hemostasis: to stop loss of blood)
-sthenia
strength (myasthenia: loss of muscle strength)
-stomy
surgical opening (colostomy: a surgical opening in the colon)
-taxia
muscle coordination (ataxia: loss of coordination)
-tension
pressure (hypertension: high blood pressure)
-tic
pertaining to (paralytic: pertaining to paralysis)
-tomy
incision, cut into (phlebotomy: incision into a vein)
-tripsy
crush (lithotripsy: crushing of stone such as gallstones)
-trophic
related to nutrition or growth (autotrophic: capable of making its own food, such as a green plant)
-tropic
turning toward (chemotropic: turning toward a chemical)
-ula, -ule
small, little (venule: small vein)
-uria
urine (hematuria: blood in the urine)
-y
condition, process (healthy: condition of health)
