Suffixes (Pt. 1)

Question 1

Suffix

Answer 1

A suffix on the end of a medical term adds specific meaning to the term.

Ex:

• Cardi/o + -logy = cardiology meaning study of heart
• Cardi/o + -dynia = cardioynia meaning heart pain
• Cardi/o + -megaly = cardiomegaly meaning enlarged heart.

Question 2

List the categories of suffixes

Answer 2

• Suffixes indicating diseases or abnormal conditions
• Suffixes indicating a surgical procedure
• Suffixes indicating a diagnostic procedure
• General Suffixes
• Suffixes indicating medical specialties or personnel
• Suffixes that convert word roots into adjectives.

Question 3

-algia

Answer 3

pain

Ex: gastralgia (stomach pain)

Question 4

-asthenia

Answer 4

weakness

Ex: myasthenia (muscle weakness)

Question 5

Where does the suffix -asthenia originated from?

Answer 5

The suffix -asthenia comes from combining the prefix a- meaning “without” and the greek word sthenos meaning “strength.”

Question 6

-cele

Answer 6

protrusion

cystocele (protrusion of urinary bladder)

Question 7

-dynia

Answer 7

pain

Ex: cardiodynia (heart pain)

Question 8

-cystosis

Answer 8

abnormal cell condition (too many)

Ex: erythrocytosis (too many red cells)

Question 9

-ectasis

Answer 9

dilated

bronchiectasis (dilated bronchi)

Question 10

-edema

Answer 10

swelling

Ex: lymphedema (lymphatic swelling)

Question 11

-emesis

Answer 11

vomiting

Ex: hematemesis (vomiting blood)

Question 12

-emia

Answer 12

blood condition

Ex: leukemia (white [cell] blood condition)

Question 13

-ia

Answer 13

state, condition

Ex: pneumonia (lung condition)

Question 14

-iasis

Answer 14

abnormal condition

Ex: lithiasis (abnormal condition of stones)

Question 15

-ism

Answer 15

state of

Ex: hypothyroidism (state of insufficient thyroid [hormones])

Question 16

-itis

Answer 16

inflammation

Ex: dermatitis (skin inflammation)

Question 17

-lith

Answer 17

stone

Ex: cystolith (bladder stone)

Question 18

-lysis

Answer 18

to destroy

Ex: osteolysis (to destroy bone)

Question 19

-lytic

Answer 19

destruction

Ex: thrombolytic (clot destruction)

Question 20

-malacia

Answer 20

abnormal softening

Ex: chondromalacia (abnormal cartilage softening)

Question 21

-megaly

Answer 21

enlarged

Ex: cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)

Question 22

-oma

Answer 22

tumor, mass

Ex: carcinoma (cancerous tumor)

Question 23

-osis

Answer 23

abnormal condition

Ex: cyanosis (abnormal condition of blue [skin])

Question 24

-pathy

Answer 24

disease

Ex: myopathy (muscle disease)

Question 25

-penia

Answer 25

too few

Ex: cytopenia (too few cells)

Question 26

Where does the suffix penia originate?

Answer 26

The suffix -penia comes from the greek word penia meaning “poverty.”

Question 27

-phobia

Answer 27

fear

Ex: photophobia (fear of [sensitivity to] light)

Question 28

-plegia

Answer 28

paralysis

Ex: paraplegia (paralysis of both lower extremeties)

Question 29

-ptosis

Answer 29

drooping

Ex: proctoptosis (dropping rectum)

Question 30

-rrhage

Answer 30

excessive, abnormal flow

Ex: hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)

Question 31

-rrhagia

Answer 31

abnormal flow condition

menorrhagia (abnormal menstrual flow condition)

Question 32

-rrhea

Answer 32

discharge, flow

Ex: rhinorrhea (discharge from nose)

Question 33

How do the two terminology suffixes -rrhagia and -rrhea differ?

Answer 33

The suffixes -rrhea and rrhagia are very similar but come from different Greek words. -rrhea from rhoia meaning “to flow;” -rrhagia from rhegnymi meaning “to burst forth” and now means excessive flow.

Question 34

-rrhexis

Answer 34

rupture

Ex: hysterorrhexis (rupture of uterus)

Question 35

-sclerosis

Answer 35

hardening

Ex: arteriosclerosis (hardening of artery)

Question 36

-spasm

Answer 36

involuntary muscle contraction

Ex: bronchospasm (involuntary contraction of bronchi muscles).