Suffixes (Pt. 1) Flashcards
Suffix
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.
List the categories of suffixes
- 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.
-algia
pain
Ex: gastralgia (stomach pain)
-asthenia
weakness
Ex: myasthenia (muscle weakness)
Where does the suffix -asthenia originated from?
The suffix -asthenia comes from combining the prefix a- meaning “without” and the greek word sthenos meaning “strength.”
-cele
protrusion
cystocele (protrusion of urinary bladder)
-dynia
pain
Ex: cardiodynia (heart pain)
-cystosis
abnormal cell condition (too many)
Ex: erythrocytosis (too many red cells)
-ectasis
dilated
bronchiectasis (dilated bronchi)
-edema
swelling
Ex: lymphedema (lymphatic swelling)
-emesis
vomiting
Ex: hematemesis (vomiting blood)
-emia
blood condition
Ex: leukemia (white [cell] blood condition)
-ia
state, condition
Ex: pneumonia (lung condition)
-iasis
abnormal condition
Ex: lithiasis (abnormal condition of stones)
-ism
state of
Ex: hypothyroidism (state of insufficient thyroid [hormones])
-itis
inflammation
Ex: dermatitis (skin inflammation)
-lith
stone
Ex: cystolith (bladder stone)
-lysis
to destroy
Ex: osteolysis (to destroy bone)
-lytic
destruction
Ex: thrombolytic (clot destruction)
-malacia
abnormal softening
Ex: chondromalacia (abnormal cartilage softening)
-megaly
enlarged
Ex: cardiomegaly (enlarged heart)
-oma
tumor, mass
Ex: carcinoma (cancerous tumor)
-osis
abnormal condition
Ex: cyanosis (abnormal condition of blue [skin])
-pathy
disease
Ex: myopathy (muscle disease)
-penia
too few
Ex: cytopenia (too few cells)
Where does the suffix penia originate?
The suffix -penia comes from the greek word penia meaning “poverty.”
-phobia
fear
Ex: photophobia (fear of [sensitivity to] light)
-plegia
paralysis
Ex: paraplegia (paralysis of both lower extremeties)
-ptosis
drooping
Ex: proctoptosis (dropping rectum)
-rrhage
excessive, abnormal flow
Ex: hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)
-rrhagia
abnormal flow condition
menorrhagia (abnormal menstrual flow condition)
-rrhea
discharge, flow
Ex: rhinorrhea (discharge from nose)
How do the two terminology suffixes -rrhagia and -rrhea differ?
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.
-rrhexis
rupture
Ex: hysterorrhexis (rupture of uterus)
-sclerosis
hardening
Ex: arteriosclerosis (hardening of artery)
-spasm
involuntary muscle contraction
Ex: bronchospasm (involuntary contraction of bronchi muscles).
