Suffixes (Pt. 2)

Question 1

-stasis

Answer 1

stopping

Ex: hemostasis (stopping blood flow)

Question 2

-stenosis

Answer 2

narrowing

Ex: angiostenosis (narrowing of a vessel)

Question 3

-toxic

Answer 3

poison

Ex: cytotoxic (poisonous to cells)

Question 4

-uria

Answer 4

urine condition

Ex: hematuria (blood in urine condition)

Question 5

-clasia

Answer 5

surgical breaking

Ex: osteoclasia (surgical breaking of bone)

Question 6

-desis

Answer 6

surgical fusing

Ex: arthrodesis (surgical fusing of joint)

Question 7

-ectomy

Answer 7

surgical removal

Ex: gastrectomy (surgical removal of stomach)

Question 8

-ostomy

Answer 8

surgically create an opening

Ex: colostomy (surgically create opening for colon through abdominal wall)

Question 9

-otomy

Answer 9

cutting into

Ex: thoracotomy (cutting into chest)

Question 10

How do the two suffixes -ectomy and -otomy differ in origin?

Answer 10

The suffixes -ectomy and -otomy have very specific meanings that relate back to the original Greek words. -ectomy comes from ektome meaning “to cut out” while -otomy comes from tomia meaning “to cut into.”

Question 11

-pexy

Answer 11

surgical fixation

Ex: nephropexy (surgical fixation of kidney)

Question 12

-plasty

Answer 12

surgical repair

Ex: dermatoplasty (surgical repair of skin)

Question 13

-rrhaphy

Answer 13

suture

Ex: myorrhaphy (suture together muscle)

Question 14

-tome

Answer 14

instrument to cut

Ex: dermatome (instrument to cut skin)

Question 15

-tripsy

Answer 15

surgical crushing

Ex: lithotripsy (surgical crushing of stone)

Question 16

-centesis

Answer 16

puncture to withdraw fluid

Ex: arthrocentesis (puncture to withdraw fluid from joint)

Question 17

What is the origin of -centesis?

Answer 17

The suffix -centesis comes from the Greek word kentesis meaning “to prick or pierce.”

Question 18

-gram

Answer 18

record or picture

Ex: electrocardiogram (record of heart’s electrical activity)

Question 19

-graph

Answer 19

instrument for recording

Ex: myograph (instrument for recording muscle)

Question 20

-graphy

Answer 20

process of recording

Ex: electrocardiography (process of recording heart’s electrical [activity])

Question 21

-manometer

Answer 21

instrument for measuring pressure

Ex: sphygmomanometer (instrument for measuring pulse [blood] pressure)

Question 22

-meter

Answer 22

instrument for measuring

Ex: audiometer (instrument for measuring hearing)

Question 23

-metry

Answer 23

process of measuring

Ex: audiometry (process of measuring hearing)

Question 24

-scope

Answer 24

instrument for viewing

Ex: gastroscope (instrument to view stomach)

Question 25

-scopy

Answer 25

process of visually examining

Ex: gastroscopy (process of visually examining stomach)

Question 26

-cle

Answer 26

small

Ex: vesicle (small sac [blister])

Question 27

-cyesis

Answer 27

pregnancy

Ex: salpingocyesis (uterine tube pregnancy)

Question 28

-cyte

Answer 28

cell

Ex: leukocyte (white [blood] cell)

Question 29

-derma

Answer 29

skin condition

Ex: leukoderma (white skin condition)

Question 30

-dipsia

Answer 30

thirst

Ex: polydipsia (much [frequent] thirst)

Question 31

-esthesia

Answer 31

feeling, sensation

Ex: anesthesia (without sensation)

Question 32

-gen

Answer 32

that which produces

Ex: mutagen (that which produces mutations)

Question 33

-genesis

Answer 33

produces, generates

Ex: osteogenesis (produces bone)

Question 34

-genic

Answer 34

producing

Ex: carcinogenic (producing cancer)

Question 35

Where do all the suffixes -genesis, -genic, and -gen originate from?

Answer 35

The suffixes -genesis, -genic, and -gen all coem form the greek word gignesthai meaning “to be born.”

Question 36

-globin

Answer 36

protein

Ex: hemoglobin (blood protein)