Understanding Suffixes

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Understanding Suffixes
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Learning Objectives

• Define and spell the suffixes often used in
  medical terminology.
• Identify suffixes in medical terms.
• Use suffixes to build medical terms that pertain
  to medical specialties, symptoms, and diseases.

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Common Suffixes

• -al
• -ic
• -itis
• -logy
• -meter

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Common Suffixes (cont.)

• -ous
• -pathy
• -scope
• -scopy

lapar/o
abdomen
-scopy
process of viewing
laparoscopy
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Figure 2.1A lighted endoscope specialized for
insertion into the abdomen, called a laparoscope,
is used to view reproductive organs.
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Suffixes Indicating an Action or State

• -drome
• -emesis
• -malacia
• -opsy
• -oxia
• -phil, -philia

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Suffixes Indicating an Action or State (cont.)

• -phagia
• -phasia
• -physis
• -plegia
• -oma
• -stasis

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Suffixes That Indicate a Condition or Disease

• -algia
• -asthenia
• -atresia
• -cele
• -dynia

mening/o
membrane
-cele
hernia
meningocele
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Figure 2.2 Illustration of a child born with
spina bifida, with a large meningocele.
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Suffixes That Indicate a Condition or Disease
(cont.)

• -ia
• -ism
• -itis
• -oma
• -osis
• -pathy
• -penia
• -phobia
• -plasia

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Suffixes That Indicate a Condition or Disease
(cont.)

• -rrhagia
• -rrhea
• -rrhexis
• -sclerosis
• -spasm

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Suffixes That Indicate Location, Number, or a
Quality

• -ad
• -a
• -ae
• -emia
• -hemia

hypo-
low
glyc/o
sugar
-emia
condition of blood
hypoglycemia
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Suffixes That Indicate Location, Number, or a
Quality (cont.)

• -ac
• -al
• -ar
• -ary
• -ic
• -ous

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Suffixes That Indicate a Medical Specialty

• -iatry
• -logist
• -logy
• -practic

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Suffixes That Indicate a Procedure or Treatment

• -centesis
• -clasia, -clasis, -clast
• -desis
• -ectomy

thyroid/o
thyroid
-ectomy
surgical excision
thyroidectomy
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Figure 2.3 Thyroidectomy
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Suffixes That Indicate a Procedure or Treatment
(cont.)

• -gram
• -graph
• -graphy
• -meter
• -metry
• -pexy

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Suffixes That Indicate a Procedure or Treatment
(cont.)

• -phylaxis
• -plasty
• -rrhaphy
• -scope
• -scopy

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Suffixes That Indicate a Procedure or Treatment
(cont.)

• -stomy
• -tome
• -tomy
• -tripsy
• -ion

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Suffix Quiz

1. -al a. a record or image
2. -opsy b. pertaining to
3. -itis c. inflammation
4. -gram d. recording process
5. -graphy e. view of