Medical Terminology Lecture 2-Dr.Rafal

? Suffixes

? A suffix is added to the END of a word root or to combining form to modify its meaning.
? By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning.
? suffix often indicates the:
• procedure
• condition
• disorder
• disease
? Noun suffixes
? -ism --- condition (e.g. giantism)
? -osis ---- abnormal condition (e.g. arteriosclerosis)
? -itis ---- inflammation of (gastritis)
? Adjective suffixes
? -ous --- pertaining to (e.g. erythematous)
? -ic ------ pertaining to (colposcopic)

Meanings of certain suffixes (derived from greek or latin language)
Arthr/o -centesis Arthrocentesis
joint puncture puncture of a joint
throac/o -tomy Thoracotomy
chest incision incision of the chest
gastr/o -megaly Gastromegaly
stomach enlargement enlargement of the
stomach
Meanings of certain suffixes (derived from modern language)
-al pertaining to dent/al
(pertaining to teeth)
-er one who speak/er
(one who speaks)
-able capable of being playable
(capable of being played)

If suffix begins with a consonant, therefore a combining vowel must be used between the word root and the suffix.
-scope (instrument to view) Gasteroscopy
-rrhexis (rupture) Angiorrhexis
-rrhea (flow or discharge) Rhinorrhea

If suffix begins with a vowel, therefore a combining vowel is NOT used between the word root and the suffix.
-algia (pain) Arthralgia
-edema (swelling) Papilledema
-uria (urine, urination) Heamaturia
-oma (tumor) Adenoma
(glandular tumor)







Suffixes
Suffixes Meaning
-ad Toward
-algia Pain
-asthenia Weakness
-blast Immature, forming
-cidal Destroying
-clast Breaking
-crine Secreting
-crit Separate
-cyte Cell
-cytosis Condition of cell
-derma Skin
-dynia Pain
-ectasis Expanding, dilating
-ectomy
removal
-emesis Vomiting
-emia Blood
-esthesia Sensation
-globin protein
-gram recording
-graph Recording instrument
-graphy Process of recording
-ic Relating to
-ism Condition, disease
-itis Inflammation
-kinesia Movement
-logist One who practice
-lysis Destruction of
-malacia softening
mania obsession
-megaly enlargement
-oid Like, resembling
-opia Vision
-ostomy opening
-para Bearing
-pathy disease


Suffixes Meaning
-penia defficiency
-pepsia digestion
-pexy Fixation
-phage Eating, devouring
-phobia fear
-phonia Sound
-phrenia Related to the mind
-phylaxis protection
-plasty Surgical repair
-plegia paralysis
-pnea Breath
-ptosis Drooping, falling down
-rrhagia Heavy discharge
-rrhaphy Surgical suturing
-rrhexis rupture
-spasm Contraction
-stasis Stopping, constant
-stenosis Narrowing
-tomy Cutting operation
-trophy Nutrition
-tropia Turning











Example for Medical terms
Leukocytopenia Leuk/ o / cyt / o/ penia







Scleroderma Scler / o / derma