MA70 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
SUFFIXES
NOUN SUFFIXES
Suffix
Definition
condition of being
condition
one who specializes
one who...
quality
-ism
-tion
-ist
-er
-ity
Example(s)
dwarfism, gigantism, hyperthyroidism
contraction, relaxation, institution
chemist, biologist, herbalist, psychiatrist
practitioner, radiographer
sensitivity, conductivity
ADJECTIVAL SUFFIXES
Suffix
Definition
possessing, having, full of
ability
ability
-ous
-able
-ible
Example(s)
nervous, serous, mucous
injectable, excitable, irritable
digestible, edible, reducible
ADJECTIVAL SUFFIXES MEANING “PERTAINING TO”
Suffix
-ac
-al
-ar
-ic
-itic
-otic
-ous
-tic
swc2010&ls2012
Definition
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
pertaining to...
Example(s)
cardiac, iliac, maniac
carpal, duodenal
condylar, ulnar
anemic, medic, geriatric
arthritic
cyanotic
mucous
emetic
MA70 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
SURGICAL SUFFIXES
Suffix
-centesis
-cise
-clast
-desis
-ectomy
-lysis
-pexy
-plasty
-rrhaphy
-stomy
-tome
-tomy
-tripsy
Definition
surgical puncture
to cut
to break
binding, fixation
excision, removal, to
cut out
separation; destruction;
loosening
fixation (of an organ
surgical repair
suture
forming an opening
(mouth)
instrument to cut
incision, to cut
surgical crushing
Examples(s)
arthrocentesis
excise
osteoclast
arthrodesis
appendectomy
thrombolysis
mastopexy
rhinoplasty
myorrhaphy
tracheostomy
osteotome
tracheotomy
lithotripsy
DIAGNOSTIC SUFFIXES
Suffix
-gram
-graph
-graphy
-meter
-metry
-scope
-scopy
swc2010&ls2012
Definition
record, writing
instrument for recording
process of recording
instrument
for
measuring
act of measuring
instrument
for
examining (viewing)
visual examination
Example(s)
electrocardiogram
cardiograph
angiography
pelvimeter
pelvimetry
endoscope
endoscopy
MA70 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Pathological Suffixes
Suffix
-algia, -dynia
-cele
-ectasis
-edema
-emesis
-emia
-iasis
-itis
-lith
-malacia
-megaly
-oma
-osis
-pathy
-penia
-phobia
-plegia
-rrhage, rrhagia
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-stenosis
-toxic
-trophy
swc2010&ls2012
Definition
pain
hernia, swelling
dilation, expansion
swelling
vomiting
blood condition
abnormal
condition
(produced
by
something specific)
inflammation
stone, calculus
softening
enlargement
tumor, growth
abnormal
condition;
increase (primarily used
with blood cells)
disease
decrease, deficiency
fear
paralysis
bursting (of)
discharge, flow
rupture
narrowing, stricture
poison
nourishment,
development
Example(s)
neuralgia
hepatocele
bronchiectasis
lymphedema
hyperemesis
anemia
cholelithiasis
gastritis
cholelith
chondromalacia
cardiomegaly
neuroma
cyanosis
myopathy
erythropenia
hemophobia
hemiplegia
hemorrhage
diarrhea
arteriorrhexis
arteriostenosis
hepatotoxic
dystrophy
MA70 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
GUIDE FOR SINGULAR AND PLURAL
Greek Terms
Singular Ending
Greek Terms
Plural Ending
-on
-oa
protozoon
protozoa
-ma
-mata
carcinoma
carcinomata
-sis
-ses
diagnosis
diagnoses
-nx
-nges
phalanx
phalanges
Latin Terms
Singular Ending
Latin Terms
Plural Ending
-a
-ae
vertebra
vertebrae
-en
-on
ina
-a
-us
-i
lumen
spermatozoon
ganglion
bronchus
lumina
spermatozoa
ganglia
bronchi
-um
-a
bacterium
bacteria
-is
-es
testis
testes
-ex
-ices
cortex
cortices
-ix
-ices, es
appendix
appendices, appendixes
-ax
-aces, es
thorax
thoraces, thoraxes
-y
-ies
ovary
ovaries
swc2010&ls2012
Example
SINGULAR
Example
PLURAL
Example
SINGULAR
Example
PLURAL
MA70 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
RULES FOR DEFINING MEDICAL TERMS
RULE I:
Descriptive phrases start with the suffix and then indicate body part
CYSTITIS
itis
cyst
inflammation of the..........bladder
DERMATOLOGIST
logist
dermato
one who studies...............the skin
RULE II:
Body systems follow in the order of study (think of moving outside-in)
GASTROENTERITIS
itis
gastro
entero
inflammation of the........stomach....... and small intestine
HYSTEROSALPINGO-OOPHORECTOMY
ectomy
hystero
salpingo
oophoro
excision of the.........uterus.............fallopian tubes.....and ovaries
RULE III:
Body part is identified first: the condition or procedure is the ending
DERMATOMYCOSIS
or...
CYSTOSCOPY
or...
swc2010&ls2012
“skin fungus”
fungal condition of the skin
“bladder scoping”
process of using a scope to view the urinary bladder