SUFFIXES AND PREFIXES USED IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: (Suffixes)

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES USED IN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Medical terminology uses components (i.e., prefixes and suffixes) to build words that represent medical conditions and procedures. These words can often seem intimidating until you learn how to break them down into their component parts.

The following are some of the more common prefixes and suffixes used by healthcare providers to describe body conditions and procedures.

SUFFIXES

-Ac; -al; -ar; -ary	Pertaining to
-algia	Pain
-ase	Enzyme
-asthenia	Lack of strength
-blast	Immature; embryonic
-capnia	Carbon dioxide
-cele	Tumor; hernia
-cidal	Killing
-clast.	Break
-coccus (pl. -cocci)	Berry-shaped
-crine	Secrete; separate
-crit	Separate
-cyte	Cell
-cytosis	Condition of cells
-desis	Binding
-ectasia; -ectasis	Dilation; stretching
-ectomy	Removal of
-emesis.	Vomiting
-emia	Blood
-er.	Onewho
-esthesia	Sensation
-genesis	Condition of producing
-globin; -globulin	Protein
-gram	Record
-graph	Instrument for recording
-graphy	Process of recording
-ia	Condition; process
-iasis	Condition (of)
-ic.	Pertaining to
-ist	Specialist
-itis	Inflammation
-lith	Stone; calculus
-lysis	Destruction; break down
-lytic	Destruction
-malacia	Softening
-manometer	Used to measure pressure
-megaly	Enlargement
-meter	Used to measure
-oid	Resembling
-ole	Little; small
-ology	Study of
-oma	Growth; tumor
-opia	Vision
-opsy	View
-or.	Onewho
-(o)rraphy	Repair of
-(o)rrhea	Flow; discharge
-osis.	Condition (of)
-(o)stomy	Creation of an opening
-(o)tomy	Cutting into
-ous	Pertaining to
-para	Births (viable offspring)
-pathy	Disease
-penia	Decreased number
-phagia	Eating; swallowing
-pheresis	Removal
-philia	Attraction for; increase
-phobia	Fear; dread
-phonia	Voice; sound
-phoria	Feeling (mental state)
-phylaxis	Protection
-physis	Grow; growth
-plasia	Formation; growth
-plasty	Form; build up
-plegia	Paralysis
-pnea	Breathing
-porosis	Passage
-ptosis	Drooping; falling
-rrhea	Discharge; flow
-sclerosis	Hardening
-scope	Instrument used to examine
-scopy	Examination (usually visual)
-spasm	Contraction of muscles
-stalsis	Constriction
-stasis	Control; stop
-static	Stopping; controlling
-stenosis	Tightening; stricture
-sthenia	Strength
-therapy	Treatment
-thermy	Heat
-tic	Pertaining to
-tome	Instrument to cut
-tomy	Process of cutting;
Incision
-tresia	Opening
-tropic; -trophy	Growth; nutrition
-ule	Little; small
-uric; -uria	Urine
-y.	Condition; process

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