Medical Terminology Suffixes

-able

Capable of, Having ability to, as in viable.

-ac, -al

Pertaining to, as in cardiac.

-algia

Painful condition, as in neuralgia.

-an, -ian

Pertaining to, as in circadium.

-ant

Having the characteristics of, as in malignant.

-asis, -asia, -esis, -osis

Condition or state of, as in homeostasis.

-asthenia

Weakness, as in myasthenia.

-ation

Process, Action, Condition, as in inspiration.

-blast

To create, Build up, as in osteoblast.

-cel, -cele

Swelling, an enlarged space or cavity, as in meningocele.

-centesis

Puncture, Usually for drainage, as in amniocentesis.

-cide, -cis

Cut, Kill, Destroy, as in germicide.

-clast

Destory, Break down, as in osteoclast.

-ectasis, - ectasis

Stretching, Dilation, as in atelectasis.

-ectomize, -ectomy

Excision or removal of, as in appendectomy.

-ema

Swelling, Distention, as in emphysema.

-emia

Condition of blood, as in uremia.

-esis

Condition, Process, as in hemopoiesis.

-esthesia

Sensation, Feeling, as in anesthesia.

-ferent

Carry, as in efferent arterioles.

-form

Shape, as in fungiform.

-gen

Agent that produces or originates, as in cardiogenic.

-gram

Record, as in electrocardiogram.

-graph

Instrument for reconding, as in eletroencephalograph.

-ia

State, Condition, as in myopia.

-iatrics, -iatry

Medical practice specialty, as in geriatrics.

-ician

Person associated with, as in optician.

-ics

Art of, Science of, as in optics.

-idrosis

Sweating, as in uridosis.

-idrosis

Sweating, as in uridosis.

-inogen

Inactive form, as in fibrinogen, pepsinogen.

-ion

Action, Condition resulting from action, as in incision.

-ism

Condition, State, as in rheumatism.

-ist

One who practices, as on podiatrist.

-itis

Inflammation, as in dermatits.

-ive

Relating to, as in sedative.

-ology

The study or scince of, as in histology.

-lyso, -lysis

Dissolution, Loosening, Destruction, as in hemolysis.

-malacia

Softening, as in osteomalacia.

-megaly

Enlarged, as in cardiomegaly.

-oid

Resembling, as in spheroid.

-ologist

Specialist, as in endocrinologist.

-oma

Tumor, as in fibroma.

-ory

Pertaining to, as in sensory.

-ose

Full of, as in adipose.

-osis

Condition, Disease, as in osteoporosis.

-ostomy

Create an opening, as in colostomy.

-otomy

Surgical incision, as in tracheotomy.

-pathy

Disease, as in neuropathy.

-penia

Deficiency, as in leukopenia.

-phobe, -phobia

Fear of, Aversion to, as in hydrophobia.

-plasia, -plasty

Development, Formation, as in rhinoplasty.

-plegia, -plexy

Stroke, Paralysis, as in apoplexy.

-pnea

To breathe, as in apnea.

-poiesis

Production, as in hemopoiesis,

-ptosis

Falling, Sagging, as in blepharoptosis.

-rrhage

Bursting forth, abnormal discharge, as in hemorrhage.

-rrhea

Flow, Discharge, as in diarrhea.

-scope

Instrument, as in bronchoscope.

-stomy

Creation of a mouth or artifical opening, as in tracheostomy.

-tic

Pertaining to, as in diagnostic.

-tomy

Cutting into, Incision into, as in frontal lobotomy.

-tripsy

Crushing, as in lithotripsy.

-trophy

State relating to nutrition or growth, as in hypertrophy.

-tropic

Turning toward, Influencing, Changing, as in thyrotropic hormone.

-uria

Urine, as in polyuria.