Computer Notes

Common Medical Suffixes Suffixes

Meaning

Example

ac

pertaining to

cardiac

al

pertaining to

femoral

algia

pain

arthralgia

apheresis

removal

leukapheresis

ar

pertaining to

malar

ary

pertaining to

biliary

ase

enzyme

alkaline phosphatase

asthenia

weakness

myasthenia

capnia

carbon dioxide

hypocapnia

cele

hernia; protrusion

hydrocele

centesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid

amniocentesis

cidal

killing

suicidal

coccus (pl. cocci)

berryshaped ( a form of bacterium)

pneumococcus

crine

separate; secrete

endocrine

crit

to separate

hematocrit

cyte

cell

leukocyte

surgical fixation; fusion

arthrodesis

eal

pertaining to

calcaneal

ectasis

stretching out; dilatation; expansion

bronchiectasis

ectomy

excision or surgical removal

tonsillectomy

emesis

vomiting

hematemesis

emia

blood condition

anemia

esis

condition

diaphoresis

gen

substance or agent that produces or causes

antigen

genesis

origin; cause

iatrogenesis

genic

producing; originating; causing

organogenic

gram

record; x-ray film

echocardiogram

graph

instrument used to record

radiograph

graphy

process of recording; xray filming

arteriography

A TOP

C TOP

D TOP desis E TOP

G TOP

I

TOP ia

condition of diseased or abnormal state

hypoxia

ial

pertaining to

arterial

iasis

condition

psoriasis

iatry

physician; treatment

psychiatry

ic

pertaining to

apneic

ician

one who

physician

ictal

seizure; attack

postictal

ism

state of

embolism

itis

inflammation

colitis

lepsy

seizure

epilepsy

lysis

loosening; dissolution; separating

hydrolysis

lytic

destroy; reduce

thrombolytic

malacia

softening

chondromalacia

mania

madness; insane desire

pyromania

megaly

enlargement

hepatosplenomegaly

meter

instrument used to measure

thermometer

metry

measurement

oximetry

morph

form; shape

polymorph (polymorphonuclear)

odynia

pain

arthrodynia

oid

resembling

hyoid

ologist

one who studies & practices (specialist)

cardiologist

ology

study of

oncology

oma

tumor; swelling

hematoma

oorhagia

rapid flow of blood

menorrhagia

opia

vision (condition)

myopia

opsy

to view

biopsy

orrhaphy

suturing; repairing

herniorrhaphy

orrhea

flow; excessive discharge

menorrhea

orrhexis

rupture

capsulorrhexis

osis

abnormal condition (means increased when used with blood cell dermatosis word roots)

ostomy

creation of an artificial opening

colostomy

otomy

cut into or incision

craniotomy

ous

pertaining to

parous

oxia

oxygen

hypoxia

L TOP

M TOP

O TOP

P TOP

paresis

slight paralysis

hemiparesis

pathy

disease

neuropathy

penia

abnormal reduction in number

cytopenia

pepsia

digestion

dyspepsia

pexy

surgical fixation; suspension

urethropexy

phagia

eating; swallowing

odynophagia

phobia

abnormal fear of or aversion to specific objects or things

claustrophobia

phonia

sound or voice

hyperphonia

phoria

feeling

euphoria

physis

growth

hypophysis

plasia

formation; development; a growth

hyperplasia

plasm

growth; substance; formation

cytoplasm

plasty

plastic or surgical repair

arthroplasty

plegia

paralysis

paraplegia

pnea

breathing

apnea

poiesis

formation

hematopoiesis

porosis

passage

osteoporosis

prandial

meal

postprandial

ptosis

dropping; sagging; prolapse

splanchnoptosis

ptysis

spitting

hemoptysis

salpinx

fallopian tube

hydrosalpinx

sarcoma

malignant tumor

angiosarcoma

sclerosis

hardening

atherosclerosis

scope

instrument used for visual examination

endoscope

scopic

visual examination

arthroscopic

scopy

visual examination

colonoscopy

sepsis

infection

sepsis

spasm

sudden involuntary muscle contraction

vasospasm

stalsis

contraction

peristalsis

stasis

control; stop

hemostasis

stenosis

constriction; narrowing

stenosis

thorax

chest

hemithorax

tocia

birth; labor

dystocia

tome

instrument used to cut

keratome

tripsy

surgical crushing

lithotripsy

trophy

nourishment

atrophy

ule

little

pustule

uria

urine; urination

pyuria

S TOP

T TOP

U TOP