SUFFIXES

In the previous chapter, you learned what is word structure and some common roots. Here, you are going to learn some common Suffixes.

• The suffix is always at the end of a medical word.
• The suffix is the first word part to look at when you try to understand a medical word.

Suffix	Meaning	Term Example with Term Meaning
-algia	Pain	Cephalgia – headache, otalgia - earache
-cyte	Cell	Adipocyte – Fat cell
-dynia	Pain	Gastrodynia – stomach pain, mastodynia – breast pain
-ectomy	Surgical removal	Hysterectomy – surgical removal of uterus Mastectomy – Surgical removal of breast or part of the breast
-emesis	Vomit	Hematemesis – vomiting blood emetic – an agent such as a drug that causes vomiting.
-genic	Producing or generating something	Iatrogenic – Adverse side effects from treatment by physicians
-gnosis	Knowledge	Diagnosis – determining what disease or condition is present through a study of the signs and symptoms, and laboratory, x-ray, and other diagnostic procedures.
-gram	Record	Angiogram - Record (image) of a blood vessel is produced using x-rays and contrast medium. Mammogram – record (image) of the breast is produced using x-rays.
-gram	Record	Myelogram – Record (image) of the spinal cord, Venogram – Record (image) of a vein is produced using x-ray and contrast medium.
-graph	Instrument to record	Cardiograph – instrument used to record heart’s activity. Electrocardiogram – instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart.
-graphy	Process of recording	Cardiography – process of recording the heart’s activity. Computed tomography (CT) – an x-ray beam rotates around the patient taking multiple images of an organ at different depths. The information is the computer analyzed and converted to a picture of the body part.

In Brief,

- gram = Record

-graph = instrument used to record.

-graphy = process of recording.

-itis	Inflammation	Enteritis – inflammation of the small intestine. Stomatitis – inflammation of the mouth.
-logy	Study	Cardiology – study of heart, dermatology – study of skin.
-logist	Specialist in the study of the disease and treatment	Gynecologist – specialist in the study of the diseases and treatment of female disorder. Ophthalmologist - specialist in the study of the diseases and treatment of eye disorder.
-malacia	Softening	Adenomalacia – abnormal softening of a gland. Osteomalacia – softening of bone.
- megaly	Enlargement	Visceromegaly – enlarged internal organs
-oma	Tumor/cancer	Adenocarcinoma – cancer of glandular tissue. Osteoma – Tumor of bone. Hematoma – mass or collection of blood outside a blood vessel; a bruise.
-osis	Condition	Nephrosis – abnormal condition of the kidney
-pathy	Disease	Nephropathy – disease of the kidney neuropathy – disease of nerve.
-phobia	Fear of	Acrophobia – hear of heights
- plasty	Surgical reconstruction	Rhinoplasty – Surgical reconstruction of the nose, nose job. Arthroplasty – surgical reconstruction of a joint
-ptosis	Drooping	Nephroptosis – drooping kidney
-ptysis	Spitting up	Hemoptysis – spitting up of blood
-rrhage, -rrhagia	Rupture, to break	Hemorrhage – Bursting forth of blood, bleeding. Gastrorrhagia – bleeding from the stomach.
-rrhaphy	Suture	Colporrhaphy – suturing the wall of the vagina.
-rrhea	Discharge	Otorrhea – discharge from the ear.
-rrhexis	Rupture	Splenorrhexis – ruptured spleen.

In Brief,

-rrhage = burst forth

-rrhaphy = suture

-rrhea = flow, discharge

-rrhexis = ruptured

-sclerosis	Hardening	Arteriosclerosis – hardening of the arteries
-scope	Instrument used to view inside a body cavity or organ	Arthroscope – instrument used to view the inside of a joint cavity Gastroscope – instrument used to view the inside of the stomach.
-scopy	Process of viewing inside body cavity or organ	Endoscopy - Process of viewing inside of a body cavity or organ using an endoscope.

In Brief,

-scope = Instrument used to view inside a body cavity or organ.

-scopy = process of viewing inside a body cavity or organ.

-spasm	Sudden muscular spasm	Laryngospasm – sudden muscular spasm of the larynx
-stasis	Maintenance of a constant level, preventing increase or multiplication	Hemostasis – stopping of bleeding. Homeostasis – balanced yet varied state
-stenosis	Narrowing	Arteriostenosis – narrowing of an artery
-stomy	Surgical creation of new opening	Colostomy - Surgical creation of new opening in the colon. Tracheostomy - Surgical creation of new opening into the trachea.
-tomy	To cut	Tenotomy – to cut the tendon; incision of the tendon. Tracheotomy – to cut the trachea.

In Brief,

- stomy = surgical creation of a new opening

-tomy = to cut

incision = to cut into

excision = to cut out

-trophy

Growth, nourishment

Atrophy – wasting away of the muscle. Hypertrophy – excessive growth or enlargement of an organ or part.

Other Suffixes used as Adjectives.

-ac, -ou, -ic, -al, -ary, -ar, -eal

Pertaining to

Cardiac – pertaining to the heart. Chondral – pertaining to cartilage. Cutaneous – pertaining to skin. Gastric – pertaining to stomach idiopathic – pertaining to unknown cause of disease. Mammary – pertaining to breast. Muscular – pertaining to muscle. Natal – pertaining to birth. Pharyngeal – pertaining to pharynx. Septic – perceived to infection. Venous – pertaining to vein.

Note: Although there are some exceptions, the suffixes meaning “pertaining to” are not interchangeable with a given root. For example, you can say muscular, but not musculal, or musculous. You can say cardiac but not cardious or cardiary.