Suffixes
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Learning Objectives

 Identify and define useful diagnostic and
procedural suffixes.
 Analyze, spell, and pronounce medical terms that
contain diagnostic and procedural suffixes.
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
2
Suffixes

Suffixes are divided into two groups:
1.
2.
Diagnostic suffixes describe disease conditions or
their symptoms
Procedural suffixes describe procedures used in
patient care
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
3
Diagnostic Suffixes

-algia
-emia
-ia
pain
blood condition
condition
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
4
Diagnostic Suffixes
(cont.)

-itis
-megaly
-oma
inflammation
enlargement
tumor, mass
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
5
Diagnostic Suffixes
(cont.)

-osis
-pathy
condition, abnormal
condition
disease condition
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
6
Diagnostic Suffixes
(cont.)

-rrhea
-rrhage
-rrhagia
flow, discharge
excessive
discharge of blood
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
7
Diagnostic Suffixes
(cont.)

-sclerosis
-uria
hardening
condition of urine
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
8
Diagnostic Suffixes
– Adjective Suffixes

Each of these means “pertaining to”
-al or -eal
-ar
-ary
-ic
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
9
Procedural Suffixes

-centesis
-ectomy
surgical puncture to
remove fluid
removal, resection,
excision
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
10
Procedural Suffixes
(cont.)

-gram
record
-graphyprocess of recording
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
11
Procedural Suffixes
(cont.)

-lysis
-plasty
separation,
breakdown,
destruction
surgical repair or
surgical correction
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
12
Procedural Suffixes
(cont.)

-scopy
-stomy
process of visual
examination
opening
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
13
Procedural Suffixes
(cont.)

-therapy
-tomy
treatment
incision, to cut into
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
14
Medical Scramble

1.
Suffix meaning enlargement
-G A Y M L E
2.
Suffix meaning separation, breakdown
-S Y S I L
3.
Holding back blood from an area of the body
HASEIMIC
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
15
Medical Scramble (cont.)

4.
Ear pain
TAILOGA
5.
Benign tumor of muscle
YMOAM
6.
Sharp, sudden, severe
TUECA
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
16
Medical Scramble (cont.)

Bonus Term: Tumor of bone marrow
(Hint: It affects MULTIPLE areas of bone marrow
tissue.)
YLMOAME
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2005, 2003,
1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
17