CHAPTER 3
Suffixes
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Suffixes
• Remember
– Meaning of suffix does not change
– Suffix does change meaning of the word
• Every medical word has an ending
– Either a suffix or a complete word
• Suffixes make a word a noun or an adjective
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suffixes: Rule
• When suffix begins with a consonant
– Combining vowel is needed to attach suffix to word root
– Example: cephalodynia
•
•
•
•
Breakdown of word: cephal / o / dynia
Root = cephal
Combining vowel = o (is needed)
Suffix = dynia (begins with consonant)
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suffixes: Rule
• When suffix begins with a vowel
– Combining vowel is not needed to attach suffix to word
root
– Example word: cephalalgia
•
•
•
•
Breakdown of word: cephal / algia
Root = cephal
Combining form = (not needed)
Suffix = algia (begins with a vowel)
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Question
To combine the word root lith (stone) and
suffix tripsy (crushing), is “lithtripsy” a valid
medical term?
a. No. The suffix begins with a consonant and needs a
combining vowel.
b. Yes. Every term needs a word root and an ending, and
this has both.
c. No. Every term needs a prefix as well.
d. Yes. The suffix begins with a consonant and does not
need a combining vowel.
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Answer
a. You need to add a combining vowel if the
suffix begins with a consonant.
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suffixes: Rule
• Remember
– When defining a medical term
• Define suffix first
• Define prefix second
• Define word root(s) last
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suffixes
• Suffixes indicate specialties and/or specialists
– May be specialist in a field of study
– May be one who specializes in the study of
– May be one who treats
• Suffixes indicate instruments
– May be an instrument used to view
– May be an instrument used to measure
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Suffixes
• Suffixes indicate surgical and diagnostic
procedures
–
–
–
–
May be surgical puncture
May be process of recording
May be process of viewing with a scope
May be incision into
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Question
The root “gastr” means stomach, and suffix
“plasty” means surgical repair. How would
you read the term “gastroplasty”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Stomach repair during surgery.
Surgical repair of the stomach.
Surgical stomach repair.
Repair surgically of the stomach.
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Answer
b. Suffix first, then the word root.
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Forming Plurals
• When singular form ends in ‘a’
– Change the ‘a’ to ‘ae’
• When singular form ends in ‘ax’
– Change the ‘ax’ to ‘aces’
• When singular form ends in ‘is’
– Change the ‘is’ to ‘es’
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Forming Plurals
• When singular form ends in ‘ix’, ‘ex’, or
‘yx’
– Change the ‘ix’, ‘ex’, or ‘yx’ to ‘ices’
• When singular form ends in ‘on’
– Change the ‘on’ to ‘a’
• When the singular form ends in ‘um’
– Change the ‘um’ to ‘a’
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Forming Plurals
• When the singular form ends in ‘us’
– Change the ‘us’ to ‘i’
• When the singular form ends in ‘ma’
– Change the ‘ma’ to ‘mata’
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Question
True or False: Plural suffixes don't always
follow a logical pattern, so it is important to
study them.
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Answer
True. For instance, instead of just adding an
‘s’ to the end to make things plural, there are
odd ones like –ix, -ex, or –yx changing to –
ices.
Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.