Chapter 4:
Suffixes
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© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-2
Learning Outcomes
 Describe how suffixes are put together
 Recognize/use suffixes related to sensation and
feelings
 Recognize/use suffixes related to conditions or
symptoms
 Recognize/use suffixes related to body processes
McGraw-Hill
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-3
Learning Outcomes (Cont.)
 Recognize/use suffixes related to body parts or
chemical elements
 Recognize/use suffixes related to surgical or
procedural processes
 Recognize/use suffixes related to pathology or
diagnosis
 Interpret and use common miscellaneous suffixes
McGraw-Hill
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-4
Suffixes
 Prefixes = beginning of root word
 Suffixes = end of the root word or combining form
 Suffixes = action
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Suffixes
 Acts like an adjective indicating:
 Sensation and Feelings
 Conditions
 Symptoms
 Body processes
 Surgical/Procedural processes
 Pathology
 Diagnosis
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Suffixes
 Prefixes and suffixes are going to be used over and over
to match different roots to create a different meaning!
 Cardiologist and Neurologists
 Suffix –ist, one who studies
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Dermatitis
 Dermatitis
 dermat(o)- [skin] root word
 -itis [inflammation] suffix
 Meaning: inflammation of the skin
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4-8
Gastralgia
 Gastralgia
 gastr(o)- [stomach] root word
 -algia [discomfort, pain] suffix
 Meaning: stomach-ache/pain
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4-9
Hepatomegaly
 Hepatomegaly
 hepat(o)- [liver] root word
 -megaly [enlargement] suffix

Meaning: enlarged liver
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Putting it Together
 The KEY to mastering medical terminology is learning
word roots for each body system
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Suffixes (Sensation/Feeling)
 -algia
 -asthenia
 -desis
 -dynia
 -esthesia
McGraw-Hill
pain
weakness
binding
pain
sensation
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-12
Suffixes (Sensation/Feeling)
 -kinesia
 -kinesis
 -phobia
 -phonia
 -phoria
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movement
movement
fear
sound
feeling, carrying
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-13
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -cele
 -cytosis
 -ectasia
 -ectasis
 -edema
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hernia
condition of cells
expansion; dilation
expanding; dilating
swelling
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4-14
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -ema
 -emesis
 -iasis
 -ism
 -itis (-itides)
McGraw-Hill
condition
vomiting
pathological condition or
state; presence of
condition, disease
inflammation
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4-15
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -lepsy
 -leptic
 -lithiasis
 -mania
 -megaly
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seizures
pertaining to seizures
presence of stones
obsession; madness
enlargement
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4-16
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -oma (pl. -omata)
 -opia
 -opsia
 -osis (pl. -oses)
 -paresis
McGraw-Hill
tumor, neoplasm
vision
vision
condition, state,
process
slight paralysis, feelings
of numbness and tingling
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-17
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -pathy
 -penia
 -philia
 -phrenia
 -phthisis
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disease
deficiency, small, fewer
attraction; affinity for
of the mind
wasting away
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4-18
Suffixes (Conditions/Symptoms)
 -physis
 -plegia
 -plegic
 -ptosis
 -rrhea
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growing
paralysis
pertaining to paralysis
falling down; drooping
to flow or discharge
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4-19
Suffixes (conditions/symptoms)
 -rrhagia
 -rrhexis
 -trophic
 -trophy
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excessive bleeding
rupture
pertaining to nutrition
nutrition
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4-20
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -blast
 -cidal
 -cide
 -crine
 -malacia
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immature, forming
destroying, killing
destroying, killing
secreting
softening
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4-21
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -para
 -parous
 -pepsia
 -phage, -phaga
 -phagy
McGraw-Hill
bearing
producing, bearing
digestion
eating, devouring
swallowing
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4-22
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -phasia
 -phoresis
 -plasia
 -plastic
 -pnea
McGraw-Hill
speaking
carrying
formation, development,
growth
forming
breath
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-23
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -poiesis
 -poietic
 -poietin
 -para
 -porosis
McGraw-Hill
production, formation
pertaining to production
substance that produces
bearing
lessening in density
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4-24
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -rrhage
 -rrhea
 -schisis
 -somnia
 -spasm
McGraw-Hill
discharging heavily
a flowing, a flux
splitting
sleep
contraction
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4-25
Suffixes (Body Processes)
 -stalsis
 -stasis
 -stenosis
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contraction
stopping, constant
narrowing
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4-26
Suffixes
(Body part/Chemical element)
 -cyte
 -derma
 -emia
 -emic
 -globin
McGraw-Hill
cell
skin
blood
relating to blood
protein
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-27
Suffixes
(Body part/Chemical element)
 -globulin
 -oxia
 -plakia
 -plasm
 -uria
McGraw-Hill
protein
oxygen
plaque
thing formed
urine
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-28
Suffixes
(Surgical/Procedures Processes)
 -ectomy
 -lysis
 -lytic
 -ostomy

McGraw-Hill
removal of part or all
of an organ or body part
destruction of
pertaining to destruction
opening to the outside
of the body
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4-29
Suffixes
(Surgical/Procedures Processes)
 -pexy
 -plasty
 -rrhaphy
 -static, -stasis
McGraw-Hill
fixation, usually done
surgically
surgical repair
surgical suturing
maintaining a state
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Suffixes
(Surgical/Procedures Processes)
 -stomy
 -tome
 -tomy
McGraw-Hill
opening
cutting instrument,
segment
cutting operation
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4-31
Suffixes (Pathology/Diagnosis)
 -crit
 -gen
 -genesis
 -genic
 -gram
McGraw-Hill
separate
producer
origin
produced by
a recording
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4-32
Suffixes (Pathology/Diagnosis)
 -graph
 -graphy
 -meter
 -metry
 -opsy
McGraw-Hill
recording instrument
process of recording
measuring device
measurement
view of
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4-33
Suffixes (Pathology/Diagnosis)
 -pheresis
 -phil
 -scope
 -scopy
McGraw-Hill
removal
attraction, affinity for
instrument
use of an instrument
for observing
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Additional Suffixes
 -ad
 -clasis
 -clast
 -form
 -ic
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toward
breaking
breaking instrument
in the shape of
pertaining to
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Additional Suffixes
 -ics
 -logist
 -logy
 -oid
 -phylaxis
McGraw-Hill
treatment, practice,
body of knowledge
one who studies
study, practice
like, resembling
protection, prevention
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-36
Additional Suffixes
 -plegic
 -stat
 -tropia
 -tropic
 -tropy
 -version
McGraw-Hill
one who is paralyzed
agent to maintain a state
of equilibrium
turning
turning toward
attracted to target
structures
turning
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-37
Chapter Review
 Describe how suffixes are put together
 Recognize/use suffixes related to sensation and
feelings
 Recognize/use suffixes related to conditions or
symptoms
 Recognize/use suffixes related to body processes
McGraw-Hill
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
4-38
Chapter Review (Cont.)
 Recognize/use suffixes related to body parts or
chemical elements
 Recognize/use suffixes related to surgical or
procedural processes
 Recognize/use suffixes related to pathology or
diagnosis
 Interpret and use common miscellaneous suffixes
McGraw-Hill
© 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.