Suffixes
Suffixes

Word added to the end of a word root
or combining form to change its
meaning.
(root)
(suffix)
 Hemat/o + -logy = Hematology
(Blood)
(study of) (Study of blood)
Surgical Suffixes
 -ectomy: excision, removal

Append/ectomy: removal of the appendix
 -tomy: incision, cut into

Trache/o/tomy: incision into the trachea
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -algia

Neuralgia: pain of a nerve
 -cele

hernia, swelling
Hepatocele: hernia of the liver
 -dynia

pain
pain
Otodynia: pain in the ear (earache)
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -gen or -genesis

Carcinogen: producing cancer
 -gram

record, a writing
Electrocardiogram: record of electrical activity of heart
 -graph

forming, producing, origin
instrument
Cardiograph: instrument for recording activity of heart
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -itis

Tendonitis: inflammation of the tendon
 -logist

specialist in the study of
Dermatologist: specialist in the study of skin
 -logy

inflammation
study of
Hematology: study of blood
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -malacia

Osteomalacia: softening of the bone
 -meter

instrument for recording
Thermometer: instrument for recording heat
 -oma

softening
tumor
Neuroma: tumor composed of nerve tissue
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -osis

Cyanosis: dark blue discoloration of skin
 -pathy

disease
Myopathy: disease of muscle
 -phobia

abnormal condition, increase
fear
Hemophobia: fear of blood
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -plegia

Hemiplegia: paralysis of one side of body
 -rrhea

discharge, flow
Diarrhea: abnormal, frequent flow of fluid fecal
matter from the bowel
 -rrhage or -rrhagia

paralysis, stroke
bursting forth
Hemorrhage: bursting forth of blood
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -scope

Gastroscope: instrument for viewing inside of
stomach
 -scopy

visual examination
Gastroscopy: visual examination of inside of stomach
 -spasm

instrument to view
involuntary contraction
Blepharospasm: twitching of eyelid
Diagnostic and Related Suffixes
 -stenosis

Arteriostenosis: narrowing of an artery
 -toxic

poison
Hepatotoxic: poisonous to the liver
 -trophy

narrowing, stricture
development, nourishment
Atrophy: wasting away of tissue due to no
nourishment
Adjective Suffixes
 All mean “pertaining to”





-ac
-al
-ar
-ary
-eal
cardi/ac
neur/al
muscul/ar
saliv/ary
mening/eal
Noun Suffixes
 -ia
 -ism
 -y
condition
pneumonia
alcoholism
urology
 -iatrics
treatment
pediatrics
 -iatry
medicine
podiatry
 -ist
specialist
urologist
Diminutive Suffixes
 -icle
 -ole
 -ule
particle: small part or piece
arteriole: smallest of the arteries
venule: small vein