SUFFIXES

 

 

SUFFIXES………added to the end of a word to modify the meaning

 

  1. General suffixes
    1. otomy………cutting into or an incision
    2. ectomy……..surgical removal or excision

example a.   gastrotomy

b.      lobotomy  vs, lobectomy

c.       tonsillectomy

d.      hysterectomy

e.       enterotomy

 

  1. “Pertaining to” suffixes
    1. ac……...cardiac
    2. al………renal
    3. an……...oviaran
    4. ar………lumbar
    5. ary……..alimentary
    6. ine……..uterine
    7. ous…….cutaneous
    8. tic……...nephrotic

 

  1. Surgical suffixes
    1. ectomy….surgical removal or excision
    2. pexy…….suture to stabilize…ex:  gastropexy
    3. plasty…...surgical repair…….ex:  rhinoplasty
    4. stomy…..surgically created opening….ex:  colostomy
    5. otomy….cutting into or an incision…...ex:  laparotomy

 

  1. Procedural suffixes
    1. centesis….to withdraw fluid from….ex:  cystocentesis, thoracentesis
    2. gram…record of…..ex:  electrocardiogram
    3. graph...instrument that makes the record……ex:  electrocardiograph
    4. lysis….separation or breakdown……ex:  urinalysis
    5. scope….instrument to visually examine……ex:  endoscope, arthroscope
    6. therapy….treatment…….ex:  chemotherapy

 

  1. Double “r” suffixes
    1. rrhagia or rrhage……bursting forth………ex:  hemorrhage
    2. rrhea……flow, discharge………ex:  diarrhea
    3. rrhexis….rupture………ex:  myorrhexis

 

  1. Structural suffixes
    1. itis…….inflammation of……….ex:  hepatitis, myositis, cystitis, iritis
    2. malacia……abnormal softening…  ex:..osteomalacia
    3. megaly…….enlargement of……….ex:  cardiomegaly
    4. osis……abnormal condition………ex:  cyanosis
    5. pathy….disease or problem……….ex:  cardiomyopathy
    6. sclerosis…..abnormal hardening….ex:  arteriosclerosis
    7. um……structure……….ex:  pericardium

 

  1. Analyzing medical terms
    1. break word down into components
    2. begin at the end….suffix, prefix, then root
    3. examples…..gastroenteritis, ovariohysterectomy, cardiomyopathy, pododermatitis, pyoderma
    4. polydactyl, polyuria, polydypsia

 

  1. Other suffixes
    1. oma…….swelling or mass…….ex:  hematoma, hepatoma, seroma
    2. ology…...study of….ex:  microbiology, virology, immunology
    3. emia……blood…….ex:  anemia, uremia,hypoglycemia
    4. uria…….urine…..ex:  hematuria,
    5. dactyl…digit…   ex:   polydactyl
    6. dypsia…drinking or thirst……ex:  polydypsia
    7. phagia…swallowing…….ex:  dysphagia
    8. ocia……birth………ex:  dystocia