The root words of medical terminology explain the what. Prefixes explain how, why, where, how many,in which position, in which direction, or in which state or condition. Suffixes explain the procedure,condition, or disease that relates to the root word, which points out the body part.
| Medical Terminology – Suffixes | |
| -ac | pertaining to or related to |
| -al | pertaining to or related to |
| -algia | pain or discomfort |
| -ate | use or subject ti |
| -cele | protrusion such as a hernia |
| -centesis | withdraw or aspirate fluid |
| -cle | small |
| -cule | small |
| -cyte | cell |
| -desis | surgical binding or fusion |
| -dynia | pain or discomfort |
| -ectomy | surgical removal or cutting out |
| -emesis | vomit |
| -emia | blood condition |
| -ent | person or agent |
| -er | person or agent |
| -esis | condition or or state of |
| -form | resembles, looks like, or shaped like |
| -genesis | beginng process or origin |
| -genic | produced by |
| -gram | written record |
| -graph | instrument that records |
| -graphy | the process of recording |
| -ia or -iasis | condition or or state of |
| -ism | condition or theory |
| -ist | person or agent |
| -ity | condition or or state of |
| -ize | use or subject to |
| -lysis | breakdown, destruction, or separation |
| -malacia | softening |
| -megaly | enlargement |
| -meter | instrument used to measure |
| -metry | the process of measuring |
| -oid | resembles, looks like, or shaped like |
| -ologist | specialist |
| -ology | the study of |
| -opsy | view |
| -osis | condition or or state of |
| -ostomy | artificial surgical opening |
| -otomy | surgical procedure to cut or incise |
| -ous | pertaining to or related to |
| -penia | deficiency |
| -pexis | surgical fixation |
| -pexy | surgical fixation |
| -phagia or -phagy | eating |
| -phobia | fear of |
| -plasia | development or formation |
| -plasty | reconstruction or reshaping |
| -plegia | paralysis |
| -pnea | breathing |
| -poiesis | manufacture or production of |
| -ptosis | drooping |
| -rrhage or -rrhagia | suturing in place or fixation |
| -rrhea | flow or discharge |
| -rrhexis | rupture or separation |
| -sclerosis | hardening |
| -scope | instrument used to examine |
| -scopy | the process of examining |
| -sis | condition or or state of |
| -spasm | involuntary or unexpected |
| -tic | pertaining to or related to |
| -tion | condition or or state of |
| -tome | instrument |
| -tripsy | crushing |
| -trophic | development or growth |
| -trophy | development or growth |
| -ule | small |
| -ulus | small |
| -u | condition or or state of |
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