Common suffixes

Question 1

-ac / -al / -ic / -ical

Answer 1

Pertaining to

Question 2

-aemia

Answer 2

Relates to the blood

Example: Ischaemia- reduced or deficient blood supply
Viraemia- the presence of virus particles in the bloodstream

Question 3

-algia

Answer 3

Pain

Question 4

-ase

Answer 4

enzyme

Question 5

-blast

Answer 5

immature/ embryonic

Question 6

-centesis

Answer 6

Surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas

Question 7

-clast

Answer 7

to break

Question 8

-crine

Answer 8

separate/ to secrete

Question 9

-cyte(cyto- is the prefix used)

Answer 9

Cell

Example: Erythrocyte- red blood cell
Chondrocyte- cartilage cell
Hepatocyte- liver cell

Question 10

-cytosis

Answer 10

Increase in cell number/ condition of cells

Question 11

-drome

Answer 11

To run

Question 12

-ectomy

Answer 12

Surgical removal of

Example: Thyroidectomy- removal of the thyroid gland

Question 13

-emesis

Answer 13

vomiting

Question 14

-emia

Answer 14

Blood condition

Question 15

-emic

Answer 15

Pertaining to a blood condition

Question 16

-er

Answer 16

one who

Question 17

-exia

Answer 17

condition/pathology

Question 18

-gen, -genesis

Answer 18

forming/ producing

Question 19

-genic

Answer 19

Produced by or in

Question 20

-genic

Answer 20

Giving rise to, causing

Example: Pathogenic- causing disease
Carcinogenic- causing neoplasia or cancer

Question 21

-gram

Answer 21

Record

Question 22

-grade

Answer 22

to go

Question 23

-graph

Answer 23

Instrument for recording

Question 24

-graphy

Answer 24

Process of recording

Question 25

-ia / -ion / -ism / -sis

Answer 25

process/ condition

Question 26

-ia/ -iasis

Answer 26

Condition or State Example: Hypoplasia- incomplete development of an organ Distichiasis- presence of a double row of eyelashes

Question 27

-ion

Answer 27

Process

Question 28

-ist

Answer 28

Specialist

Question 29

-itis

Answer 29

Inflammation Example: Arthritis- inflammation of a joint Hepatitis- inflammation of he liver Conjunctivitis- inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye

Question 30

-ive

Answer 30

relating to

Question 31

-kinesis

Answer 31

movement

Question 32

-logist

Answer 32

specialist

Question 33

-logy

Answer 33

Study of

Question 34

-lysis

Answer 34

breakdown

Question 35

-malacia

Answer 35

softening

Question 36

-megaly

Answer 36

enlargement

Question 37

-meter

Answer 37

device for measurement/ to measure

Question 38

-ole, -elle, -ule

Answer 38

little/ small

Question 39

-oma

Answer 39

Tumour, neoplasm, mass, fluid collection Example: Sarcoma- malignant tumour Lipoma- benign tumour of adipose tissue

Question 40

-opsy

Answer 40

View of/ to view

Question 41

-or

Answer 41

one who

Question 42

-osis / -iasis

Answer 42

Disease order or state / abnormal condition Example: Osteochondrosis- a developmental disease of articular cartilage

Question 43

-ostomy

Answer 43

Surgical opening Example: Tracheostomy- opening into the trachea Colostomy- opening into the colon

Question 44

-paresis

Answer 44

slight paralysis/ weakening

Question 45

-pathy

Answer 45

Disease condition, emotion

Question 46

-penia

Answer 46

decrease/ dificiency

Question 47

-pexy

Answer 47

surgical fixation

Question 48

-phage

Answer 48

eat/ swallow

Question 49

-philia

Answer 49

attraction for/ increase in cell #

Question 50

-physis

Answer 50

to grow

Question 51

-plasia

Answer 51

development/ formation/ growth

Question 52

-plasty

Answer 52

surgical repair

Question 53

-plegia

Answer 53

paralysis

Question 54

-pnea

Answer 54

breathing

Question 55

-poiesis

Answer 55

formation

Question 56

-rhexis

Answer 56

rupture

Question 57

-rrhage / -rrhagia

Answer 57

bursting forth

Question 58

-rrhea

Answer 58

discharge/ flow

Question 59

-scope

Answer 59

Instrument for visual examination

Question 60

-scopy

Answer 60

Visual examination

Question 61

-sis

Answer 61

State of, condition

Question 62

-stalsis

Answer 62

controlling/ stopping

Question 63

-stomy

Answer 63

new opening to outside of body

Question 64

-therapy

Answer 64

treatment

Question 65

-thorax

Answer 65

chest/ pleural cavity

Question 66

-tomy

Answer 66

Incision, peocess of cutting into

Question 67

-trophy

Answer 67

development/ nourishment

Question 68

-um, -us

Answer 68

structure/ thing/tissue