Common Suffixes Flashcards
-a
condition of
Ex. dyspnea (condition of difficulty breathing)
-ac
pertaining to
Ex. insomniac (pertaining to insomnia, lack of sleep)
-al
pertaining to
Ex. carpal (pertaining to the wrist)
-algia
pertaining to pain
Ex. neuralgia (pain along a nerve)
-ary
pertaining to
Ex. coronary (pertaining to the blood vessel that supply the heart muscle)
-blast
germ of immature cell
Ex. myeloblast (bone marrow cell)
-cele
tumor, hernia
Ex. enterocele (hernia of the intestine)
-centesis
puncturing
Ex. thoracentesis (puncture and draining of the pleural space)
-cyte
cell
Ex. leukocyte (white cell)
-eal
pertaining to
Ex. tracheal (pertaining to the trachea)
-ectomy
a cutting to
Ex. tonsillectomy (excision of the tonsils)
-emia
condition of the blood
Ex. hypoxemia (condition of low blood oxygen)
-emic
pertaining to the blood
Ex. hyperglycemic (pertaining to high blood sugar)
-gram
record or picture
Ex. electrocardiogram (electronic picture of heart activity)
-ic
pertaining to
Ex. psychic (pertaining to the mind)
-itis
inflammation
Ex. bursitis (inflammation of the bursae)
-logy
study of
Ex. ophthalmology (study of the eye)
-lysis
destruction or loosening
Ex. glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen to form glucose)
-meter
measuring instrument
Ex. oximeter (measures blood oxygen saturation)
-oma
tumor , swelling
Ex. neuroma (tumor of a nerve)
-osis
condition of
Ex. psychosis (a mental disorder)
-ostomy
creating of an opening
Ex. tracheostomy (artificial opening into the trachea)
-ous
pertaining to
Ex. fibrous (pertaining to fiber)
-pathy
disease
Ex. neuropathy (disease of the nervous system)
