MODULE 2 Clinical suffixes

Question 1

-ad

Answer 1

moving in a direction towards
[when two roots are used, the order of the roots in the term must be properly reflected in the definition]
eg: cephalocaudad–> moving in a direction from the head toward the tail.

Question 2

-ate

Answer 2

having; having the form of
[the first of these two meanings is more common and should be used as the default; the second meaning should be used only if there is a context to support it]

Question 3

-ics

Answer 3

study (of a subject)

[the termination -logy is more commonly and should be used, unless one is specifically directed to use this suffix]

Question 4

-ist

Answer 4

a specialist (in a subject)

Question 5

-itis

Answer 5

inflammation

Question 6

-oid

Answer 6

resembling; like

Question 7

• osis
• ism
• iasis

Answer 7

form a noun and indicate a state of being, one which is usually (but not necessarily) negative or abnormal in character.

most usually, use or expect to see either of these in definitions given:

a. disorder (of an organ, structure, function, characteristic);
b. condition characterized by/caused by (a substance)

frequently, however, these phrases will not be appropriate to the context (the word “condition” may be an appropriate rendering in some contexts)

-osis: the most commonly used of these 3 suffixes, use it when creating a term

Question 8

-ous*

Answer 8

containing

Question 9

• ia

- y

Answer 9

suffixes which create a noun: a state of being, a process or act, a syndrome, a symptom, etc.

very often: no need a specific translation; if context requires –> “condition” or “condition characterized by”, but the translation will depend upon the context

no single definition is possible, and must use context to decide on what kind of noun is being created

Question 10

• ic
• tic
• al
• ical
• ac
• ar
• ary
• eal
• ine
• ile
• ous*

Answer 10

adjective

most usually: “pertaining to” or “located in”, but depend upon context.
in many instances neither can be used–> particularly true when the adj. is modifying a noun in a phrase.
other possibilities: based on the context, including “characterized by” or “of”

Question 11

-ize(-ise)

Answer 11

verb, as in “to (do smth)”

some possible rendering, depending on the context, including “to make/become/ X”, “to cause X to occur”, “to subject X to”, “to engage in X”