Support Union Test Prep
Support us and begin preparing Ad-free for your tests with
Union Test Prep.
At Union Test Prep, we are a small team dedicated to bringing the best test-prep material to you, free of cost. But we cannot do it without your support.
Support us today and start preparing for your test without the intrusion of ads.
Support NowIn addition to prefixes and root words, the breakdown of common medical terminology must include attention to word endings, or suffixes. Similar to the common roots, these suffixes are rarely used outside of medical terminology, so we will only provide examples of medical terms. You may also notice that many suffixes have similar meanings. Once you familiarize yourself with the suffixes, prefixes, and roots, you can put it all together to easily decipher complicated terminology. Be sure to combine the tools presented in this blog with those in our other blogs on this subject, linked here:
Making Sense of Disease Names: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Suffix | Meaning | Medical Example |
---|---|---|
-al | Pertaining to | Abdominal |
-algia or -dynia | Pain | Neuralgia |
-cele | Hernia, herniation, or pouching |
Hydrocele |
-centesis | Surgical puncture | Paracentesis |
-cyte | Cell | Lymphocyte |
-dipsia | Thirst | Polydipsia |
-ectomy | Surgical removal | Nephrectomy |
-emia | Blood condition | Leukemia |
-genic | Producing or causing | Carcinogenic |
-graphy | Process of recording | Cardiography |
-ia or iasis | Condition | Pneumonia |
-ist | Specialist | Dermatologist |
-ism | Condition | Hypothyroidism |
-itis | Inflammation | Bursitis |
-logy | Study of | Neurology |
-lysis | Destruction of or decomposition of |
Dialysis |
-megaly | Enlargement | Splenomegaly |
-oma | Tumor | Lymphoma |
-osis | Condition | Cyanosis |
-pathy | Disease | Neuropathy |
-penia | Lack or deficiency | Neutropenia |
-phagia | Swallow or eat | Dysphagia |
-phasia | Speech | Aphasia |
-plasty | Surgical repair or reshaping | Abdominoplasty |
-plegia | Paralysis | Hemiplegia |
-pnea | Breathing | Apnea |
-scopy | Visual examination | Colonoscopy |
-stasis | Maintenance or maintaining balance |
Homeostasis |
-stomy or ostomy | Creation of an opening | Nephrostomy |
-tomy | Incision or cut into | Craniotomy |
-uria | Urine or urination | Hematuria |
As you enter the medical field, the terminology may seem overwhelming. …
In medical terminology, a root word will often be paired with another r…
Making Sense of Disease Names Using Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
When trying to decipher medical terminology, it can be helpful to break…