Suffix: Singular vs

vs. Plural
Greek
Singular Suffixes Plural Suffixes
¾ -on ¾ -a
– spermatozoon
p – spermatozoa
p (sperm cells)
– ganglion – ganglia (nerve cells)
¾ -ma ¾ -mata
– carcinoma, lipoma – carcinomata, lipomata
¾ -is ¾ -es
– psychosis, prognosis – psychosis, prognoses
¾ -nx ¾ -ges
g
– larynx, pharynx – larynges, pharynges
Copyright © 2009, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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 Suffix: Singular vs
vs. Plural
Latin
Singular Suffixes Plural Suffixes
• -a • -ae
– vertebrae (backbones)
– vertebra
– conjunctivae
j ti (membrane over
– conjunctiva the front of the eye)

• -us • -i
– Bacillus – bacilli (rod-shaped bacteria)
– bronchus – bronchi (airways
• -um • -a
– bacterium – bacteria
– ilium – ilia (hip bone) 2
Copyright © 2009, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
 Suffix: Singular vs
vs. Plural
Latin
Singular Suffixes Plural Suffixes
• -ex • -ices
– cortex – cortices (outer
( t partst off organs))

– apex – apices (pointed ends of organs)

• -ix
i • -ices
i
– appendix – appendices
• -ax • -aces
– thorax – thoraces
– en – ina 3
Copyright © 2009, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

– Foramen, lumen – Foramina, lumina

 Practice…
Practice

Singular: Plural:
• Sarcoma
S • Sarcomata
S t
• Diagnosis • Diagnoses
• Phalanx
Ph l • Phalanges
Ph l
• Coccus • Cocci
• Calcaneum • Calcanea
• Vertex • Vertices
• Cervix • Cervices
• thorax • thoraces

Copyright © 2009, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1991 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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