MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

A Short Course

Dr. Anabelle P. Buran-Omar, RN, MD,ND, PhD

Chapter 3
SUFFIXES
1. To identify and define useful diagnostic and
procedural suffixes
2. To analyze, spell, and pronounce medical terms
that contain diagnostic and procedural suffixes
3. To apply medical terms in real-life situations

Learning Objectives
 Suffixes
Suffixes are divided into two groups:
1. Diagnostic suffixes
❑describe disease conditions or their symptoms
2. Procedural suffixes
❑describe procedures used in patient care

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING COMBINING FORM SUFFIX

-algia Condition of 1.______ ________

pain 2._______ ________
3._______ ________

1.______ _________ pain in the joint

2. _____ __________ pain in an ear
3. _____ __________ pain in a muscle

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING

-ia Condition Pneumonia

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING

-megaly enlargement
1. Enlargement of the heart
A. Cardi/o/megaly
B. Cardio/megaly
2. Enlargement of the liver
A. Hepato/megaly
B. Hepat/o/megaly

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING
-emia Blood condition Leukemia
Septicemia
Bacteremia
Uremia

____________ is the deficiency of

blood flow to a part of the body caused
by narrowing or obstruction of blood
vessels.
It may lead to necrosis ( death of cells)

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING

-itis Inflammation
__1. thrombophlebitis a. Inflammation of small sac of fluid (bursa) near a
__2. pharyngitis joint
__3. peritonitis b. Inflammation of the liver
__4. otitis c. Inflammation of the stomach
d. Inflammation of muscle
__5. osteomyelitis
e. Inflammation of the kidney
__6. nephritis f. Inflammation of vein with formation of clots
__7. myositis g. Inflammation of the throat
__8. hepatitis h. Inflammation of the peritoneum
__9. gastritis i. Inflammation of the ear
__10. bursitis j. Inflammation of bone and bone marrow

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING
-oma Tumor, mass Myosarcoma
-myel/o Bone marrow myeloma

❑ A M O D E N A – benign tumor
❑ O Y M A M O – benign tumor in the uterus known as fibroids

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
❑ Malignant Tumors whose name DO NOT contain the combining forms
CARCIN/O and SARC/O

Hepatoma Malignant tumor of the ________ ( ____________

carcinoma)
___________ Malignant tumor of lymph nodes ( _________sarcoma)
Melanoma Malignant tumor of pigmented cells in the skin ; _____ black
___________ Malignant tumor of pleural cells (membrane surroundings
the lung)
Multiple Myeloma Malignant tumor of the _____________ cells
__________ Malignant tumor of the thymus gland

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Diagnostic Suffixes
SARCOMAS

__1. rhabdomyosarcoma a. Cancer of cartilage

__2. osteogenic sarcoma b. Cancer of fibrous tissue
__3. liposarcoma c. Cancer of visceral muscle
d. Cancer of fatty tissue
__4. leiomyosarcoma
e. Cancer of bone
__5. fibrosarcoma f. Cancer of skeletal muscle
__6. chondrosarcoma

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING
-osis ______________ Nephrosis
Necrosis

1. abnormal condition or slight increase of red blood cells ______________

SI STOYCORTHRYE
2. abnormal condition or slight increase of white blood cells____________

SISTOCYKOUEL

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING

-pathy Inflammation
__1. Encephalopathy a. Disease condition of the retina of the eye
__2. Cardiomyopathy b. Disease condition of bones
__3. Nephropathy c. Disease condition of brain
__4. Retinopathy d. Disease condition of nerves
__5. Osteopathy e. Disease condition of muscles
__6. Neuropathy f. Disease condition of the lymph nodes
g. Disease condition of the liver
__7. Myopathy
h. Disease condition of the adrenal glands
__8. Lymphadenopathy i. Disease condition of the brain
__9. Hepatopathy j. Disease condition of the heart muscle
__10. Adrenopathy k. Disease condition of the kidneys

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
1. suffix means flow, discharge
2. suffix means excessive discharge of blood

A. -rrhage/ -rrhagia B. -rrhea

__1. Hemorrhage a. Normal discharge of blood & tissue from uterine lining during
__2. Menorrhagia menstruation
__3. Rhinorrhea b. Excessive bleeding from the uterus during the time of
__4. Menorrhea menstruation
c. Discharge from the nose
d. Bursting forth of blood

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING

-________ Hardening

1. arteri/o/sclerosis=_______________________________

2. _____ _______= fatty plaque collects on the lining of

the arteries

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 Diagnostic Suffixes
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING

-uria ___________

AMEHAIRUT
Blood in urine

IAMERU
High levels of urea in the blood

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 Adjective Suffixes
❑Mean “pertaining to” and describe a part of the body,
process or condition
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY

-al or -eal Pertaining to Peritoneal

Inguinal
Renal
Esophageal
Myocardial
-ar __________ Vascular

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 Adjective Suffixes
❑Mean “pertaining to” and describe a part of the body,
process or condition
NOUN SUFFIX MEANING TERMINOLOGY

-ary __________ Axillary

Mammary
Pulmonary
-ic _________ Chronic
Pelvic

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Exercises
❑Page124
❑Page 125 D
Thank you!