Chapter 2 Suffixes

Objectives
• Recognize and use suffixes for nouns and
adjectives;
• Recognize and use suffixes for pathologic
al conditions;
• Recognize and use suffixes for diagnostic
procedures;
• Know about simple suffixes and compoun
d suffixes.
 Part One Introduction
• Definition: the word element placed at the
end of a word
• Functions
-- To indicate the grammatical function
(-al, -ed, -ment)
-- To modify its meaning (certain changes,
conditions or procedures) (-less)
 Part One Introduction
• Classification
simple: -al, -ment
compound: -log · y
study process
-ec · tom · y
out cut process
Part Two Combining Forms and Suffixes
Common Combining Forms
Combining Form Meaning Example
• aden/o gland adenal
• angi/o vessel angiopathy
• arthr/o joint arthritis
• bi/o life biology
• cardi/o heart cardiology
Part Two Combining Forms and Suffixes
Combining Form Meaning Example
• cephal/o head cephalodynia
• cyt/o cell cytology
• electr/o electricity electrical
• encephal/o brain encephalopathy
• enter/o small intestine enteritis
Part Two Combining Forms and Suffixes
Combining Form Meaning Example
• gastr/o stomach gastritis
• hemat/o, hem/o blood hemocyte,
hematology
• hepat/o liver hepatic
• iatr/o treatment psychiatry
• my/o muscle myopathy
Part Two Combining Forms and Suffixes
Combining Form Meaning Example
• neur/o nerve neuritis
• psych/o mind psychology
• path/o disease pathology

• oste/o bone osteopathy

• rhin/o, nas/o nose rhinopathy,
nasal
 Group 1 Suffixes for
Pathological Conditions
 enc
ephalocele
cardiomegaly
Hepatomegaly—enlargement of liver
• Osteoma—tumor of bone
subdermal hematoma
gastroptosis
Group 2 Suffixes for Surgical
and Diagnostic Procedures
thoracocentesis
Group 2 Suffixes for Surgical
and Diagnostic Procedures
angiogram of the brain
electrocardiograph
Electromyograph--instrument to record the
electric activity of muscle
angiograph
gastroscope
Group 2 Suffixes for Surgical Proced
ures
-ectomy (surgical removal, excision)
-stomy (surgical creation of an opening)
-tomy (surgical incision)
e.g. stomach
liver
bone
muscle
 Group 3 Noun Suffixes
• Megalocardia—condition of abnormally
large heart
• Pediatrics—treatment of children’s
disease
• Physician—doctor of internal medicine
embolism in blood vessels
Group 3 Noun Suffixes
Group 3 Suffixes for Medical Specialists
allergist anesthesiologist
cardiologist dermatologist
endocrinologist gynecologist
hematologist internist
neurologist oncologist
ophthalmologist otolaryngologist
pathologist psychiatrist
pulmonologist radiologist
urologist
 Group 3
Suffixes for Medical Specialists

obstetrician
orthopedician
pediatrician
physiatrician