suffixes

Suffixes



Chapter Sections

I. Introduction

II. Combining Forms

III. Suffixes and Terminology

IV. Exercises and Answers

V. Review

VI. Pronunciation of Terms

VII. Practical Applications

VIII. Picture Show

IX. Medical Scramble



Chapter Objectives

• To identify and define useful diagnostic and procedural suffixes

• To analyze, spell, and pronounce medical terms that contain diagnostic

and procedural suffixes









77

78 Suffixes



I. Introduction

This chapter reviews the suffixes that you have learned in the first two chapters and

also introduces new suffixes and medical terms. The combining forms used in the

chapter are listed below in Section II. Refer to this list as you write the meanings of

3 the terms in Section III. Be faithful about completing all exercises in Section IV, and

remember to check your answers on p. 103! These exercises will help you spell terms

correctly and understand their meanings. Test yourself by completing the Review in

Section V and Pronunciation of Terms in Section VI.





II. Combining Forms

Combining

Form Meaning



aden/o gland

amni/o amnion (sac of fluid surrounding the embryo)

angi/o vessel (usually a blood vessel)

arteri/o artery

arthr/o joint

ather/o plaque (a yellow, fatty material)

axill/o armpit (underarm)

bronch/o bronchial tube

bronchi/o bronchial tube

carcin/o cancerous

cardi/o heart

chem/o drug (or chemical)

cholecyst/o gallbladder

chron/o time

col/o colon (large intestine or bowel)

crani/o skull

cry/o cold

cyst/o urinary bladder; also a sac of fluid or cyst

electr/o electricity

encephal/o brain

erythr/o red

esophag/o esophagus (tube leading from the throat to the stomach)

hem/o blood

hemat/o blood

hepat/o liver

hyster/o uterus

inguin/o groin (area where the thigh meets the trunk of the body)

isch/o to hold back

lapar/o abdomen (abdominal wall)

Suffixes 79



laryng/o voice box (larynx)

leuk/o white

mamm/o breast (use with -ARY, -GRAPHY, -GRAM, and -PLASTY)

mast/o breast (use with -ECTOMY and -ITIS)

men/o menses (menstruation); month

mening/o

my/o

meninges (membranes around the brain and spinal cord)

muscle

3

myel/o spinal cord (nervous tissue connected to the brain and located within

the spinal column or backbone); in other terms, MYEL/O- means bone

marrow (the soft, inner part of bones, where blood cells are made)

necr/o death (of cells)

nephr/o kidney (use with all suffixes, except -AL and -GRAM; use REN/O with

-AL and -GRAM)

neur/o nerve

oophor/o ovary

oste/o bone

ot/o ear

pelv/o hip area

peritone/o peritoneum (membrane surrounding the organs in the abdominal cavity)

phleb/o vein

pneumon/o lung

pulmon/o lung

radi/o x-rays

ren/o kidney (use with -AL and -GRAM)

rhin/o nose

salping/o fallopian (uterine) tube

sarc/o flesh

septic/o pertaining to infection

thorac/o chest

tonsill/o tonsil

trache/o windpipe; trachea

ur/o urine or urea (waste material); urinary tract

vascul/o blood vessel





III. Suffixes and Terminology

Suffixes are divided into two groups: those that describe diagnoses and those that

describe procedures.





Diagnostic Suffixes

These suffixes describe disease conditions or their symptoms. Use the list of combining

forms in the previous section to write the meaning of each term. You will find it helpful

to check the meanings of the terms with the Glossary of Medical Terms, p. 313.

80 Suffixes





Noun

Suffix Meaning Terminology Meaning





-algia condition of pain, arthralgia ________________________________

3 pain

otalgia ___________________________________



myalgia __________________________________



neuralgia _________________________________



-emia blood condition leukemia _________________________________

Increase in numbers of leukocytes; cells are

malignant (cancerous).



septicemia ________________________________



ischemia _________________________________

Figure 3-1 illustrates ischemia of heart muscle

caused by blockage of a coronary (heart) artery.



uremia ___________________________________

Uremia occurs when the kidneys fail to function

and urea (waste material) accumulates in the

blood.









Coronary FIGURE 3–1

artery

Ischemia of heart muscle. Blood is held back

occlusion

from an area of the heart muscle by an

occlusion (blockage) of a coronary (heart) artery.

The muscle then loses its supply of oxygen and

food and, if the condition persists, dies. The

death of the heart muscle is known as a heart

attack (myocardial infarction). (From Chabner

D-E: The Language of Medicine, ed 7,

Area of ischemia and infarction Philadelphia, 2004, WB Saunders.)

Suffixes 81



-ia condition, disease pneumonia _______________________________

The lung is inflamed, and fluid or material collects

in the air sacs of the lung.



-itis inflammation bronchitis ________________________________

See Figure 3-2. 3

esophagitis _______________________________



laryngitis _________________________________



meningitis ________________________________

The meninges are membranes that surround and

protect the brain and spinal cord. See Figure 3-3.



cystitis ___________________________________









Pharynx





Larynx





Trachea









FIGURE 3–2

Bronchial tubes are inflamed with

Bronchitis. hypersecretion of mucus

82 Suffixes





Scalp



Skull



Brain



3 Outermost meninges

(dura mater)



Middle meninges

(arachnoid)



Innermost meninges

(pia mater)









FIGURE 3–3

Spinal cord Meninges (frontal

view).







phlebitis _________________________________



colitis ____________________________________

Table 3-1 lists other common inflammatory

conditions with their meanings.



-megaly enlargement cardiomegaly _____________________________



hepatomegaly _____________________________



-oma tumor, mass adenoma _________________________________

This is a benign (noncancerous) tumor.



adenocarcinoma __________________________

Carcinomas are malignant (cancerous) tumors of

epithelial (skin or lining) tissue in the body.

Glands and the linings of internal organs are

composed of epithelial tissue.



myoma ___________________________________

This is a benign tumor.

Suffixes 83



TABLE 3–1 INFLAMMATIONS



appendicitis Inflammation of the appendix (hangs from the colon in the lower right

abdomen)

bursitis Inflammation of a small sac of fluid (bursa) near a joint

cellulitis

dermatitis

endocarditis

Inflammation

Inflammation

Inflammation

of

of

of

soft tissue under the skin

the skin

the inner lining of the heart (endocardium)

3

epiglottitis Inflammation of the epiglottis (cartilage at the upper part of the windpipe)

gastritis Inflammation of the stomach

hepatitis Inflammation of the liver

myositis Inflammation of muscle (MYOS/O- means muscle)

nephritis Inflammation of the kidney

osteomyelitis Inflammation of bone and bone marrow

otitis Inflammation of the ear

pharyngitis Inflammation of the throat

thrombophlebitis Inflammation of a vein with formation of clots







myosarcoma ______________________________

Sarcomas are cancerous tumors of connective (flesh)

tissue. Muscle, bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, and

fat are examples of connective tissues. See Table 3-2.



myeloma _________________________________

MYEL/O- means bone marrow in this term. Also

called multiple myeloma, this is a malignant

tumor of cells (called plasma cells) in the bone

marrow. See Table 3-3 for names of other

malignant tumors that do not contain the

combining forms CARCIN/O- and SARC/O-.



hematoma ________________________________

This is not a tumor but a collection of fluid (blood).



-osis condition, abnormal nephrosis _________________________________

condition





TABLE 3–2 SARCOMAS



chondrosarcoma Cancer of cartilage tissue (CHONDR/O- means cartilage)

fibrosarcoma Cancer of fibrous tissue (FIBR/O- means fibrous tissue)

leiomyosarcoma Cancer of visceral (attached to internal organs) muscle (LEIOMY/O-

means visceral muscle)

liposarcoma Cancer of fatty tissue (LIP/O- means fat)

osteogenic sarcoma Cancer of bone

rhabdomyosarcoma Cancer of skeletal (attached to bones) muscle (RHABDOMY/O- means

skeletal muscle)

84 Suffixes





TABLE 3–3 MALIGNANT TUMORS WHOSE NAMES DO NOT CONTAIN

THE COMBINING FORMS CARCIN/O- AND SARC/O-



hepatoma Malignant tumor of the liver (hepatocellular carcinoma)

lymphoma Malignant tumor of lymph nodes (previously called lymphosarcoma)

3 melanoma

mesothelioma

Malignant tumor of pigmented (MELAN/O- means black) cells in the skin

Malignant tumor of pleural cells (membrane surrounding the lungs)

multiple myeloma Malignant tumor of bone marrow cells

thymoma Malignant tumor of the thymus gland (located in the mediastinum)







necrosis __________________________________



erythrocytosis ____________________________

When -OSIS is used with blood cell words, it

means a slight increase in numbers of cells.



leukocytosis ______________________________

This condition occurs as a normal response to

infection.



-pathy disease condition encephalopathy ___________________________

Pronunciation is en-sef-ah-LOP-ah-the.



cardiomyopathy ___________________________

Pronunciation is kar-de-o-mi-OP-ah-the.



nephropathy ______________________________

Pronunciation is neh-FROP-ah-the. Table 3-4 lists

other disease conditions.



-rrhea flow, discharge rhinorrhea _______________________________



menorrhea _______________________________

Normal menstrual flow.







TABLE 3–4 DISEASE CONDITIONS (-PATHIES)



adrenopathy Disease condition of the adrenal glands

hepatopathy Disease condition of the liver

lymphadenopathy Disease condition of the lymph nodes (previously called glands)

myopathy Disease condition of muscles

neuropathy Disease condition of nerves

osteopathy Disease condition of bones

retinopathy Disease condition of the retina of the eye

Suffixes 85



-rrhage or bursting forth of hemorrhage ______________________________

blood

-rrhagia menorrhagia ______________________________

Excessive bleeding during menstruation.



-sclerosis hardening arteriosclerosis ___________________________

Atherosclerosis is the most common type of

3

arteriosclerosis. A fatty plaque (atheroma) collects

on the lining of arteries. See Figure 3-4.



-uria condition of urine hematuria ________________________________

Bleeding into the urinary tract can cause this

condition.



All the following adjective suffixes mean pertaining to and describe a part of the

body, process, or condition.



-al or -eal pertaining to peritoneal ________________________________



inguinal __________________________________









Arterial wall



Lumen



Normal

artery









Fatty streaks









Plaque









FIGURE 3–4

Advanced

Atherosclerosis (type of arteriosclerosis). A fatty plaque

Narrowed

(cholesterol) material collects in an artery, narrowing it

lumen

and eventually blocking the flow of blood.

86 Suffixes



renal _____________________________________



esophageal _______________________________



myocardial _______________________________

3 A heart attack is also called a myocardial

infarction (MI). An infarction is an area of dead

tissue caused by ischemia (when blood supply is

held back from a part of the body).



-ar pertaining to vascular __________________________________

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a stroke.



-ary pertaining to axillary __________________________________



mammary ________________________________



pulmonary _______________________________



-ic pertaining to chronic ___________________________________

Chronic conditions occur over a long period of

time, as opposed to acute conditions, which are

sharp, sudden, and brief.



pelvic ____________________________________





Procedural Suffixes

The following suffixes describe procedures used in patient care.



Suffix Meaning Terminology Meaning





-centesis surgical puncture to thoracentesis _______________________________

remove fluid The term is a shortened form of thoracocentesis. See

Figure 3-5.



amniocentesis ______________________________

See Figure 3-6.



arthrocentesis ______________________________



-ectomy removal, resection, tonsillectomy _______________________________

excision Tonsils and adenoids are lymph tissue in the

pharynx (throat). Lymph is composed of white blood

cells that fight infection. See Figure 3-7.

Suffixes 87







Skin



Rib



Area for

needle

insertion

Lung tissue



Pleura

3

Fluid in pleural space









A B

FIGURE 3–5

Technique of thoracentesis. A, The patient is sitting in the correct position for the procedure.

B, The needle is advanced, and the fluid (pleural effusion) is drained.









Amnion Amniotic Uterus

cavity







Amniotic

fluid

Placenta









Fetal cells

cultured for

analysis





FIGURE 3–6 Fluid for

Amniocentesis. biochemical analysis

88 Suffixes









3 Nasal

passages



ADENOIDS







TONSILS





Pharynx



Epiglottis

FIGURE 3–7

Trachea

Tonsils and adenoids. A tonsillectomy

and adenoidectomy (T&A) is removal of

Esophagus

the tonsils and adenoids.







hysterectomy _______________________________

In a total hysterectomy, the whole uterus, including

the cervix, is removed. If only a portion of the uterus

is removed, the procedure is a partial or subtotal

hysterectomy. See Figure 3-8.



oophorectomy _______________________________



salpingectomy ______________________________



cholecystectomy ____________________________

See Figure 3-9.



mastectomy ________________________________

Table 3-5 lists additional resection procedures.



-gram record myelogram _________________________________

MYEL/O- means spinal cord in this term. A contrast

material is injected into the membranes around the

spinal cord (by lumbar puncture), and then x-ray

pictures are taken of the spinal cord. This procedure

is performed less frequently now that MRI is

available.

Suffixes 89



Fallopian tube

Total hysterectomy









Uterus

3



Ovary



Cervix

Supporting

ligaments Vagina



FIGURE 3–8

Total hysterectomy. In a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), the uterus is removed through

the abdomen. A TAH-BSO is a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy and

oophorectomy.









Liver









Cholecystectomy









Common bile duct

Spleen





Intestine







Pancreas



FIGURE 3–9

Cholecystectomy. The liver is lifted up to show the gallbladder underneath. The pancreas is a

long, thin gland located behind and to the left of the stomach, toward the spleen. The common

bile duct carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the intestine.

90 Suffixes





TABLE 3–5 RESECTIONS



adenectomy Excision of a gland

adenoidectomy Excision of the adenoids

appendectomy Excision of the appendix



3 colectomy

gastrectomy

laminectomy

Excision of the colon

Excision of the stomach

Excision of a piece of backbone (lamina) to relieve pressure on nerves from

a (herniating) disk

myomectomy Excision of a muscle tumor (commonly a fibroid of the uterus)

pneumonectomy Excision of lung tissue; total pneumonectomy (an entire lung), or lobectomy

(a single lobe)

splenectomy Excision of the spleen







mammogram _______________________________

See Figure 3-10.



-graphy process of recording electroencephalography _____________________



mammography _____________________________

See Figure 3-11.









FIGURE 3–10

Mammograms of a 63-year-old woman. The right breast is normal, and the left breast contains

a breast cancer (arrow). (From Ballinger PW, Frank ED: Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positions

and Radiologic Procedures, ed 10, vol 2, St Louis, 2003, Mosby.)

Suffixes 91









3









FIGURE 3–11

Mammography. The breast is compressed,

and x-ray images (top to bottom and lateral)

are taken. (Courtesy Dr. Elizabeth Chabner

Thompson.)







angiography ________________________________

Contrast material (such as iodine) is injected in an

artery or vein and x-ray pictures are taken.



-lysis separation, dialysis ____________________________________

breakdown, Hemodialysis is the removal of blood and its passage

destruction through ( DIA- means through or complete) a kidney

machine to filter out waste materials, such as urea.

Another form of dialysis is peritoneal dialysis. A

special fluid is put into the peritoneum through a

tube in the abdomen. The wastes seep into the fluid

from the blood during a period of time. The fluid and

wastes are then drained from the peritoneum. See

Figure 3-12.

92 Suffixes





Dialysis solution









3



Peritoneal

cavity



Solution

draining out





Catheter









Solution

flowing in









Drained solution

FIGURE 3–12

Peritoneal dialysis. This procedure (or the alternative method of hemodialysis) is necessary

when the kidneys are not functioning to remove waste materials (such as urea) from the blood.

Without dialysis or kidney transplantation, uremia can result. (From Chabner D-E: The

Language of Medicine, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2004, WB Saunders.)







-plasty surgical repair, or mammoplasty ______________________________

surgical correction

rhinoplasty _________________________________



angioplasty _________________________________

Balloon angioplasty is performed on the coronary

arteries that surround the heart. A wire with a

collapsed balloon is placed in a clogged artery.

Opening of the balloon widens the vessel, allowing

more blood to flow through. A stent (mesh rodlike

device) is placed in the artery to hold it open. See

Figure 3-13.

Suffixes 93



Catheter threaded into

subclavian artery









3









Balloon in position in

right coronary artery

A B C

FIGURE 3–13

Angioplasty and placement of an intracoronary artery stent. A, The stent is positioned at

the site of the lesion. B, The balloon is inflated, expanding the stent. C, The balloon is then

deflated and removed, and the implanted stent is left in place. Coronary artery stents are

stainless-steel scaffolding devices that help hold arteries open.







-scopy process of visual bronchoscopy _______________________________

examination

laparoscopy ________________________________



laryngoscopy _______________________________

See Figure 3-14.



-stomy opening colostomy __________________________________

A -STOMY procedure is the creation of a permanent

or semipermanent opening (stoma) from an organ to

the outside of the body. See Figure 3-15. When two

tubelike structures are surgically connected within

the body, the new connection is an anastomosis. A

colocolostomy is an anastomosis, a new connection

between two previously unconnected portions of the

colon.



tracheostomy _______________________________

See Figure 3-16.

94 Suffixes









3







Larynx







FIGURE 3–14

Laryngoscopy.









Transverse

colostomy









Ascending

colostomy



Ileostomy

Descending

colostomy







Cecostomy









Sigmoid

colostomy FIGURE 3–15

Locations of stomas in the ileum and colon.

Suffixes 95









3

Epiglottis



Thyroid cartilage



Larynx



Esophagus



Tracheostomy tube









A B

FIGURE 3–16

A, Tracheostomy with tube in place. B, Healed tracheostomy incision after laryngectomy.

(B, From Black JM, Matassarin-Jacobs E: Medical-Surgical Nursing: Clinical Management for

Continuity of Care, ed 5, Philadelphia, 1997, WB Saunders.)







-therapy treatment radiotherapy _______________________________



chemotherapy ______________________________



cryotherapy ________________________________

Skin lesions, such as warts, are removed with

cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide snow

is applied and blistering followed by necrosis results.



-tomy incision, to cut into craniotomy _________________________________

-TOMY indicates a temporary incision, as opposed to

-STOMY, which is a permanent or semipermanent

opening.



laparotomy _________________________________



phlebotomy _________________________________

See Figure 3-17.

96 Suffixes



FIGURE 3–17

Phlebotomy. After entering a vein with a needle through

the skin, the plunger of the syringe is pulled slowly to

withdraw blood. (From Bonewit-West K: Clinical

Procedures for Medical Assistants, ed 6, Philadelphia,



3 2004, WB Saunders.)









IV. Exercises and Answers

Complete these exercises and check your answers. An important part of your success in

learning medical terminology is checking your answers carefully with the answer key

beginning on p. 103. Good luck!





A. Give meanings for the following suffixes:



1. -megaly ______________________________________________________________________



2. -pathy _______________________________________________________________________



3. -rrhea _______________________________________________________________________



4. -rrhagia _____________________________________________________________________



5. -osis _________________________________________________________________________



6. -ia __________________________________________________________________________





B. Give suffixes for the following English meanings:



1. inflammation ________________________________________________________________

Suffixes 97



2. condition of pain _____________________________________________________________



3. blood condition _______________________________________________________________



4. tumor, mass _________________________________________________________________



5. hardening ___________________________________________________________________

3

6. condition of urine ____________________________________________________________





C. Match the following medical terms with their meanings below. Write each

term next to its meaning.



adenocarcinoma hepatomegaly myeloma

cardiomyopathy ischemia otalgia

esophagitis leukocytosis pneumonia

hematoma



1. Enlargement of the liver ______________________________________________________



2. Pain in the ear _______________________________________________________________



3. Holding back blood from an organ (depriving it of blood supply) __________________



4. Abnormal condition of white blood cells (slight increase in normal cells to fight



infection) ____________________________________________________________________



5. Abnormal condition of the lung (inflammation and accumulation of material often



caused by bacterial infection) __________________________________________________



6. Tumor (malignant) of bone marrow ____________________________________________



7. Inflammation of the tube leading from the throat to the stomach _________________



8. Disease of heart muscle _______________________________________________________



9. Collection or mass of blood ____________________________________________________



10. Tumor (cancerous) of glandular tissue _________________________________________

98 Suffixes



D. Underline the suffix meaning pertaining to in the following terms and give

the area or part of the body referred to:



1. esophageal ___________________________________________________________________



3 2. inguinal _____________________________________________________________________



3. renal ________________________________________________________________________



4. vascular _____________________________________________________________________



5. pelvic _______________________________________________________________________



6. pulmonary ___________________________________________________________________



7. axillary ______________________________________________________________________



8. peritoneal ___________________________________________________________________



9. mammary ___________________________________________________________________



10. myocardial __________________________________________________________________





E. Give meanings for the following suffixes related to procedures:



1. -ectomy ______________________________________________________________________



2. -gram _______________________________________________________________________



3. -centesis _____________________________________________________________________



4. -graphy ______________________________________________________________________



5. -plasty ______________________________________________________________________



6. -lysis ________________________________________________________________________



7. -stomy ______________________________________________________________________



8. -scopy _______________________________________________________________________



9. -tomy _______________________________________________________________________



10. -therapy _____________________________________________________________________

Suffixes 99



F. Select from the following terms to complete the sentences below:



angiography colocolostomy mammogram

angioplasty colostomy oophorectomy

bronchoscopy hysterectomy phlebotomy

chemotherapy laryngoscopy thoracentesis 3

1. Surgical repair of a blood vessel using a catheter (tube), balloon, and stent is



_______________________________________________________________________________.



2. Treatment using chemicals to destroy malignant cells is _______________________.



3. X-ray record of the breast is a(an) ____________________________________________.



4. Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the chest is ____________________________.



5. A new opening of the large intestine to the outside of the body is a (an)



_______________________________________________________________________________.



6. A new internal connection (anastomosis) between two parts of the large bowel



(intestine) is a (an) __________________________________________________________.



7. Removal of the uterus is a (an) _______________________________________________.



8. Process of recording x-ray images of blood vessels after injecting contrast is



_______________________________________________________________________________.



9. Visual examination of the voice box is ________________________________________.



10. Incision of a vein to withdraw blood is ________________________________________.





G. Write the medical term for the following:



1. Bursting forth of blood ________________________________________________________



2. Hardening of fatty plaque (in the lining of the arteries) _________________________



3. Pertaining to time (occurring over a long period of time) _________________________



4. X-ray record of the spinal cord ________________________________________________

100 Suffixes



5. Sharp, sudden, brief __________________________________________________________



6. Treatment using cold temperatures ____________________________________________



7. Record of electricity in the brain _______________________________________________

3 8. Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the membrane surrounding the fetus



_________________________________________________________________________________



9. Muscle pain _________________________________________________________________



10. Malignant tumor of bone marrow ______________________________________________



11. Enlargement of the heart _____________________________________________________



12. Abnormal condition of the death of cells ________________________________________



13. Disease condition of the kidney ________________________________________________



14. Incision of the skull __________________________________________________________





H. What part of the body is inflamed?



1. neuritis ___________________________ 12. bronchitis _________________________



2. arthritis ___________________________ 13. rhinitis ___________________________



3. salpingitis _________________________ 14. peritonitis ________________________



4. otitis ______________________________ 15. vasculitis _________________________



5. hepatitis __________________________ 16. mastitis ___________________________



6. nephritis __________________________ 17. tonsillitis _________________________



7. esophagitis ________________________ 18. colitis _____________________________



8. laryngitis __________________________ 19. pharyngitis _______________________



9. encephalitis ________________________ 20. tracheitis _________________________



10. osteitis ____________________________ 21. phlebitis __________________________



11. meningitis _________________________

Suffixes 101



I. Provide the terms for the following procedures:



1. Excision of the gallbladder ____________________________________________________



2. Excision of the appendix ______________________________________________________



3. Excision of a breast __________________________________________________________

3

4. Excision of the uterus ________________________________________________________



5. Excision of an ovary __________________________________________________________



6. Excision of the voice box ______________________________________________________



7. Excision of a kidney __________________________________________________________



8. Excision of a gland ___________________________________________________________



9. Excision of the large intestine _________________________________________________



10. Excision of a fallopian tube ___________________________________________________



11. Excision of tonsils ____________________________________________________________



12. Incision of the skull __________________________________________________________



13. Incision of the abdomen _______________________________________________________



14. Incision of the chest _________________________________________________________



15. Opening of the windpipe to the outside of the body ______________________________



16. Opening of the colon to the outside of the body _________________________________



17. Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the chest _______________________________



18. Surgical puncture to remove fluid from a joint __________________________________



19. Incision of a vein _____________________________________________________________



20. Visual examination of the voice box ____________________________________________





J. Supply the correct medical term for the following:



1. A stroke is a cerebro ________________________ ____________________ (two words).

102 Suffixes



2. A heart attack is a myo _____________________ ____________________ (two words).



3. Use of a machine that filters wastes from the blood is hemo ____________________.



4. Injection of fluid into the abdominal cavity and then withdrawal of that fluid

3 (containing waste material) is peri _______________ ________________ (two words).



5. A noncancerous tumor of muscle is a my ______________________________________.



6. A cancerous tumor of muscle is a myo ________________________________________.



7. High levels of wastes (urea) in the blood is ur _________________________________.



8. Blood in the urine is hemat __________________________________________________.



9. High levels of malignant (cancerous) white blood cells is leuk ___________________.



10. Slightly elevated numbers of white blood cells due to an infection in the body is



leuko _______________________________________________________________________.



11. Normal discharge of blood during menstruation is men _________________________.



12. Excessive bleeding during menstruation is men _______________________________.



13. Hardening of arteries is called arterio ________________________________________.



14. Use of high-energy rays to treat cancerous tumors is radio _____________________.





K. Circle the term that best completes the meaning of the sentences in the

following medical vignettes:



1. After routine breast self-examination, Nora felt a small lump in her breast. She

consulted her doctor who scheduled a diagnostic (mammoplasty, mastectomy,

mammogram). The examination showed a stellate (star-shaped) mass and a

(biopsy, necropsy, laparoscopy) revealed an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Nora

decided to have her breast removed (hysterectomy, mastectomy, salpingectomy),

although her physician gave her the option of having lumpectomy followed by

(cryotherapy, thoracotomy, radiotherapy).



2. In addition to her surgery, Nora had a sentinel node biopsy of a (an) (inguinal,

thoracic, axillary) lymph node to determine whether the cancer had spread.

Injection of contrast revealed the primary (sentinel) lymph node, which was

removed and microscopically examined.

Suffixes 103



3. Sylvia had irregular bleeding in between her periods. She was 50 years old and

beginning menopause. On pelvic exam, Dr. Hawk felt a large, lobulated uterus.

Biopsy revealed a large fibroid, which is a benign (noncancerous) tumor of muscle

tissue (myeloma, myoma, hematoma). The doctor suggested a total abdominal

(gastrectomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy).



4. Victoria had never been comfortable with the bump on her nose. She saw a plastic

3

surgeon who performed (mammoplasty, rhinoplasty, angioplasty).



5. Sam was experiencing cramps, diarrhea, and a low-grade fever. He was diagnosed

with ulcerative (colitis, meningitis, laryngitis) and had several bouts of (uremia,

menorrhagia, septicemia) caused by inflammation and rupture of the bowel wall.



6. Bill felt chest pain every time he climbed a flight of stairs. He went to his

doctor who did a coronary (myelogram, angiogram, dialysis) that revealed

(adenocarcinoma, nephrosis, atherosclerosis) in one of his coronary arteries.

The doctor recommended (angioplasty, thoracentesis, amniocentesis). This

would prevent further (myosarcoma, ischemia, leukocytosis) and help Bill

avoid a (peritoneal, vascular, myocardial) infarction, or heart attack, in the

future.







Answers to Exercises

A



1. enlargement 4. bursting forth of blood

2. disease condition 5. condition, abnormal condition

3. flow, discharge 6. condition, disease



B



1. -itis 2. -algia 3. -emia 4. -oma 5. -sclerosis 6. -uria



C



1. hepatomegaly 7. esophagitis

2. otalgia 8. cardiomyopathy

3. ischemia 9. hematoma

4. leukocytosis 10. adenocarcinoma

5. pneumonia

6. myeloma (also called multiple

myeloma)

104 Suffixes





D



1. esophageal—esophagus (tube leading 6. pulmonary—lungs

from the throat to the stomach) 7. axillary—arm pit (underarm area)

2. inguinal—groin (area where the thigh 8. peritoneal—peritoneum (membrane



3 meets the trunk of the body)

3. renal—kidney

4. vascular—blood vessels

surrounding the abdominal cavity)

9. mammary—breast

10. myocardial—heart muscle

5. pelvic—hip area



E



1. removal, excision, resection 6. separation; breakdown

2. record 7. new opening

3. surgical puncture to remove fluid 8. process of visual examination

4. process of recording 9. cut into, incision, section

5. surgical repair 10. treatment



F



1. angioplasty 5. colostomy 8. angiography

2. chemotherapy 6. colocolostomy 9. laryngoscopy

3. mammogram 7. hysterectomy 10. phlebotomy

4. thoracentesis



G



1. hemorrhage 7. electroencephalogram 11. cardiomegaly

2. atherosclerosis 8. amniocentesis 12. necrosis

3. chronic 9. myalgia 13. nephropathy

4. myelogram 10. myeloma or multiple 14. craniotomy

5. acute myeloma

6. cryotherapy



H



1. nerve 12. bronchial tubes

2. joint 13. nose

3. fallopian tubes 14. peritoneum

4. ear 15. blood vessels

5. liver 16. breast

6. kidney 17. tonsils

7. esophagus 18. colon (large intestine)

8. larynx (voice box) 19. throat (pharynx)

9. brain 20. trachea (windpipe)

10. bone 21. veins

11. meninges (membranes surrounding

the brain and spinal cord)

Suffixes 105



I



1. cholecystectomy 8. adenectomy 15. tracheostomy

2. appendectomy 9. colectomy 16. colostomy

3. mastectomy 10. salpingectomy 17. thoracentesis

4.

5.

6.

hysterectomy

oophorectomy

laryngectomy

11.

12.

13.

tonsillectomy

craniotomy

laparotomy

18.

19.

20.

arthrocentesis

phlebotomy

laryngoscopy

3

7. nephrectomy 14. thoracotomy



J



1. cerebrovascular accident—clot or hemorrhage in an artery of the brain leads to

decreased blood flow (ischemia) to brain tissue and necrosis (death of brain cells).

2. myocardial infarction—ischemia to heart muscle leads to infarction (death or

necrosis of heart muscle cells).

3. hemodialysis—complete separation of waste material from the blood using a

machine that receives the patient’s blood and after filtration sends the blood back into

the patient’s body.

4. peritoneal dialysis—fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity and then removed

after wastes have passed into the fluid from the peritoneal blood vessels.

5. myoma—benign muscle tumors occurring in the uterus are fibroids.

6. myosarcoma—malignant tumors of connective or flesh tissue are sarcomas.

7. uremia—this indicates failure of the kidneys to eliminate nitrogen-containing wastes,

such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid from the bloodstream.

8. hematuria—this indicates bleeding in the urinary tract.

9. leukemia—immature, cancerous white blood cells are produced in excess from the

bone marrow or lymph nodes.

10. leukocytosis—normal, mature white blood cells are produced to fight infection.

11. menorrhea—lining of the uterus breaks down due to changes in hormone levels.

12. menorrhagia—long or heavy menstrual periods; often caused by benign muscle

tumors or fibroids in the uterus.

13. arteriosclerosis—the most common type is atherosclerosis or collection of fatty

plaques in arteries.

14. radiotherapy—using high energy x-rays, gamma rays, or protons to destroy

cancerous cells.



K



1. mammogram, biopsy, mastectomy, 4. rhinoplasty

radiotherapy 5. colitis, septicemia

2. axillary 6. angiogram, atherosclerosis,

3. myoma, hysterectomy angioplasty, ischemia, myocardial

106 Suffixes



V. Review

Write the meanings for the following word parts. Remember to check your answers

with the Answers to Review on p. 108.



3 Suffixes



Suffix Meaning Suffix Meaning





1. -al _________________________________ 15. -megaly ___________________________



2. -algia ______________________________ 16. -oma ______________________________



3. -ar_________________________________ 17. -osis_______________________________



4. -ary________________________________ 18. -pathy _____________________________



5. -centesis ___________________________ 19. -plasty ____________________________



6. -eal ________________________________ 20. -rrhage ____________________________



7. -ectomy ____________________________ 21. -rrhagia ___________________________



8. -emia ______________________________ 22. -rrhea _____________________________



9. -gram ______________________________ 23. -sclerosis __________________________



10. -graphy ____________________________ 24. -scopy _____________________________



11. -ia _________________________________ 25. -stomy ____________________________



12. -ic _________________________________ 26. -therapy ___________________________



13. -itis________________________________ 27. -tomy _____________________________



14. -lysis ______________________________ 28. -uria ______________________________





Combining Forms



Combining Form Meaning Combining Form Meaning





1. aden/o _____________________________ 2. amni/o ____________________________

Suffixes 107



3. angi/o ______________________________ 26. lapar/o ____________________________



4. arteri/o ____________________________ 27. laryng/o ___________________________



5. arthr/o _____________________________ 28. leuk/o _____________________________



6. ather/o _____________________________ 29. mamm/o ___________________________

3

7. axill/o______________________________ 30. mast/o_____________________________



8. bronch/o ___________________________ 31. men/o _____________________________



9. carcin/o ____________________________ 32. mening/o __________________________



10. cardi/o _____________________________ 33. my/o ______________________________



11. chem/o _____________________________ 34. myel/o_____________________________



12. cholecyst/o _________________________ 35. necr/o _____________________________



13. chron/o_____________________________ 36. nephr/o____________________________



14. col/o _______________________________ 37. neur/o _____________________________



15. crani/o _____________________________ 38. oophor/o ___________________________



16. cry/o _______________________________ 39. oste/o _____________________________



17. cyst/o ______________________________ 40. ot/o _______________________________



18. encephal/o__________________________ 41. pelv/o _____________________________



19. erythr/o ____________________________ 42. peritone/o _________________________



20. esophag/o __________________________ 43. phleb/o ____________________________



21. hemat/o ____________________________ 44. pneumon/o_________________________



22. hepat/o_____________________________ 45. pulmon/o __________________________



23. hyster/o ____________________________ 46. radi/o _____________________________



24. inguin/o ____________________________ 47. ren/o ______________________________



25. isch/o ______________________________ 48. rhin/o _____________________________

108 Suffixes



49. salping/o ___________________________ 53. tonsill/o ___________________________



50. sarc/o ______________________________ 54. trache/o ___________________________



51. septic/o ____________________________ 55. ur/o _______________________________

3 52. thorac/o ____________________________ 56. vascul/o ___________________________









Answers to Review

Suffixes



1. pertaining to 10. process of recording 19. surgical repair

2. condition of pain, pain 11. condition 20. bursting forth of blood

3. pertaining to 12. pertaining to 21. bursting forth of blood

4. pertaining to 13. inflammation 22. flow, discharge

5. surgical puncture to 14. separation, 23. hardening

remove fluid breakdown, 24. visual examination

6. pertaining to destruction 25. opening

7. removal, resection, 15. enlargement 26. treatment

excision 16. tumor, mass 27. incision; to cut into

8. blood condition 17. abnormal condition 28. urine condition

9. record 18. disease condition



Combining Forms



1. gland 20. esophagus 39. bone

2. amnion 21. blood 40. ear

3. vessel 22. liver 41. hip area

4. artery 23. uterus 42. peritoneum

5. joint 24. groin 43. vein

6. plaque, collection of 25. to hold back 44. lung

fatty material 26. abdomen 45. lung

7. armpit 27. larynx (voice box) 46. x-rays

8. bronchial tubes 28. white 47. kidney

9. cancerous 29. breast 48. nose

10. heart 30. breast 49. fallopian tube

11. drug, chemical 31. menstruation 50. flesh

12. gallbladder 32. meninges 51. pertaining to infection

13. time 33. muscle 52. chest

14. colon (large intestine) 34. spinal cord or bone 53. tonsil

15. skull marrow 54. trachea (windpipe)

16. cold 35. death 55. urine, urinary tract

17. urinary bladder 36. kidney 56. blood vessel

18. brain 37. nerve

19. red 38. ovary

Suffixes 109



VI. Pronunciation of Terms

The terms that you have learned in this chapter are presented here with their

pronunciations. The capitalized letters in boldface are the accented syllable. Pronounce

each word out loud, then write the meaning in the space provided. Meanings of all

terms can be checked with the Glossary of Medical Terms, p. 313. 3

Term Pronunciation Meaning





acute ah-KUT ______________________________________________



adenocarcinoma ah-deh-no-kar-sih-NO-mah _____________________________



adenoma ah-deh-NO-mah _______________________________________



amniocentesis am-ne-o-sen-TE-sis ____________________________________



anastomosis ah-nah-sto-MO-sis ____________________________________



angiography an-je-OG-rah-fe _______________________________________



angioplasty AN-je-o-plas-te ________________________________________



arteriosclerosis ar-ter-e-o-skle-RO-sis __________________________________



arthralgia ar-THRAL-je-ah ______________________________________



arthropathy ar-THROP-ah-the _____________________________________



atherosclerosis ah-theh-ro-skle-RO-sis _________________________________



axillary AKS-ih-lar-e __________________________________________



bronchitis brong-KI-tis __________________________________________



bronchoscopy brong-KOS-ko-pe ______________________________________



carcinoma kar-sih-NO-mah _______________________________________



cardiomegaly kar-de-o-MEG-ah-le ___________________________________



cardiomyopathy kar-de-o-mi-OP-ah-the _________________________________



chemotherapy ke-mo-THER-ah-pe ___________________________________

110 Suffixes



cholecystectomy ko-le-sis-TEK-to-me ___________________________________



chronic KRON-ik ____________________________________________



colitis ko-LI-tis ______________________________________________

3 colostomy ko-LOS-to-me _________________________________________



colocolostomy ko-lo-ko-LOS-to-me ____________________________________



craniotomy kra-ne-OT-o-me _______________________________________



cystitis sis-TI-tis _____________________________________________



dialysis di-AL-ih-sis ___________________________________________



electroencephalography e-lek-tro-en-sef-ah-LOG-rah-fe _________________________



encephalopathy en-sef-ah-LOP-ah-the _________________________________



erythrocytosis eh-rith-ro-si-TO-sis ____________________________________



esophageal e-sof-ah-JE-al _________________________________________



esophagitis e-sof-ah-JI-tis _________________________________________



hematoma he-mah-TO-mah ______________________________________



hematuria he-mah-TUR-e-ah _____________________________________



hemorrhage HEM-or-ij ____________________________________________



hysterectomy his-teh-REK-to-me ____________________________________



infarction in-FARK-shun ________________________________________



inguinal ING-gwi-nal __________________________________________



ischemia is-KE-me-ah __________________________________________



laparoscopy lap-ah-ROS-ko-pe _____________________________________



laparotomy lap-ah-ROT-o-me _____________________________________



laryngitis lah-rin-JI-tis __________________________________________

Suffixes 111



laryngoscopy lah-rin-GOS-ko-pe ____________________________________



leukemia lu-KE-me-ah __________________________________________



leukocytosis lu-ko-si-TO-sis ________________________________________



mammogram MAM-o-gram _________________________________________

3

mammography mam-MOG-rah-fe _____________________________________



mammoplasty MAM-o-plas-te ________________________________________



mastectomy mas-TEK-to-me _______________________________________



meningitis men-in-JI-tis _________________________________________



menorrhagia men-or-RA-jah ________________________________________



menorrhea men-o-RE-ah _________________________________________



myalgia mi-AL-jah ____________________________________________



myelogram MI-eh-lo-gram ________________________________________



myeloma mi-eh-LO-mah ________________________________________



myocardial mi-o-KAR-de-al _______________________________________



myoma mi-O-mah ____________________________________________



myosarcoma mi-o-sar-KO-mah ______________________________________



necrosis neh-KRO-sis __________________________________________



nephrosis neh-FRO-sis __________________________________________



neuralgia nu-RAL-jah ___________________________________________



oophorectomy o-of-o-REK-to-me or oo-for-REK-to-me __________________



otalgia o-TAL-jah ____________________________________________



pelvic PEL-vik ______________________________________________



peritoneal per-ih-to-NE-al ________________________________________

112 Suffixes



phlebitis fleh-BI-tis ____________________________________________



phlebotomy fleh-BOT-o-me ________________________________________



pneumonia noo-MO-ne-ah ________________________________________

3 pulmonary PUL-mo-ner-re ________________________________________



radiotherapy ra-de-o-THER-ah-pe ___________________________________



renal RE-nal _______________________________________________



rhinoplasty RI-no-plas-te __________________________________________



rhinorrhea ri-no-RE-ah ___________________________________________



salpingectomy sal-ping-JEK-to-me ___________________________________



septicemia sep-tih-SE-me-ah ______________________________________



thoracentesis tho-rah-sen-TE-sis ____________________________________



tonsillectomy ton-sih-LEK-to-me ____________________________________



tracheostomy tra-ke-OS-to-me _______________________________________



uremia u-RE-me-ah __________________________________________



vascular VAS-ku-lar ___________________________________________





VII. Practical Applications

Answers are found on p. 114.





A. Match the procedure in Column I with an abnormal condition it treats or

diagnoses in Column II:



Column I Column II

Procedure Abnormal Condition or Diagnosis





1. angioplasty _____ A. uterine adenocarcinoma



2. mammoplasty _____ B. ligament tear of the patella (knee cap)

Suffixes 113



3. cholecystectomy _____ C. ovarian cyst



4. tonsillectomy _____ D. blockage of the windpipe



5. dialysis _____ E. renal failure



6. hysterectomy _____ F. absence of a breast (postmastectomy)

3

7. thoracentesis _____ G. pleural effusion (collection of fluid)



8. oophorectomy _____ H. coronary atherosclerosis



9. tracheostomy _____ I. gallbladder calculi (stones)



10. arthroscopy _____ J. pharyngeal lymph node enlargement





B. Match the symptom or abnormal condition in Column I with an organ or

tissue in Column II:



Column I Column II

Symptom or Abnormal Condition Organ or Tissue





1. colitis _____ A. uterus



2. phlebitis _____ B. ear



3. menorrhagia _____ C. bone marrow



4. myocardial ischemia _____ D. coronary arteries



5. otalgia _____ E. large bowel



6. uremia _____ F. spinal cord or brain



7. meningitis _____ G. vein



8. leukemia _____ H. kidney

114 Suffixes





Answers to Practical Applications

A



1. H 3. I 5. E 7. G 9. D

3 2. F 4. J 6. A 8. C 10. B



B



1. E 3. A 5. B 7. F

2. G 4. D 6. H 8. C









VIII. Picture Show

Answer the questions that follow each image. Correct answers are found on p. 116.







A

Esophagus (a) Stomach is now the size of a small pouch









Staples





(b) Jejunum is newly connected

to stomach









Duodenum





Arrows show pathway of food from

smaller stomach to jejunum









1. The figure shows a surgical procedure to treat extreme obesity. First, the stomach

(a) is stapled so that it is reduced to the size of a small pouch. Next, the jejunum

(b), which is the second part of the small intestine, is brought up to connect with

Suffixes 115





the smaller stomach. This diverts food so that it has a shorter travel time through

the intestine and less food is absorbed into the bloodstream. What is the name of

this surgical procedure?

a. esophageal bypass c. gastric bypass

b. total gastric resection d. duodenal resection 3

2. The new connection or anastomosis between the stomach and the second part of

the small intestine is a

a. gastrostomy c. gastroduodenostomy

b. jejunostomy d. gastrojejunostomy





B









(From Lewis SM,

Heitkemper MM, Dirksen

SR: Medical-Surgical

Nursing: Assessment and

Management of Clinical

Problems, ed 5, St Louis,

2000, Mosby.)



1. In the procedure above, blood leaves the patient’s body to enter a machine that

filters out impurities. The filtered blood then circulates back to the patient’s body.

This procedure is

a. pericardiocentesis c. hemodialysis

b. peritoneal dialysis d. amniocentesis



2. The procedure treats patients with failure of the

a. kidney c. liver

b. pancreas d. all of the above

116 Suffixes







C







3





(From Chipps EM, Clanin NJ,

Campbell VG: Neurologic

Disorders, St Louis, 1992, Mosby.)



1. This procedure records brain wave activity. It is

a. electrocardiography c. electromyography

b. electroencephalography d. electrocraniography



2. It may be used to diagnose

a. seizure disorders (epilepsy) d. quadriplegia

b. dyspnea e. all of the above

c. paraplegia









Answers to Picture Show

A



1. c 2. d



B



1. c 2. a



C



1. b 2. a

Suffixes 117



IX. Medical Scramble

Unscramble the letters to form a medical term from the clues. Use the letters

in squares to complete the bonus term. Answers are upside down at the

bottom of the page.



1. Suffix meaning enlargement

3

—

GAYMLE





2. Suffix meaning separation, breakdown



—

SYSIL





3. Holding back blood from an area of the body





HASEIMIC





4. Ear pain





TAILOGA





5. Benign tumor of muscle





YMOAM





6. Sharp, sudden, severe





TUECA





BONUS TERM: TUMOR OF BONE MARROW

(hint: it affects MULTIPLE areas of bone marrow tissue)









BONUS TERM: MYELOMA

6. ACUTE 5. MYOMA 4. OTALGIA 1. –MEGALY 2. –LYSIS 3. ISCHEMIA

ANSWERS