Skip to Main Content

Appendix C: Suffix and Prefix Master List

Introduction

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE MEDICAL SPECIALTY
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-iatrics,-iatry ī-ă-trĭks, ī-ă-trē field of medicine
-iatrist,-ician,-ist ī-ă-trĭst, ĭ-shŭn, ĭst specialist
-logist,-ologist lō-jĭst, ŏl-ō-jĭst specialist in the study of
-logy,-ology lō-jē, ŏl-ō-jē study of

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE SURGERIES, PROCEDURES, OR TREATMENTS
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-centesis sĕn-tē-sĭs surgical puncture
-cidal,-cide sī-dăl, sīd destroying, killing
-desis dē-sĭs surgical fixation of bone or joint, binding, tying together
-dilation dī-lā-shŭn widening, stretching, expanding
-ectomy ĕk-tō-mē excision, surgical removal
-graphy gră-fē process of recording
-metry mĕ-trē measurement
-pexy pĕk-sē surgical fixation
-plasty plăs-tē surgical repair
-rrhaphy ră-fē suture, suturing
-scopy skō-pē visual examination
-therapy thĕr-ă-pē treatment
-tomy tō-mē cutting into, incision
-tripsy trĭp-sē crushing

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE SENSORY EXPERIENCE, SENSATION, OR SUBJECTIVE FEELING
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-acusia,-acusis,-cusis ă-koo-zē-ă, ă-koo-sĭs, koo-sĭs hearing
-algesia,-algesic,-algia,-dynia ăl-jē-zē-ă, ăl-jē-zĭk, ăl-jē-ă, dĭ-nē-ă pain
-dipsia dĭp-sē-ă thirst
-esthesia ĕs-thē-zē-ă sensation
-opia,-opsia,-opsis,-opsy ō-pē-ă, ōp-sē-ă, ŏp-sĭs, ŏp-sē vision, view of
-osmia ŏz-mē-ă smell, odor
-phobia fō-bē-ă fear
-phoria fō-rē-ă feeling

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE ACTION OR MOVEMENT
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-clasis,-clast klăs-ĭs, klăst to break
-ectasis ĕk-tă-sĭs dilation, expansion
-emesis ĕm-ĕ-sĭs vomiting
-gen, -genesis, -genic, -genous jĕn, jĕn-ĕ-sĭs, jĕn-ĭk, jēn-ŭs creating, producing
-kinesia, -kinesis kĭ-nē-zē-ă, kĭ-nē-sĭs movement
-lysis lĭ-sĭs destruction
-pause, -stasis pawz, stă-sĭs cessation, stopping
-phage, -phagia fāj, fā-jē-ă eating, swallowing
-phasia fā-zē-ă speech
-rrhage, -rrhagia rĭj, ră-jē-ă bursting forth
-rrhea rē-ă flow, discharge
-rrhexis rĕk-sĭs rupture
-spasm spă-zŭm sudden involuntary contraction
-uresis ū-rē-sĭs urination

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE DISEASES, DISORDERS, OR CONDITIONS
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-cele sēl hernia
-constriction kŏn-strĭk-shŭn narrowing
-cytosis sī-tō-sĭs a condition of cells
-derma dĕr-mă skin
-edema ĕ-dē-mă swelling
-emia ē-mē-ă a condition of the blood
-gravida gră-vĭ-dă pregnant woman
-ia,-ism ē-ă, ĭz-ŭm condition
-iasis ī-ă-sĭs pathological condition or state
-itis ī-tĭs inflammation
-lepsy,-leptic lĕp-sē, lĕp-tĭk seizure
-lith lĭth stone
-malacia mă-lā-sē-ă softening
-megaly mĕg-ă-lē enlargement
-necrosis nĕ-krō-sĭs tissue death
-oid oyd resembling
-oma ō-mă tumor
-osis ō-sĭs abnormal condition
-oxia ŏk-sē-ă oxygen
-paresis pă-rē-sĭs slight or partial paralysis
-partum,-tocia părt-ŭm, tō-sē-ă childbirth, labor
-pathy pă-thē disease
-penia pē-nē-ă deficiency
-pepsia pĕp-sē-ă digestion
-phonia fō-nē-ă voice
-plasia,-plasm plā-zē-ă, plăz-ŭm formation, growth
-plastic plăs-tĭk pertaining to formation or growth
-plegia plē-jē-ă paralysis
-plegic plē-jĭk pertaining to paralysis
-pnea nē-ă breathing
-pneic nē-ĭk pertaining to breathing
-ptosis tō-sĭs drooping, prolapse
-salpinx săl-pĭnks uterine (fallopian) tube
-sclerosis sklĕ-rō-sĭs hardening
-static stă-tĭk not in motion, at rest
-stenosis stĕ-nō-sĭs narrowing, stricture
-thorax thōr-ăks chest
-trophy trō-fē nourishment, growth
-uria ū-rē-ă urine

|Download (.pdf)|Print
SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE INSTRUMENTS
Suffix Pronunciation Meaning
-graph grăf recording instrument
-meter mĕ-tĕr measuring instrument
-scope skōp viewing instrument
-tome tōm cutting instrument

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

This site uses cookies to provide, maintain and improve your experience. MH Privacy Center Close