This document discusses suffixes and their meanings used in medical terminology. It provides a list of common combining forms and their definitions. It then defines noun, adjective, and shorter suffixes and provides examples of medical terms built using combining forms and suffixes. The document also examines specific medical concepts in more depth, such as hernias, blood cells, acromegaly, and laparoscopy. It concludes with notes on pronunciation of medical terms.

1. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 1
The Language OfThe Language Of
MedicineMedicine
1010thth
editionedition
Davi-Ellen ChabnerDavi-Ellen Chabner

2. Chapter 3
Suffixes
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 2

3. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 3
Chapter Goals
• Define new suffixes and review those
presented in previous chapters.
• Gain practice in word analysis by using these
suffixes with combining forms to build and
understand terms.
• Identify the functions of the different types of
blood cells in the body.

4. Chapter 3
Lesson 3.1
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

5. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 5
Combining Forms
• abdomin/o abdomen
• acr/o extremities, top, extreme point
• acu/o sharp, severe, sudden
• aden/o gland
• adip/o fat
• amni/o amnion
• angi/o vessel
• arteri/o artery
• arthr/o joint
• axill/o armpit
Combining Form MeaningCombining Form Meaning

6. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 6
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• bi/o life
• blephar/o eyelid
• bronch/o bronchial tubes
• carcin/o cancer
• cardi/o heart
• chem/o drug, chemical
• chondr/o cartilage
• chron/o time
• col/o colon (large intestine)
• cyst/o urinary bladder
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

7. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 7
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• encephal/o brain
• erythr/o red
• hem/o blood
• hepat/o liver
• hydr/o water, fluid
• inguin/o groin
• isch/o to hold back
• lapar/o abdomen, abdominal wall
• laryng/o larynx
• leuk/o white
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

8. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 8
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• lymph/o lymph
• mamm/o breast
• mast/o breast
• morph/o shape, form
• muc/o mucus
• my/o muscle
• myel/o spinal cord, bone marrow
• necr/o death (of cells or whole body)
• nephr/o kidney
• neur/o nerve
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

9. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 9
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• neutr/o neutrophil
• nucle/o nucleus
• ophthalm/o eye
• oste/o bone
• ot/o ear
• path/o disease
• peritone/o peritoneum
• phag/o to eat, swallow
• phleb/o vein
• plas/o formation, development
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

10. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 10
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• pleur/o pleura
• pneumon/o lungs
• pulmon/o lungs
• radi/o x-rays
• rect/o rectum
• ren/o kidney
• rhin/o nose
• sarc/o flesh
• splen/o spleen
• staphyl/o clusters
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

11. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 11
Combining Forms (cont’d)
• strept/o twisted chains
• thorac/o chest
• thromb/o clot
• tonsill/o tonsils
• trache/o trachea (windpipe)
• ven/o vein
Combining FormCombining Form MeaningMeaning

12. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 12
Suffixes and
Terminology
NOUN SUFFIXES
-algia pain
-cele hernia
-centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid
-coccus (plural: berry-shaped bacterium
-cocci)
-cyte cell
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning

13. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 13
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)
NOUN SUFFIXES
-dynia pain
-ectomy excision, removal, resection
-emia blood condition
-genesis condition of producing,
forming
-gram record
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning

14. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 14
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)
NOUN SUFFIXES
-graph instrument for recording
-graphy process of recording
-itis inflammation
-logy study of
-lysis breakdown, destruction,
separation
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning

15. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 15
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)
NOUN SUFFIXES
-malacia softening
-megaly enlargement
-oma tumor, mass, collection of fluid
-opsy to view
-osis condition, usually abnormal
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning

16. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 16
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)
NOUN SUFFIXES
-pathy disease condition
-penia deficiency
-phobia fear
-plasia development, formation,
growth
-plasty surgical repair
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning

17. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 17
QUICK QUIZ:
1. Which term means fear of
heights?
A. Acromegaly
B. Hydrophobia
C. Acrophobia
D. Agoraphobia

18. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 18
NOUN SUFFIXES
-ptosis drooping, falling, prolapse
-sclerosis hardening
-scope instrument for visual examination
-scopy process of visual examination
(with an endoscope)
-stasis controlling, stopping
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning
Suffixes and Terminology

19. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 19
NOUN SUFFIXES
-stomy opening to form a mouth (stoma)
-therapy treatment
-tomy incision, cutting into
-trophy development, nourishment
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)

20. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 20
SHORTER NOUN SUFFIXES
-er one who
-ia condition
-ist specialist
-ole little, small
-ule little, small
-um, -ium structure, tissue
-us structure, substance
-y condition, process
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)

21. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 21
ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES
-ac, -iac pertaining to
-al pertaining to
-ar pertaining to
-ar pertaining to
-eal pertaining to
-genic pertaining to producing, produced
by, or in
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)

22. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 22
ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES
-ic, -ical pertaining to
-oid resembling
-ose pertaining to, full of
-ous pertaining to
-tic pertaining to
SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning
Suffixes and
Terminology (cont’d)

23. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 23
Build Terms with Suffixes
and Combining Forms
• arthr/itis
• blephar/o/ptosis
• isch/emia
• oste/o/genic
• staphyl/o/cocci
• inflammation of joint
• drooping eyelid
• loss of normal blood flow
• produced by bone tissue
• berry-shaped bacteria that
grow in clusters
Combining Forms + SuffixCombining Forms + Suffix MeaningMeaning

24. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 24
A Closer Look: Hernia
Protrusion of an organ or the muscular wall
of an organ through the cavity that
normally contains it

25. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 25
QUICK QUIZ:
2. A rectocele is:
A. a herniation of the intestines
B. protrusion of a portion of the
rectum toward the vaginal wall
C. a hiatal hernia
D. an omphalocele

26. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 26
A Closer Look:
Streptococcus
Streptococcus and Staphylococcus: Bacteria that
grow in chains or clusters

27. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 27
A Closer Look: Blood Cells
Erythrocytes
Leukocytes
Thrombocytes or
platelets
• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Clotting cells

28. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 28
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)
1. Erythrocytes
• Red blood cells
• Made in bone marrow
• Carry oxygen from the lungs to all body cells
• Hemoglobin: blood protein

29. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 29
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)
2. Leukocytes
• White blood cells
• Five different kinds of leukocytes, divided
into two categories
Granulocytes
Mononuclear leukocytes

30. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 30
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)
Granulocytes – three types
• Eosinophils
• Basophils
• Neutrophils

31. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 31
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)
Mononuclear leukocytes – two types
• Lymphocytes
• Monocytes

32. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 32
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)
3. Thrombocytes
• Also known as platelets
• Tiny fragments of blood cells that are formed
in the bone marrow
• Necessary for blood clotting

33. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 33
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)

34. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 34
A Closer Look: Blood Cells (cont’d)

35. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 35
QUICK QUIZ:
3. Which type of blood cells are
necessary for clotting?
A. Erythrocytes
B. Granulocytes
C. Monocytes
D. Thrombocytes

36. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 36
A Closer Look: Acromegaly
Endocrine disorder
Occurs when the pituitary gland produces
an excessive amount of growth hormone
after completion of puberty
Often results from a benign tumor of the
pituitary gland
Person typically is of normal height, but
bones and soft tissue in the hands, feet, and
face grow abnormally
Abraham Lincoln was believed to have
features of acromegaly

37. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 37
A Closer Look: Splenomegaly
• Occurs with excessive hemolysis (red blood
cells are destroyed)
• If the spleen is removed, other organs carry
out its functions

38. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 38
A Closer Look: Laparoscopy
• A form of minimally invasive surgery
• Visual examination of the abdominal cavity
using a laparoscope, a lighted telescopic
instrument
• Surgeon inserts the laparoscope through an
incision in the abdomen near the navel
• Used to examine abdominal viscera for
evidence of disease or for various
procedures

39. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 39
A Closer Look: Adenoids
• Small masses of lymphatic tissue
• Located in the part of the pharynx near the nose
and nasal passages
• The literal meaning, “resembling glands,” is
appropriate since they are neither endocrine nor
exocrine glands
• Adenoidectomy may be needed if they become
enlarged and block the airway from the nose to
the pharynx

40. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 40
Pronunciation
• ā as in āpe
• ē as in ēven
• ī as in īce
• ō as in ōpen
• ū as in ūnit
• ă as in ăpple
• ĕ as in ĕvery
• ĭ as in ĭnterest
• ŏ as in pŏt
• ŭ as in ŭnder

41. Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. 41
Pronunciation (cont’d)
Examples:
acute ă-KŪT
basophil BĀ-sō-fĭl
ischemia ĭs-KĒ-mē-ă
paracentesis pă-ră-cĕn-TĒ-sĭs