In the world of anatomy, suffixes are king. Learn about some of the most common medical suffixes in this eBook by Visible Body!

1. A&P STUDY GUIDE
SUFFIXES

2. For you to get a good grade in your A&P course,
you will need to recognize certain terms.
Breaking down words into their most basic
components is the easiest way to do this.
A suffix is a word added to another word that
changes its meaning. In the world of anatomy,
suffixes are king.

3. FOR EXAMPLE:
Derm(at) is a word meaning “skin.”
Add -ology (“the study of”) to that
word and it becomes:
DERMATOLOGY
Dermatology is the study of skin.

4. Got it? Great.
Let’s begin.

5. -algia
pain

6. Fibromyalgia is a common ailment in which a
person experiences chronic, widespread pain.
“Fibro” is Latin for “fibrous tissues” and “myo” is Greek for “muscle”.

7. -cyte
cell

8. A lymphocyte is a white blood cell that
acts as part of the immune system.

9. -ectomy
removal

10. Appendectomy, the removal of the
appendix, is the most common emergency
surgery performed in the United States.

11. -emia
blood condition

12. To help treat anemia, or low blood iron, is to
include leafy greens, red meat, and legumes
in one’s diet.

13. -itis
inflammation

14. Rhinitis is one of the most common ailments—
inflammation of the mucous membrane in the
nose. Symptoms include a runny nose, sniffling,
and postnasal drip.

15. -oma
tumor, mass

16. A scintillating scotoma is a visual aura
that usually precedes a migraine. During
this phenomenon, a mass of flickering or
fluctuating light obscures normal vision.

17. -opsy
to view

18. When cancer is possibly detected, doctors will
usually perform a biopsy and remove a small
portion of the area in question to evaluate.

19. -gram
record

20. An ECG, or electrocardiogram, is a visual record
of electrical currents within the heart. It is used
to diagnose possible heart conditions.

21. Hyperemia is:
a. the study of blood disorders
b. an abnormal increase of blood in any
part of the body
c. normal blood flow in any part of the
body
d. cancer of the blood
answer:b

22. Arthralgia is:
a. pain in the joints
b. an inflammation of a joint
c. restricted blood flow to a joint
d. a visual record of the bone
answer:a

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