Medical Suffixes that Describe Disease or Function (Part 1)

The medical suffix term -clasis or -clasia refers to "breaking". 

Example Word: cyt/o/clasis 

Word Breakdown: Cyt/o is a combining form that pertains to "cell", and -clasis refers to "breaking". 

Definition: The term "cytoclasis" can be defined as the destruction of cells.

The medical suffix term -edema refers to "swelling". 

Example Word: myx/edema 

Word Breakdown: Myx is a word root that pertains to "mucus", and -edema indicates "swelling". 

Definition: Myxedema refers to hypothyroidism in its most severe form. Myxedema also refers to swelling of the skin and soft tissues that occurs in hypothyroid patients.

The medical suffix term -asthenia means "weakness".

Example Word: my/asthenia

Word Breakdown: My is a word root that pertains to "muscle", and -asthenia refers to "weakness".

Definition: Myasthenia gravis is disorder characterized by weakness and quick fatigue of muscles under voluntary control, especially those controlling the limbs, eyes, and mouth.

The medical suffix term -algesia, -algia or -odynia means "pain". 

Example Word for -algesia:  an/algesia 

Word Breakdown: An- is a prefix term that refers to "not" or "without", and -algesia refers to "pain". 

Definition: Analgesia means not being able to feel pain.

Example Word for -algia: cephal/algia 

Word Breakdown: Cephal is a word root that refers to "head", and -algia refers to "pain". 

Definition: Cephalalgia is the medical term for headache.

Example Word for -odynia: cardi/odynia 

Word Breakdown: Cardi- is a word root that refers to "heart", and -odynia refers to "pain". "

Definition: Cardiodynia" refers to pain in the heart.

The medical suffix term -emia refers to "blood" or "blood condition". 

Example Word: an/emia 

Word Breakdown: An- is a prefix term that pertains to "not" or "without", and -emia denotes "blood" or "blood condition". 

Definition: Anemia is a disorder in which the blood's ability to carry oxygen to its tissues is compromised due to a lack of red blood cells or a lack of hemoglobin, which causes fatigue and pallor.

The medical suffix term -drome refers to "running". 

Example Word: Take the word pro/drome as an example. 

Word Breakdown: Pro- is a prefix that means "before", and -drome refers to "running". 

Definition: An early warning symptom for a disease is called a prodrome.

The medical suffix term -carcinoma refers to "cancerous tumor". 

Example Word: aden/o/carcinoma 

Word Breakdown: Aden/o is a combining form that pertains to "gland", and -carcinoma refers to "cancerous tumor". 

Definition: An adenocarcinoma is a kind of cancer that can occur anywhere in the body, usually in the glands that line the inside of the organs.

The medical suffix term -itis refers to "inflammation". 

Example Word: nephr/itis 

Word Breakdown: Nephr is a word root that pertains to "kidney", and -itis denotes "inflammation". 

Definition: Nephritis is the inflammation of the kidney.

The medical suffix term -ectasis refers to "dilation". 

Example Word: atel/ectasis 

Word Breakdown: Atel is a word root that pertains to "incomplete", and -ectasis indicates "dilation". 

Definition: The atelectasis of the lung is a complete or partial collapse of the whole lung or a lobe.

The medical suffix term -cele refers to "hernia" or "swelling". 

Example Word: hydr/o/cele 

Word Breakdown: Hydr/o is a combining form that pertains to "water", and -cele refers to "hernia" or "swelling". 

Definition: A hydrocele is an abnormal accumulation of fluids in a specific area of the body, especially in the membranes around a testicle.

The medical suffix term -emesis refers to "vomiting". 

Example Word: hemat/emesis

Word Breakdown: Hemat is a word root that pertains to "blood", and -emesis denotes "vomiting". 

Definition: Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood.

The medical suffix term -cyesis refers to "pregnancy". 

Example Word: poly/cyesis 

Word Breakdown: Poly- is a prefix that pertains to "many", and -cyesis refers to "pregnancy". 

Definition: Polycyesis is a multiple pregnancy; the presence of more than one fetus during pregnancy.

The medical suffix term -lysis refers to "separating" or "dissolution".

Example Word: dia/lysis

Word Breakdown: Dia- is a prefix term that pertains to "through", and -lysis denotes "separating" or "dissolution".

Definition: When the kidneys stop working, dialysis removes and separates wastes and excess fluids from the blood through a machine to be cleaned.