Medical Suffixes that Describe Surgery, Diagnosis & Procedure (Part 1)

Suffixes are part of a word that is located at the end. A suffix can change the meaning of a medical term and is usually used to indicate a discipline, technique, function, condition, or state.

This quiz will introduce you to the suffixes that pertain to surgery, diagnosis & procedure.

Quick Review for the Quiz

Check out the flashcard version for a more detailed review.

Suffix Meaning Word Example
-(a)pheresis removal plasmapheresis
-centesis surgical puncture amniocentesis
-desis fusion of two parts into one pleurodesis
-ectomy surgical removal lobectomy
-gram the record sonogram
-graph instrument used to record mammograph
-graphy process of recording angiography
-metry, -meter measurement glucometer
-opsy looking at biopsy
-ostomy, -stomy surgically creating a hole colostomy

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that refers to removal.

    • -(a)pheresis
    • -centesis
    • -desis
    • -pexy

    Correct Wrong

    The suffix -(a)pheresis refers to "removal". Take the word plasma/pheresis as an example. Plasma represents the liquid portion of our blood (about 55%), and -pheresis refers to "removal". Plasmapheresis involves removing plasma or its components, and returning or exchanging them from and to the blood circulation.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that refers to a surgical puncture.

    • -centesis
    • -ectomy
    • -otomy
    • -pexy

    Correct Wrong

    -centesis is a suffix term for "surgical puncture". Take the word amni/o/centesis as an example. Amni/o is a combining form for "amnion (amniotic sac)", -centesis means "surgical puncture". The procedure of amniocentesis is the surgical puncture of the amniotic sac to extract amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term refers to the fusion of two parts into one.

    • -desis
    • -otomy
    • -plasty
    • -oscopy

    Correct Wrong

    -desis is a suffix term for "fusion of two parts into one". Take the word pleur/o/desis as an example. Pleur/o is a combining word for "pleura", -desis means "fusion of two parts into one". Pleurodesis is the fusion between the outer wall of the lungs and its outer membrane to prevent pneumothorax from happening again.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that refers to surgical removal.

    • -ectomy
    • -centesis
    • -tripsy
    • -desis

    Correct Wrong

    -ectomy is a suffix term for "surgical removal". Take the word lob/ectomy as an example. Lob is a word root for "lobe", -ectomy means "surgical removal". The procedure of lobectomy involves surgically removing a lobe from an organ like the lung or the brain.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that pertains to record of data

    • -gram
    • -graph
    • -tome
    • -opsy

    Correct Wrong

    -gram is a suffix term that refers "record of data". Take the word son/o/gram as an example. Son/o is a combining form that pertains to "sound", -gram refers to "record of data". The sonogram is a medical image that is created by an ultrasound echo.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that pertains to instrument used to record.

    • -graph
    • -gram
    • -opsy
    • -centesis

    Correct Wrong

    -graph is a suffix term that pertains "instrument used to record". Take the word mamm/o/graph as an example. Mamm/o is a combining form that pertains "breast", -graph refers to "instrument used to record". The mammograph is a machine that takes X-ray photographs of your breasts using X-rays.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that pertains to process of recording.

    • -graphy
    • -graph
    • -rrhaphy
    • -ectomy

    Correct Wrong

    -graphy is a suffix term that pertains "process of recording". Take the word angi/o/graphy as an example. Angi/o is a combining form that pertains to "vessel (usually blood vessel)", -graphy refers to "process of recording". Angiography is a type of medical imaging in which X-rays are used to show what is going on inside the blood vessels.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that pertains to measurement.

    • -meter
    • -ectomy
    • -gram
    • -opsy

    Correct Wrong

    -meter or -metry is a suffix term that refers "measurement". Take the word gluc/o/meter as an example. Gluc/o is a combining form that pertains to "sugar (glucose)", -meter refers to "measurement". Glucometer is a device that measures levels of glucose in the blood.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that refers to a looking at.

    • -opsy
    • -ectomy
    • -ostomy
    • -tripsy

    Correct Wrong

    -opsy is a suffix term for "looking at". Take the word bi/opsy as an example. Bi (from the combining form bi/o) is a word root that pertains "life" or "living", -opsy means "looking at". The term "biopsy" refers to taking samples of cells or tissues analyzed for disease detection.

  • Question of

    Medical suffix term that refers to a surgically creating a hole.

    • -ostomy
    • -rrhaphy
    • -ectomy
    • -oscopy

    Correct Wrong

    -ostomy or -stomy is a suffix term for "surgically creating a hole". Take the word col/o/stomy as an example. Col/o is a combining word for "colon (large intestine)", -stomy means "surgically creating a hole". A colostomy involves the surgical creation of a surgical opening (stoma) in the large intestine (colon).