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 |
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-(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 |
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Question of
Medical suffix term that refers to removal.
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-(a)pheresis
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-centesis
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-desis
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that refers to a surgical puncture.
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-centesis
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-ectomy
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-otomy
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term refers to the fusion of two parts into one.
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-desis
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-otomy
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-plasty
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that refers to surgical removal.
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-ectomy
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-centesis
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-tripsy
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that pertains to record of data
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-gram
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-graph
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-tome
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that pertains to instrument used to record.
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-graph
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-gram
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-opsy
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that pertains to process of recording.
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-graphy
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-graph
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-rrhaphy
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that pertains to measurement.
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-meter
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-ectomy
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-gram
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that refers to a looking at.
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-opsy
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-ectomy
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-ostomy
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-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.
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Question of
Medical suffix term that refers to a surgically creating a hole.
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-ostomy
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-rrhaphy
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-ectomy
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-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).
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