Chapter 3

Suffixes
The Language of Medicine

Arthralgia
Pain in a joint

Otalgia
Pain in the ear

Neuralgia
Nerve pain

Myalgia
Muscle pain

Rectocele
Hernia of the rectum into the vagina

Cystocele
Hernia of the urinary bladder into the vagina

Thoracentesis
A surgical puncture to remove fluid from chest

Amniocentesis
Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the amnion sack

Abdominocentesis/paracentesis
Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the abdomen

Streptococcus
Bacteria that grow in twisted chains
Staphylococci
Bacteria that grow in clusters

Erythrocyte
Red blood cell

Leukocyte
White blood cell

Thrombocyte
Clotting cell/platelet

Pleurodynia/pleuralgia
Pain in the pleural cavity/ chest wall muscles

Laryngectomy
Excision of the larynx

Mastectomy
Excision of a breast

Anemia
A condition of reduction in the number of red blood cells or
amount of hemoglobin in the circulating blood

Ischemia
Deficiency of blood flow to a part of the body due to narrowing
or obstruction of blood vessels

Carcinogenesis
A condition of producing cancer

Pathogenesis
A condition of producing disease
Angiogenesis
Formation of blood vessels in the embryo

Carcinogenic
Pertaining to producing cancer

Osteogenic
Pertaining to being produced by bone tissue

Electroencephalogram
Record of the electricity in the brain

Myelogram
An x-ray record of the spinal cord after injecting a contrast
material

Mammogram
An x-ray record of a breast

Electroencephalograph
An instrument for recording the electricity in the brain

Electroencephalography
The process of recording the electricity in the brain

Angiography
x-ray recording of blood vessels after injecting a contrast

bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchial tubes

tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils
thrombophlebitis / phlebitis
inflammation of a vein accompanied by formation of a clot

ophthalmology
study of the eye

ophthalmologist
optometrist
optician

morphology
study of the shape of cells

hemolysis
destruction of red blood cells

ana lysis
hem o dia lysis
lipolysis

osteomalacia
softening of bones

chondromalacia
softening of cartilage

acromegaly
enlargement of extremities

spleenomegaly
enlargement of the spleen

myoma
benign tumor of muscles
myosarcoma
malignant tumor of muscles

multiple myeloma
malignant tumor originating from the bone marrow

hematoma
a mass of blood under the skin

biopsy
viewing a living tissue

necropsy
dissection and examination of a dead body to determine the
cause of death

necrosis
abnormal condition of death of cells

hydronephrosis
dilation of the pelvis of the kidney due to an obstruction to the
free flow of urine from the kidney

leukocytosis
a slight increase in the number of white blood cells as a
response to infection

cardiomyopathy
disease condition of the heart muscle

erythropenia
a decrease in the number of red blood cells
neutropenia
a decrease in the number of neutrophils (white blood cells)

thrombocytopenia
a decrease in the number of clotting cells

acrophobia
fear of heights

agoraphobia
fear of public places or open places

necrophobia

achondroplasia
a disorder in which the bones of arms and legs fail to grow to
normal size due to a defect in cartilage and bone

angioplasty
surgical repair of a blood vessel

blepharoptosis
prolapse of the upper eyelids

nephroptosis
prolapse of the kidney

arteriosclerosis
hardening of arteries

laparoscope
an instrument to visually examine the abdomen

laparoscopy
visual examination of the abdomen

metastasis
spread of a malignant tumor beyond its original site to a
secondary organ or location

hemostasis
stoppage of blood flow by natural or mechanical means

colostomy
opening of the colon to the outside of the body

tracheostomy
opening of the trachea to the outside of the body

hydrotherapy
treatment with water

chemotherapy
treatment with drugs or chemicals

radiotherapy
treatment with high energy x-ray

laparotomy
incision of the abdomen

phlebotomy
incision of a vein

tracheotomy
incision of the trachea (to remove a blockage)

hypertrophy
an increase in the size of a tissue or an organ due to
enlargement of the cells

atrophy
a decrease in the size of cells within an organ

radiographer
a health care professional who operates radiological equipment

leukemia
higher than normal number of (cancerous) white blood cells

pneumonia
abnormal condition / inflammation of the lungs

nephrologist
a kidney specialist

arteriole
a small artery

venule
a small vein

pericardium
a membrane surrounding the heart

mucus
a sticky substance secreted from a mucous membrane

esophagus
a tube leading from the throat to the stomach

nephropathy
disease condition of the kidney
cardiac
pertaining to the heart

peritoneal
pertaining to the peritoneum

inguinal
pertaining to the groin

pleural
pertaining to the pleura

tonsillar
pertaining to the tonsils

pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs

axillary
pertaining to the armpit

laryngeal
pertaining to the larynx

carcinogenic
pertaining to producing cancer

osteogenic
pertaining to producing in the bones

chronic
occurring over a long period of time

pathologic
pertaining to the study of disease

adenoids
enlarged lymphatic tissue in the upper part of the throat near
the nasal passage

mucoid
resembling mucus

adipose
pertaining to or full of fat

mucous membrane
an epithelial membrane that secretes mucus and lines the
tubular organs of the body

necrotic
pertaining to death of cells