Nursing Medical Suffixes Made Easy

Medical suffixes made easy for nursing school and medical terminology courses. Below is a list of common medical suffixes, along with the meaning and an example of how it may be used.

Common Medical Suffixes

Let’s go over some common medical suffixes you want to know.

1. The suffix “ac” (also ic, ic, ar, ary, and ous) means “referring to” or “pertaining to.” Celiac means pertaining to the bowels. Gastric means it is pertaining to the stomach, and venous means pertaining to veins.
2. The suffix “algia” means pain. For example, neuralgia is pain along a nerve’s path.
3. The compound suffix “apheresis” means to remove blood from the body, filter some component out, and then return the blood back to the body. I have administered aquapheresis treatment to congestive heart failure patients, which removes excess water.
4. The suffix “asthenia” refers to a weakness of something. In myasthenia gravis, the “my” refers to muscle (myo), and “asthenia” means weakness. So we have weakness of the muscles that is serious (gravis).
5. The compound suffix “centesis” means to puncture surgically. During amniocentesis, the amniotic sac is punctured and fluid is removed for testing.
6. The suffix “cide” means killer. A fungicide is used to kill the fungus causing an infection.
7. The suffix “crine” means to secrete. The eccrine glands in our skin, for example, secrete out (ec) sweat.
8. The suffix “cyte” means cell. So an erythrocyte is a red (erythro) blood cell (cyte).
9. The suffix “drome” means running or occurring. So a syndrome, for example, means that there are signs or symptoms that are running or occurring together.
10. The suffix “ectasis” means to expand or dilate. For example, angiectasis refers to the dilation of a blood vessel.
11. The suffix “ectomy” means to cut out. If you have problems tonsil infections or tonsil stones, you might have a tonsillectomy, where they will surgically cut those tonsils out.
12. The suffix “emia” means a condition pertaining to the blood. Polycythemia means too many blood cells, but anemia means not enough blood cells.
13. The suffix “ferrent” means to carry. Afferent nerves carry signals to the CNS, and efferent nerves carry signals away from the CNS.
14. The suffix “fuge” means drive away. A centrifuge spins bloods around and drives red blood cells away from the center so that they can collect in one side of the tube.
15. The suffix “gen” means producing or causing something. A carcinogen causes cancer.
16. The suffix “gram” means to record, picture, or draw something. A mammogram takes an X-ray image of breast tissue to detect cancer.
17. The suffix “graphy” also means writing or recording. Radiography records images of the body.
18. The suffix “ia” refers to a condition. For example, pneumonia is a condition affecting the lungs.
19. The suffix “iatrics” denotes a specialty. For example, pediatrics, is a specialty dealing with children.
20. The suffix “ism” or “osis” or “ty” means state or condition of something. Hypothyroidism is the state or condition of having an underactive thyroid. Scoliosis refers to the condition or state of having a crooked spine. Immunity is the state of being immune to something.
21. The suffix “itis” means inflammation. If you have dermatitis, that means you have inflammation of your skin (dermis).
22. The suffix “logy” or “logist” refers to the study of something or one who studies. So a nephrologist studies the kidney (neprho), or biology is the study of life (bio).
23. The suffix “lysis” refers to something breaking down or apart. Hemolysis occurs when red blood cells break apart.
24. The suffix “mania” refers to being consumed or obsessed with something. Kleptomania is the obsession with stealing items.
25. The suffix “malacia” means a softening or weakening of something. Osteomalacia is the softening of the bones.
26. The suffix “megaly” means enlargement. Splenomegaly refers to an enlarged spleen.
27. The suffix “oma” means tumor or growth. A sarcoma is a type of tumor that arises primarily in connective tissues.
28. The suffix “opia” means vision. Myopia (nearsightedness) occurs when your vision is good when looking at objects up close, but not so good when looking at objects far away.
29. The suffix “pathy” means disease or suffering. Neuropathy is a disease of the nerves.
30. The suffix “paresis” means weak or paralyzed. In gastroparesis, the stomach seizes up and delays emptying its contents.
31. The suffix “ penia” means something is decreased or lacking. Leukopenia is a decrease in white blood cells (leukocytes).
32. The suffix “pepsia” refers to digestion. Dyspepsia is indigestion.
33. The suffix “phagia” means eating or consuming Dysphagia is difficulty eating or swallowing.
34. The suffix “phobia” means fear. If you have lilapsophobia, then you have a fear of tornadoes or severe storms.
35. The suffix “plasia” means the growth or development of something. If an organ has hyperplasia, it means the cells in that organ are beginning to grow or develop abnormally.
36. The suffix “plasm” means the living part or the substance of something. Cytoplasm is the substance that makes up a cell.
37. The suffix “plasty” means to reshape something. A rhinoplasty is a the reshaping of the nose.
38. The suffix “plegia” means paralysis. Quadraplegia is paralysis affecting all four limbs.
39. The suffix “pnea” refers to breathing. If you have sleep apnea, then you temporarily stop breathing during sleep (a means without; pnea means breathing).
40. The suffix “poiesis” means producing or making. Erythropoiesis describes the body’s process of making of red blood cells.
41. The suffix “ptosis” means sagging or dropping down. If you have a lot of babies, you may experience hysteroptosis, which is when the uterus drops down.
42. The suffix “rrhage” refer to a heavy bleeding. An internal hemorrhage is bleeding inside the body.
43. The suffix “rrhagia” means a heavy or abnormal discharge of something. When you have an abnormally long period, it is called menorrhagia.
44. The suffix “rrhea” means flow or sudden discharge of something. Diarrhea is the sudden discharge of stool.
45. The suffix “sclerosis” refers to a hardening or stiffening of something. When you have atherosclerosis, plaque builds up and causes hardening of the arteries.
46. The suffix “scope” refers to a tool used to help you see, and “scopy” refers to the examination process. During a colonoscopy, the colon is examined using a colonoscope.
47. The suffix “spasm” means twitching or contraction of muscle tissue. When muscles of the bronchi begin contracting involuntarily, that’s called a bronchospasm.
48. The suffix “stasis” means ceasing or balancing something. The body is always trying to maintain homeostasis to maintain a proper balance.
49. The suffix “stenosis” means something is narrowing or closing in. If you have renal artery stenosis, it means there is narrowing of that artery which can eventually cause problems such as increased blood pressure.
50. The suffix “stomy” means an opening has been created in something. An colostomy is an opening created in the colon.
51. The suffix “tocia” refers to birth or the process of birth. Dystocia refers to a difficult birthing process.
52. The suffix “tomy” means to cut something. Some women have a hysterectomy to remove (cut out) the uterus if there is cancer or other problems. 
53. The suffix “trophy” refers to growth or nourishment. If you work out your muscles, you may experience hypertrophy, which is where they grow. If you quit working out, your muscles may atrophy, or stop growing (or shrink).
54. The suffix “uria” refers to urine. Hematuria means there is blood present in the urine.

Medical and Nursing Suffixes Quiz

Test your knowledge on these terms by taking our medical suffixes quiz. You can also review our medical suffixes video.