Medical Terminology: Word Building, Plural Forms, and Suffixes

Word Building in Medical Terminology

Combining Forms and Vowels

Medical terms are often constructed by joining word parts, including roots, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes. Understanding the rules for combining these elements is essential for accurate term formation and interpretation.

• Combining Vowel Retention: The combining vowel (usually 'o') is typically retained between two combining forms.

• Combining Form + Suffix:

  • If the suffix begins with a consonant, the combining vowel is usually retained (e.g., cardiomegaly).

  • If the suffix begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is usually omitted (e.g., carditis).

• Prefixes: Most prefixes require no change when joined with other word parts.

Example: The term osteopathy combines "oste/o" (bone) and "-pathy" (disease), retaining the combining vowel because the suffix begins with a consonant.

Forming Plurals of Nouns with Special Endings

Rules for Pluralization

Medical nouns often have Latin or Greek origins, resulting in unique pluralization rules. Recognizing these patterns is important for reading and writing medical documentation.

Singular Ending	Plural Ending	Example
-is	-es	diagnosis → diagnoses
-um	-a	bacterium → bacteria
-us	-i	nucleus → nuclei
-a	-ae	vertebra → vertebrae
-ix, -ex	-ices	appendix → appendices
-ax	-aces	thorax → thoraces
-ma	-mata or -s	carcinoma → carcinomata or carcinomas
-on	-a	criterion → criteria
-nx	-nges	phalanx → phalanges

Example: The plural of ganglion is ganglia.

Suffixes in Medical Terminology

Surgical Procedure Suffixes

Suffixes indicating surgical procedures are commonly used to describe operations or interventions. Understanding these suffixes helps in identifying the nature of medical procedures.

• -centesis: Surgical puncture (e.g., amniocentesis)

• -ectomy: Excision or surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy)

• -lysis: Loosening, freeing, or destroying (e.g., hemolysis)

• -pexy: Surgical fixation (e.g., hysteropexy)

• -plasty: Surgical repair (e.g., rhinoplasty)

• -rrhaphy: Suture (e.g., herniorrhaphy)

• -scopy: Visual examination with a lighted instrument (e.g., endoscopy)

• -stomy: Formation of an opening (e.g., colostomy)

• -tome: Instrument used for cutting (e.g., microtome)

• -tomy: Incision or cutting into tissue (e.g., tracheotomy)

• -tripsy: Surgical crushing (e.g., lithotripsy)

Example: Nephrectomy refers to the surgical removal of a kidney.

Suffixes for Symptoms or Diagnosis

Suffixes related to symptoms or diagnosis are used to describe conditions, diseases, or abnormal states. Recognizing these suffixes is crucial for interpreting medical records and communicating patient information.

• -algia, -dynia: Pain (e.g., neuralgia, gastrodynia)

• -cele: Hernia (e.g., cystocele)

• -edema: Swelling (e.g., angioedema)

• -emesis: Vomiting (e.g., hematemesis)

• -itis: Inflammation (e.g., arthritis)

• -pathy: Disease (e.g., neuropathy)

• -osis: Condition (often abnormal) (e.g., cyanosis)

• -oma: Tumor (e.g., carcinoma)

• -rrhea: Flow or discharge (e.g., diarrhea)

• -stasis: Stopping or controlling (e.g., hemostasis)

• -megaly: Enlargement (e.g., splenomegaly)

Example: Cardiomegaly means enlargement of the heart.

Summary Table: Suffixes and Their Meanings

Suffix	Meaning	Example
-centesis	Surgical puncture	Amniocentesis
-ectomy	Excision (removal)	Appendectomy
-lysis	Loosening, destroying	Hemolysis
-pexy	Surgical fixation	Hysteropexy
-plasty	Surgical repair	Rhinoplasty
-rrhaphy	Suture	Herniorrhaphy
-scopy	Visual examination	Endoscopy
-stomy	Formation of opening	Colostomy
-tome	Instrument for cutting	Microtome
-tomy	Incision	Tracheotomy
-tripsy	Surgical crushing	Lithotripsy
-algia, -dynia	Pain	Neuralgia
-cele	Hernia	Cystocele
-edema	Swelling	Angioedema
-emesis	Vomiting	Hematemesis
-itis	Inflammation	Arthritis
-pathy	Disease	Neuropathy
-osis	Condition	Cyanosis
-oma	Tumor	Carcinoma
-rrhea	Flow, discharge	Diarrhea
-stasis	Stopping, controlling	Hemostasis
-megaly	Enlargement	Splenomegaly

Additional info: These rules and suffixes are foundational for medical terminology and are applicable across all body systems and specialties.