copyright © 2011 delmar, cengage learning. all rights reserved. chapter 3 suffixes

Copyright © 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

CHAPTER 3

Suffixes


Suffixes

• Remember– Meaning of suffix does not change

– Suffix does change meaning of the word

• Every medical word has an ending– Either a suffix or a complete word

• Suffixes make a word a noun or an adjective


Suffixes: Rule

• When suffix begins with a consonant– Combining vowel is needed to attach suffix to word root

– Example: cephalodynia• Breakdown of word: cephal / o / dynia

• Root = cephal

• Combining vowel = o (is needed)

• Suffix = dynia (begins with consonant)


Suffixes: Rule

• When suffix begins with a vowel– Combining vowel is not needed to attach suffix to word

root

– Example word: cephalalgia• Breakdown of word: cephal / algia

• Root = cephal

• Combining form = (not needed)

• Suffix = algia (begins with a vowel)


Question

To combine the word root lith (stone) and suffix tripsy (crushing), is “lithtripsy” a valid medical term?a. No. The suffix begins with a consonant and needs a

combining vowel.

b. Yes. Every term needs a word root and an ending, and this has both.

c. No. Every term needs a prefix as well.

d. Yes. The suffix begins with a consonant and does not need a combining vowel.


Answer

a. You need to add a combining vowel if the suffix begins with a consonant.


Suffixes: Rule

• Remember– When defining a medical term

• Define suffix first

• Define prefix second

• Define word root(s) last


Suffixes

• Suffixes indicate specialties and/or specialists– May be specialist in a field of study

– May be one who specializes in the study of

– May be one who treats

• Suffixes indicate instruments– May be an instrument used to view

– May be an instrument used to measure


Suffixes

• Suffixes indicate surgical and diagnostic procedures– May be surgical puncture

– May be process of recording

– May be process of viewing with a scope

– May be incision into


Question

The root “gastr” means stomach, and suffix “plasty” means surgical repair. How would you read the term “gastroplasty”?a. Stomach repair during surgery.

b. Surgical repair of the stomach.

c. Surgical stomach repair.

d. Repair surgically of the stomach.


Answer

b. Suffix first, then the word root.


Forming Plurals

• When singular form ends in ‘a’– Change the ‘a’ to ‘ae’

• When singular form ends in ‘ax’– Change the ‘ax’ to ‘aces’

• When singular form ends in ‘is’– Change the ‘is’ to ‘es’


Forming Plurals

• When singular form ends in ‘ix’, ‘ex’, or ‘yx’– Change the ‘ix’, ‘ex’, or ‘yx’ to ‘ices’

• When singular form ends in ‘on’– Change the ‘on’ to ‘a’

• When the singular form ends in ‘um’– Change the ‘um’ to ‘a’


Forming Plurals

• When the singular form ends in ‘us’– Change the ‘us’ to ‘i’

• When the singular form ends in ‘ma’– Change the ‘ma’ to ‘mata’


Question

True or False: Plural suffixes don't always follow a logical pattern, so it is important to study them.


Answer

True. For instance, instead of just adding an ‘s’ to the end to make things plural, there are odd ones like –ix, -ex, or –yx changing to –ices.

copyright © 2011 delmar, cengage learning. all rights reserved. chapter 3 suffixes

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