GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section

Prefixes And Suffixes Medical Terminology

Medical terminology for surgeons pertaining to surgical instruments and well as surgical and diagnostic procedures


-centesis

surgical puncture

amniocentesis (surgical puncture of the amniotic sac to remove fluid for laboratory analysis; an obstetrical procedure)

 

-clasis

crushing or breaking up

osteoclasis (intentional surgical fracture of a bone to correct a deformity)

 

-desis

binding or surgical fusion

arthrodesis (fixation of a joint by a procedure designed to accomplish fusion of the joint surfaces)

 

–ectomy

surgical removal

appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix)

 

-gram

record or picture

electrocardiogram (record of the electrical activity of the heart)

 

-graph

an instrument used to record

electrocardiograph (instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart

 

-graphy

process of recording

electrocardiography (the process of recording the electrical activity of the heart)

 

-ize

to make; to treat or combine with

anesthetize (to induce a state of anesthesia; to make one “feelingless”)

 

-lysis

destruction or detachment

dialysis (the removal or detachment of certain elements from the blood or lymph by passing them through a semipermeable membrane

 

-meter

an instrument used to measure

pelvimeter (instrument used to measure the diameter and capacity of the pelvis)

 

-metry

the process of measuring

pelvimetry (process of measuring the dimensions of the pelvis)

 

-opsy

process of viewing

biopsy (removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or part of the body for “viewing” under a microscope)

 

-pexy

surgical fixation

colpopexy (surgical fixation of a relaxed vaginal wall)

 

-plasty

surgical repair

rhinoplasty (surgical repair of the nose in which the structure of the nose is changed)

 

-rrhaphy

suturing

nephrorrhaphy (the operation of suturing the kidney)

 

-scope

an instrument used to view

ophthalmoscope (instrument used to view the interior of the eye)

 

-copy

the process of viewing with a scope

ophthalmoscopy (the process of using an ophthalmoscope to view the interior of the eye)

 

-stomy

the surgical creation of a new opening

colostomy (surgical creation of a new opening between the colon and the surface of the body)

 

-tomy

incision into

phlebotomy (incision into a vein)Medical Terminology For Surgeons - Clinical And Medical Calculators From Global Rph

 

-tripsy

intentional crushing

lithotripsy (crushing of a stone in the bladder; may be accomplished by ultrasound or by laser)

 


 

Increasing your understanding of medical terminology

Word Building Reference– This resource strengthens your understanding of medical terminology. See how common medical terms are created using the various prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

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Medical Terminology Intuitive Section Hot Anim - Clinical And Medical Calculators From Global Rph
This section was developed for ‘speed learning’ of medical terminology.

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Additional references:

Prefixes denoting numbers
Prefixes denoting position and/or direction
Prefixes denoting measurement
Medical Terminology Noun Suffixes
Combining forms for color
Common Prefixes
Adjective Suffixes
Specialties and specialists med terms
Instruments, surgical, and diagnostic procedures
Negative prefixes
Common suffixes


Quick Introduction– provides an overview and introduction to medical terminology.
Medical Terms – rules governing singular versus plural versions of medical terms are described.