are word parts that are located at the end of words. Suffixes can alter the meaning of medical terms. It is important to spell and pronounce suffixes correctly.
Suffixes in medical terms are common to English language suffixes. Suffixes are not always explicitly stated in the definition of a word. It is common that suffixes will not be explicitly stated when defining a medical term in the workplace. However, when transcribing or reading medical reports the suffix is always clearly written. In order to properly spell and pronounce medical terms, it is helpful to learn the suffixes.
A word part added to the end of a word that changes the meaning of the word root.
less then expected (amount) of amnion fluid
Process that removes antibodies from the plasma portion of blood
pertaining to the arteries that supply the heart
grave or serious muscle weakness
Cancer that starts in the mucous glands
swelling of the scrotum cause by fluid collection in the sheath surrounding the testicle
surgical puncture (using a needle) to remove amniotic fluid for sampling.
to secrete externally, directly or through a duct
false pregnancy (patient has signs and symptoms of pregnancy but is not pregnant)
surgical fusion of a joint through ossification of bones
A group of symptoms that occur (run together) that are associated with a specific disease or pathology.
new birth/ newborn - birth to four weeks.
Pertaining to the esophagus
Walls of the bronchi are thickened out (expanded) with inflammation and infection because cilli can no longer sweep out debris leading to dyspnea.
surgical removal of (part or all of) the stomach.
Lack of (without) sufficeint healthy red blood cells in the blood
Condition of increased production of urine
Substance or agent that produces or causes malformations
radiographic image of electrical activity in the heart
instrument used to record electrical activity within the heart
process of recording electrical activity of the heart
condition of a fast heart (rate)
Condition of stones in the common bile duct
Specialist who studies the mind
state of excessive production of thyroid hormone
inflammation of the colon
Specialist who studies and treats cancer
dissolution of a blood clot
instrument used to measure temperature
Process of measuring the function of the lungs by measuring inhalation and exhalation of breath
tumour that develops in the melanocytes
process of viewing living tissue to examine for presence, cause or extend of disease
abnormal condition of excessive production of red blood cells
pertaining to within the vein
slight paralysis of one side of the body (right or left)
abnormal reduction in number of (healthy) red blood cells produced
surgical fixation of they vagina by suturing it to the abdominal wall
Aversion or sensitivity to light
excessive development or growth
substance that composes cells
surgical repair of the nasal cavity
paralysis of eye muscle(s)
formation of white blood cells
excessive or uncontrolled bleeding from the blood vessels
Excessive bleeding from the nasal cavity (nose bleed) also called epistaxis
suturing of the gall bladder for repair
excessive flow or discharge from the nasal cavity (runny nose)
Rupture of the amniotic sac
Fallopian tube fills with pus
malignant cancer of the skeletal muscles
Congenital fissure of the skull. The bones of the skull fail to close.
instrument used to visualize the uterus
visual examination of the pelvis
process of viewing the stomach
blood vessels contract involuntarily (vasoconstriction) resulting in restricted blood flow
the process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel to prevent further blood loss
constriction or narrowing of the ureter
creation of artificial opening between the kidney and the skin
blood in the chest cavity
instrument used to cut skin
incision into the abdominal cavity
surgical crushing of stones in the common bile duct
excessive development; increase in the size of cells but not the number of cells
innermost layer of the heart
Urinating at night (usually excessive)
{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T08:11:02+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T08:11:02+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:18:43+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Medical","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34077"},"slug":"medical","categoryId":34077},{"name":"Terminology","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34086"},"slug":"terminology","categoryId":34086}],"title":"How to Use Suffixes to Find the Meaning of Medical Terms","strippedTitle":"how to use suffixes to find the meaning of medical terms","slug":"how-to-use-suffixes-to-find-the-meaning-of-medical-terms","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you are stuck on a medical term, using the suffix can help you discern some meaning. Check out some suffix examples. Suffixes related to procedures include -","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>If you are stuck on a medical term, using the suffix can help you discern some meaning. Check out some suffix examples. Suffixes related to procedures include <i>-centesis,</i> referring to surgical puncture to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid. That means <i>abdominocentesis</i> is surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity.</p>\n<p>Want to talk about removing something? The suffix <i>-ectomy</i> means “surgical removal of.” When you see <i>-ectomy</i> at the end of any term, no matter how long or how difficult or confusing the first part of the word is, it means surgical removal of something. Another term almost everyone knows that ends in <i>-ectomy</i> is <i>appendectomy,</i> surgical removal of the appendix.</p>\n<p>But, sadly, it’s not always that easy. Take a look at a more complicated word and then break it down. How about the word <i>salpingo-oophorectomy?</i></p>\n<p>The <i>–</i><i>ectomy</i> most people know indicates the surgical removal of something. But what? <i>Salpingo</i> is the root word referring to the fallopian tube; <i>oophoro</i> is the root word for ovary. Therefore, <i>salpingo-oophorectomy</i> is surgical removal of a fallopian tube and ovary. Surgical removal of an ovary only would be <i>oophorectomy.</i> Surgical removal of a fallopian tube only would be <i>salpingectomy.</i></p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">The eagle eyes among you may have noticed this: There is a hyphen in salpingo-oophorectomy. This is there mainly to aid with pronunciation and to avoid a triple “o” vowel with the combining of the two roots. The word can also be expressed as <i>oophorosalpingectomy,</i> which means the same thing.</p>\n<p>Another suffix related to procedures is <i>-graphy,</i> meaning the process of recording a picture or a record. <i>Radiography</i> is the process of recording a picture by radiograph or an x-ray. Suffixes <i>-gram</i> and <i>-graph</i> are used to describe the finished product, the recording or picture. An <i>arteriography</i> is the process of recording the picture of arteries. The <i>arteriogram</i> or <i>arteriograph</i> is the film that is produced by the arteriography.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-ostomy</i> means to surgically create an artificial opening or <i>stoma.</i> A <i>colostomy</i> is a surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the body surface. The root word <i>colo</i> means colon. The suffix <i>-otomy</i> means “surgical cutting into,” or a surgical incision. In order, then, to perform a <i>tracheostomy</i> (the surgical creation of an opening in the trachea), a <i>tracheotomy</i> (the surgical incision into the trachea) must be performed.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">It is important to know the difference between “ostomy” and “otomy” — there is only one letter difference, but a big difference in the meaning.</p>\n<p>A similar suffix in meaning is <i>-plasty.</i> The suffix <i>-plasty</i> means “surgical repair.” The rule of thumb to remember here is when you hear or see <i>-plasty</i> think of the plastic surgeon, because, in most cases, <i>-plasty</i> surgical procedures <i>are</i> performed by the plastic surgeon. A term associated with this suffix is <i>mammoplasty.</i> The root word <i>mammo</i> refers to the breast. A <i>reduction mammoplasty</i> would be surgical reduction in the size of the breast.</p>\n<p>Another commonly used suffix with regards to procedures is <i>-scopy.</i> This involves the visual examination of the interior of a body cavity or organ using an endoscope. The <i>endoscope</i> is the instrument, and <i>endoscopy</i> is the actual visual examination being performed with the endoscope.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">In medicine today, more and more diagnostic procedures are being performed using the endoscopic method. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive. Small incisions (also known as <i>portals</i>) are made into skin, and the laparoscope is inserted through the portals. This provides visualization for excisions to be made through these very small incisions — as opposed to a full thickness, muscle-splitting incision to fully open up (in most cases) the abdominal wall.</p>\n<p>Female sterilizations, hysterectomies, gallbladder removal, and appendectomies, just to name a few, are now being done laparoscopically. Less time is spent in the hospital, and the recovery period is reduced by as much as a month. For example, a gallbladder removed by routine upper abdominal incision requires a recovery period of four to six weeks; performed laparoscopically, with only portals to heal, the time is cut to two weeks.</p>\n<p>Suffixes related to conditions are used over and over again. You have already covered a few, but let’s look at some. You have <i>-algia,</i> meaning “pain and suffering.” <i>Arthralgia</i> would refer to the pain and suffering of joints. <i>Myalgia</i> means “pain or suffering in the muscle.” The suffix <i>-dynia</i> also means “pain.” The word <i>gastrodynia</i> (<i>gastro</i> is a root word for “stomach”) means “pain in the stomach.”</p>\n<p>You already know <i>-itis</i> means “inflammation.” You can have <i>gastritis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, thyroiditis, neuritis, cellulitis, dermatitis, colitis, enteritis,</i> and <i>arthritis</i> (though you certainly wouldn’t want to). You could have an <i>-itis</i> of almost any part of your body.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Inflammation has two <i>m</i>’s, but inflamed has only one.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-malacia</i> means “abnormal softening,” most often used referring to bone disorders, but it does mean abnormal softening, and <i>arteriomalacia</i> refers to abnormal softening of the walls of an artery or arteries.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-megaly</i> means “large” or “enlarged.” It can be coupled with many body parts or organs. <i>Cardiomegaly</i> means enlargement of the heart, <i>splenomegaly</i> enlargement of a spleen. <i>Hepatomegaly</i> is enlargement of the liver. <i>Thyromegaly</i> would be enlargement of the thyroid gland. And <i>hepatosplenomegaly</i> would be enlargement of the liver <i>and</i> spleen, a double-barreled root word.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-osis</i> means “a disease or abnormal condition,” a general suffix associated with many of the root words. <i>Gastrosis</i> means a disease (any disease) of the stomach. <i>Scoliosis</i> is a curvature of the spine. <i>Diverticulosis</i> means outpouchings of the intestinal wall. <i>Psychosis</i> (<i>psyche</i> is the root word for “mind”) covers many varieties of mental disorders.</p>","description":"<p>If you are stuck on a medical term, using the suffix can help you discern some meaning. Check out some suffix examples. Suffixes related to procedures include <i>-centesis,</i> referring to surgical puncture to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid. That means <i>abdominocentesis</i> is surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity.</p>\n<p>Want to talk about removing something? The suffix <i>-ectomy</i> means “surgical removal of.” When you see <i>-ectomy</i> at the end of any term, no matter how long or how difficult or confusing the first part of the word is, it means surgical removal of something. Another term almost everyone knows that ends in <i>-ectomy</i> is <i>appendectomy,</i> surgical removal of the appendix.</p>\n<p>But, sadly, it’s not always that easy. Take a look at a more complicated word and then break it down. How about the word <i>salpingo-oophorectomy?</i></p>\n<p>The <i>–</i><i>ectomy</i> most people know indicates the surgical removal of something. But what? <i>Salpingo</i> is the root word referring to the fallopian tube; <i>oophoro</i> is the root word for ovary. Therefore, <i>salpingo-oophorectomy</i> is surgical removal of a fallopian tube and ovary. Surgical removal of an ovary only would be <i>oophorectomy.</i> Surgical removal of a fallopian tube only would be <i>salpingectomy.</i></p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">The eagle eyes among you may have noticed this: There is a hyphen in salpingo-oophorectomy. This is there mainly to aid with pronunciation and to avoid a triple “o” vowel with the combining of the two roots. The word can also be expressed as <i>oophorosalpingectomy,</i> which means the same thing.</p>\n<p>Another suffix related to procedures is <i>-graphy,</i> meaning the process of recording a picture or a record. <i>Radiography</i> is the process of recording a picture by radiograph or an x-ray. Suffixes <i>-gram</i> and <i>-graph</i> are used to describe the finished product, the recording or picture. An <i>arteriography</i> is the process of recording the picture of arteries. The <i>arteriogram</i> or <i>arteriograph</i> is the film that is produced by the arteriography.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-ostomy</i> means to surgically create an artificial opening or <i>stoma.</i> A <i>colostomy</i> is a surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the body surface. The root word <i>colo</i> means colon. The suffix <i>-otomy</i> means “surgical cutting into,” or a surgical incision. In order, then, to perform a <i>tracheostomy</i> (the surgical creation of an opening in the trachea), a <i>tracheotomy</i> (the surgical incision into the trachea) must be performed.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">It is important to know the difference between “ostomy” and “otomy” — there is only one letter difference, but a big difference in the meaning.</p>\n<p>A similar suffix in meaning is <i>-plasty.</i> The suffix <i>-plasty</i> means “surgical repair.” The rule of thumb to remember here is when you hear or see <i>-plasty</i> think of the plastic surgeon, because, in most cases, <i>-plasty</i> surgical procedures <i>are</i> performed by the plastic surgeon. A term associated with this suffix is <i>mammoplasty.</i> The root word <i>mammo</i> refers to the breast. A <i>reduction mammoplasty</i> would be surgical reduction in the size of the breast.</p>\n<p>Another commonly used suffix with regards to procedures is <i>-scopy.</i> This involves the visual examination of the interior of a body cavity or organ using an endoscope. The <i>endoscope</i> is the instrument, and <i>endoscopy</i> is the actual visual examination being performed with the endoscope.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">In medicine today, more and more diagnostic procedures are being performed using the endoscopic method. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive. Small incisions (also known as <i>portals</i>) are made into skin, and the laparoscope is inserted through the portals. This provides visualization for excisions to be made through these very small incisions — as opposed to a full thickness, muscle-splitting incision to fully open up (in most cases) the abdominal wall.</p>\n<p>Female sterilizations, hysterectomies, gallbladder removal, and appendectomies, just to name a few, are now being done laparoscopically. Less time is spent in the hospital, and the recovery period is reduced by as much as a month. For example, a gallbladder removed by routine upper abdominal incision requires a recovery period of four to six weeks; performed laparoscopically, with only portals to heal, the time is cut to two weeks.</p>\n<p>Suffixes related to conditions are used over and over again. You have already covered a few, but let’s look at some. You have <i>-algia,</i> meaning “pain and suffering.” <i>Arthralgia</i> would refer to the pain and suffering of joints. <i>Myalgia</i> means “pain or suffering in the muscle.” The suffix <i>-dynia</i> also means “pain.” The word <i>gastrodynia</i> (<i>gastro</i> is a root word for “stomach”) means “pain in the stomach.”</p>\n<p>You already know <i>-itis</i> means “inflammation.” You can have <i>gastritis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, thyroiditis, neuritis, cellulitis, dermatitis, colitis, enteritis,</i> and <i>arthritis</i> (though you certainly wouldn’t want to). You could have an <i>-itis</i> of almost any part of your body.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Inflammation has two <i>m</i>’s, but inflamed has only one.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-malacia</i> means “abnormal softening,” most often used referring to bone disorders, but it does mean abnormal softening, and <i>arteriomalacia</i> refers to abnormal softening of the walls of an artery or arteries.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-megaly</i> means “large” or “enlarged.” It can be coupled with many body parts or organs. <i>Cardiomegaly</i> means enlargement of the heart, <i>splenomegaly</i> enlargement of a spleen. <i>Hepatomegaly</i> is enlargement of the liver. <i>Thyromegaly</i> would be enlargement of the thyroid gland. And <i>hepatosplenomegaly</i> would be enlargement of the liver <i>and</i> spleen, a double-barreled root word.</p>\n<p>The suffix <i>-osis</i> means “a disease or abnormal condition,” a general suffix associated with many of the root words. <i>Gastrosis</i> means a disease (any disease) of the stomach. <i>Scoliosis</i> is a curvature of the spine. <i>Diverticulosis</i> means outpouchings of the intestinal wall. <i>Psychosis</i> (<i>psyche</i> is the root word for “mind”) covers many varieties of mental disorders.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9294,"name":"Beverley Henderson","slug":"beverley-henderson","description":" <p><b>Beverley Henderson, CMT-R, HRT</b> has more than 40 years of experience in medical terminology and transcription as both an educator and manager. <b>Jennifer L. Dorsey, PhD</b> has coauthored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories for more than 20 years. 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Dorsey, PhD, has coauthored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories for more than 20 years.","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9295"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34086,"title":"Terminology","slug":"terminology","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34086"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":267149,"title":"How the Urinary System Works","slug":"how-the-urinary-system-works","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/267149"}},{"articleId":267144,"title":"Integumentary System: Glands, Hair, and Nails","slug":"integumentary-system-glands-hair-and-nails","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/267144"}},{"articleId":267136,"title":"How the Muscular System Works","slug":"how-the-muscular-system-works","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/267136"}},{"articleId":267130,"title":"How the Skeletal System Works","slug":"how-the-skeletal-system-works","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/267130"}},{"articleId":209448,"title":"Medical Terminology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"medical-terminology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209448"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282388,"slug":"medical-terminology-for-dummies-3rd-edition","isbn":"9781119625476","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","medical","terminology"],"amazon":{"default":"//www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119625475/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"//www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119625475/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"//www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=//www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119625475-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119625475/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"//www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119625475/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"//catalogimages.wiley.com/images/db/jimages/9781119625476.jpg","width":250,"height":350},"title":"Medical Terminology For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"9294\">Beverley Henderson</b>, CMT-R, HRT</b> has more than 40 years of experience in medical terminology and transcription as both an educator and manager. <b>Jennifer L. Dorsey, PhD</b> has coauthored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories for more than 20 years. <p><b>Beverley Henderson, CMT-R, HRT</b> has more than 40 years of experience in medical terminology and transcription as both an educator and manager. <b><b data-author-id=\"33242\">Jennifer L. Dorsey</b>, PhD</b> has coauthored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories for more than 20 years.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9294,"name":"Beverley Henderson","slug":"beverley-henderson","description":" <p><b>Beverley Henderson, CMT-R, HRT</b> has more than 40 years of experience in medical terminology and transcription as both an educator and manager. <b>Jennifer L. Dorsey, PhD</b> has coauthored, revised, and ghostwritten books in the medical, business, and personal growth categories for more than 20 years. 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If you are stuck on a medical term, using the suffix can help you discern some meaning. Check out some suffix examples. Suffixes related to procedures include -centesis, referring to surgical puncture to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid. That means abdominocentesis is surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity. Want to talk about removing something? The suffix -ectomy means “surgical removal of.” When you see -ectomy at the end of any term, no matter how long or how difficult or confusing the first part of the word is, it means surgical removal of something. Another term almost everyone knows that ends in -ectomy is appendectomy, surgical removal of the appendix. But, sadly, it’s not always that easy. Take a look at a more complicated word and then break it down. How about the word salpingo-oophorectomy? The –ectomy most people know indicates the surgical removal of something. But what? Salpingo is the root word referring to the fallopian tube; oophoro is the root word for ovary. Therefore, salpingo-oophorectomy is surgical removal of a fallopian tube and ovary. Surgical removal of an ovary only would be oophorectomy. Surgical removal of a fallopian tube only would be salpingectomy. The eagle eyes among you may have noticed this: There is a hyphen in salpingo-oophorectomy. This is there mainly to aid with pronunciation and to avoid a triple “o” vowel with the combining of the two roots. The word can also be expressed as oophorosalpingectomy, which means the same thing. Another suffix related to procedures is -graphy, meaning the process of recording a picture or a record. Radiography is the process of recording a picture by radiograph or an x-ray. Suffixes -gram and -graph are used to describe the finished product, the recording or picture. An arteriography is the process of recording the picture of arteries. The arteriogram or arteriograph is the film that is produced by the arteriography. The suffix -ostomy means to surgically create an artificial opening or stoma. A colostomy is a surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the body surface. The root word colo means colon. The suffix -otomy means “surgical cutting into,” or a surgical incision. In order, then, to perform a tracheostomy (the surgical creation of an opening in the trachea), a tracheotomy (the surgical incision into the trachea) must be performed. It is important to know the difference between “ostomy” and “otomy” — there is only one letter difference, but a big difference in the meaning. A similar suffix in meaning is -plasty. The suffix -plasty means “surgical repair.” The rule of thumb to remember here is when you hear or see -plasty think of the plastic surgeon, because, in most cases, -plasty surgical procedures are performed by the plastic surgeon. A term associated with this suffix is mammoplasty. The root word mammo refers to the breast. A reduction mammoplasty would be surgical reduction in the size of the breast. Another commonly used suffix with regards to procedures is -scopy. This involves the visual examination of the interior of a body cavity or organ using an endoscope. The endoscope is the instrument, and endoscopy is the actual visual examination being performed with the endoscope. In medicine today, more and more diagnostic procedures are being performed using the endoscopic method. Endoscopic surgery is less invasive. Small incisions (also known as portals) are made into skin, and the laparoscope is inserted through the portals. This provides visualization for excisions to be made through these very small incisions — as opposed to a full thickness, muscle-splitting incision to fully open up (in most cases) the abdominal wall. Female sterilizations, hysterectomies, gallbladder removal, and appendectomies, just to name a few, are now being done laparoscopically. Less time is spent in the hospital, and the recovery period is reduced by as much as a month. For example, a gallbladder removed by routine upper abdominal incision requires a recovery period of four to six weeks; performed laparoscopically, with only portals to heal, the time is cut to two weeks. Suffixes related to conditions are used over and over again. You have already covered a few, but let’s look at some. You have -algia, meaning “pain and suffering.” Arthralgia would refer to the pain and suffering of joints. Myalgia means “pain or suffering in the muscle.” The suffix -dynia also means “pain.” The word gastrodynia (gastro is a root word for “stomach”) means “pain in the stomach.” You already know -itis means “inflammation.” You can have gastritis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, thyroiditis, neuritis, cellulitis, dermatitis, colitis, enteritis, and arthritis (though you certainly wouldn’t want to). You could have an -itis of almost any part of your body. Inflammation has two m’s, but inflamed has only one. The suffix -malacia means “abnormal softening,” most often used referring to bone disorders, but it does mean abnormal softening, and arteriomalacia refers to abnormal softening of the walls of an artery or arteries. The suffix -megaly means “large” or “enlarged.” It can be coupled with many body parts or organs. Cardiomegaly means enlargement of the heart, splenomegaly enlargement of a spleen. Hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver. Thyromegaly would be enlargement of the thyroid gland. And hepatosplenomegaly would be enlargement of the liver and spleen, a double-barreled root word. The suffix -osis means “a disease or abnormal condition,” a general suffix associated with many of the root words. Gastrosis means a disease (any disease) of the stomach. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. Diverticulosis means outpouchings of the intestinal wall. Psychosis (psyche is the root word for “mind”) covers many varieties of mental disorders.