CHAPTER 3 Suffixes

Suffixes Remember Every medical word has an ending 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)

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

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’

Let’s Play Suffix Bingo Use your blank bingo card with ‘free space’ Fill in each blank with a different suffix Instructor will call out definitions You will cross box with an ‘x’ if you have the suffix You can bingo vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or all four corners To win, you must have correct suffixes and be able to define each suffix