Medical Suffixes that Describe Disease or Function

We have put together a comprehensive list of the most commonly used medical term suffixes that describe disease or function of a medical term.

Suffixes Related to Pain: -algesia and -algia

The medical suffix term -algesia means "pain". For example, in the word an/algesia, the prefix An- refers to "not" or "without", and -algesia refers to "pain". Definition: Analgesia means not being able to feel pain.

The medical suffix term -algia also means "pain". The following medical conditions are characterized by this suffix:

• Cephalalgia: Cephal is a word root that refers to "head", and -algia refers to "pain". Cephalalgia, or headache, is a common medical condition marked by pain in the head, scalp, or neck.
• Ankylalgia: ankyl/o (meaning "crooked" or "bent") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Ankylalgia is a medical condition characterized by pain in a joint or bone that has become stiff or immovable due to abnormal growth or development.
• Dentalgia: dental (meaning "relating to the teeth") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Dentalgia is a medical condition that causes pain in the teeth or surrounding tissues.
• Fibromyalgia: fibr/o (meaning "fiber") + my/o (meaning "muscle") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Fibromyalgia is a medical condition marked by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness in specific areas of the body.
• Gastralgia: gastr/o (meaning "stomach") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Gastralgia is a medical condition that causes pain in the stomach.
• Gynalgia: gyn (meaning "woman") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Gynalgia is a medical condition that causes pain in the female reproductive system.
• Ischialgia: ischial (meaning "relating to the hip or sitting bones") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Ischialgia is a medical condition characterized by pain in the hip or sitting bones.
• Lumbalgia: lumb/o (meaning "loin" or "lower back") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Lumbalgia is a medical condition characterized by pain in the lower back.
• Myalgia: my (meaning "muscle") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Myalgia is a condition characterized by muscle pain.
• Neuralgia: neur (meaning "nerve") + -algia (meaning "pain"). Neuralgia is a medical condition that causes severe pain along the course of a nerve.

Suffixes Describing Weakness, Tumors, and Swelling

The medical suffix term -asthenia means "weakness". For example, in the word my/asthenia, My is a word root that pertains to "muscle", and -asthenia refers to "weakness". Definition: Myasthenia gravis is a disorder characterized by weakness and quick fatigue of muscles under voluntary control.

The medical suffix term -carcinoma refers to "cancerous tumor". For example, in aden/o/carcinoma, Aden/o is a combining form that pertains to "gland". Definition: An adenocarcinoma is a kind of cancer that can occur anywhere in the body, usually in the glands that line the inside of the organs.

The medical suffix term -cele refers to "hernia" or "swelling". Example Word: hydr/o/cele. Word Breakdown: Hydr/o is a combining form that pertains to "water", and -cele refers to "hernia" or "swelling". Definition: A hydrocele is an abnormal accumulation of fluids in a specific area of the body, especially in the membranes around a testicle.

Suffixes Describing Destruction

The medical suffix term -clasis or -clasia refers to "breaking". For example, in the word cyt/o/clasis, the combining form Cyt/o pertains to "cell". Definition: The term "cytoclasis" can be defined as the destruction of cells.