What does the suffix “-itis” mean (e.g. bronchitis, gastritis)?
Show answer
Inflammation
Bronchitis = inflammation of the bronchi, gastritis = of the stomach lining.
💡 Did you know? Arthritis, otitis, hepatitis: all share the same ending.
All questions with answers
What does the suffix “-ectomy” mean (e.g. appendectomy)?
Show answer
Removal
Appendectomy = removal of the appendix.
💡 Did you know? Tonsillectomy = tonsils out, mastectomy = breast removed.
What does the suffix “-algia” mean (e.g. neuralgia)?
Show answer
Pain
Neuralgia = nerve pain, myalgia = muscle pain.
💡 Did you know? “Analgesic” literally means “without pain”: a painkiller.
What does the suffix “-oma” mean (e.g. lipoma, carcinoma)?
Show answer
Tumour
Lipoma = benign fatty growth, carcinoma = malignant tumour.
💡 Did you know? A “haematoma” is a bruise: literally a “blood tumour”.
What does the suffix “-pathy” mean (e.g. neuropathy)?
Show answer
Disease
Neuropathy = nerve disease, cardiomyopathy = heart-muscle disease.
💡 Did you know? Also in “sympathy”: Greek páthos = suffering, feeling.
What does the suffix “-osis” mean (e.g. arthrosis, thrombosis)?
Show answer
abnormal condition
Arthrosis = joint wear, thrombosis = a clot blocking a vessel.
💡 Did you know? Unlike “-itis”, “-osis” usually means no inflammation.
What does the suffix “-scopy” mean (e.g. endoscopy)?
Show answer
viewing
Colonoscopy = viewing the colon, gastroscopy = the stomach.
💡 Did you know? From Greek skopéin = “to look”, as in microscope.
What does the suffix “-logy” mean (e.g. cardiology)?
Show answer
study
Cardiology = study of the heart, neurology = of the nerves.
💡 Did you know? A “-logist” is the specialist: cardiologist, dermatologist.
What does the suffix “-plegia” mean (e.g. paraplegia)?
Show answer
Paralysis
Paraplegia = paralysis of the legs, tetraplegia = of all four limbs.
💡 Did you know? A “stroke” is called apoplexy: a related root.
What does the suffix “-penia” mean (e.g. leukopenia)?
Show answer
Deficiency
Leukopenia = too few white blood cells, thrombopenia = too few platelets.
💡 Did you know? From Greek penía = “poverty”.
What does the suffix “-aemia/-emia” mean (e.g. anaemia, leukaemia)?
Show answer
Blood
Anaemia = low blood count, hyperglycaemia = too much sugar in the blood.
💡 Did you know? From Greek haima = “blood”, as in haemoglobin.
What does the suffix “-uria” mean (e.g. haematuria)?
Show answer
Urine
Haematuria = blood in the urine, polyuria = unusually large urine volume.
💡 Did you know? From Greek oûron = “urine”.
What does the suffix “-tomy” mean (e.g. laparotomy)?
Show answer
incision
Laparotomy = opening the abdomen, tracheotomy = an incision in the windpipe.
💡 Did you know? “Anatomy” literally means “cutting up”.
What does the suffix “-megaly” mean (e.g. cardiomegaly)?
Show answer
Enlargement
Cardiomegaly = enlarged heart, hepatomegaly = enlarged liver.
💡 Did you know? From Greek mégas = “large”, as in megaphone.
What does the prefix “hyper-” mean (e.g. hypertension)?
Show answer
too much
Hypertension = high blood pressure, hyperthermia = raised temperature.
💡 Did you know? Its opposite is “hypo-”: easy to mix up.
What does the prefix “hypo-” mean (e.g. hypoglycaemia)?
Show answer
too little
Hypoglycaemia = low blood sugar, hypothermia = abnormally low temperature.
💡 Did you know? The “hypodermis” is the layer under the skin.
What does the prefix “tachy-” mean (e.g. tachycardia)?
Show answer
fast
Tachycardia = a fast heartbeat (above ~100/min).
💡 Did you know? Also in “tachometer”, which measures speed.
What does the prefix “brady-” mean (e.g. bradycardia)?
Show answer
slow
Bradycardia = a slow heartbeat (below ~60/min).
💡 Did you know? From Greek bradýs = “slow”.
What does the prefix “dys-” mean (e.g. dysfunction)?
Show answer
impaired
Dysfunction = impaired function, dyspnoea = laboured breathing.
💡 Did you know? Dyslexia literally means “impaired reading”.
What do the prefixes “a-/an-” mean (e.g. apnoea, anaemia)?
Show answer
without
Apnoea = no breathing, anaemia = lack of blood, asymptomatic = without symptoms.
💡 Did you know? “Atypical” likewise means “not typical”.
What does the prefix “poly-” mean (e.g. polyuria)?
Show answer
many
Polyuria = a lot of urine, polyarthritis = inflammation of many joints.
💡 Did you know? Its counterpart is “oligo-” = few.
What does the prefix “anti-” mean (e.g. antibiotic)?
Show answer
against
Antibiotic = against bacteria, antipyretic = against fever.
💡 Did you know? “Antibodies” act against pathogens.
What does the prefix “peri-” mean (e.g. pericardium)?
Show answer
around
Pericardium = the sac around the heart, perioral = around the mouth.
💡 Did you know? The “periphery” is what lies all around.
What does the prefix “intra-” mean (e.g. intravenous)?
Show answer
within
Intravenous = into the vein, intramuscular = into the muscle.
💡 Did you know? Its counterpart “extra-” means outside.
Which organ does the root “cardio-” refer to (e.g. cardiology)?
Show answer
Heart
Cardiology = study of the heart, tachycardia = a fast heartbeat.
💡 Did you know? From Greek kardía: also in “pericardium”.
Which organ does the root “hepato-” refer to (e.g. hepatitis)?
Show answer
Liver
Hepatitis = liver inflammation, hepatomegaly = enlarged liver.
💡 Did you know? From Greek hépar = “liver”.
Which organ does the root “nephro-” refer to (e.g. nephritis)?
Show answer
Kidney
Nephritis = kidney inflammation, nephrology = the study of kidneys.
💡 Did you know? The Latin word is “ren”: hence “renal”.
Which organ does the root “gastro-” refer to (e.g. gastritis)?
Show answer
Stomach
Gastritis = inflammation of the stomach lining, gastroscopy = a stomach scope.
💡 Did you know? “Gastronomy” shares the same origin: all about food.
Which organ does the root “derma-/dermato-” refer to (e.g. dermatology)?
Show answer
Skin
Dermatology = study of the skin, dermatitis = skin inflammation.
💡 Did you know? The “epidermis” is the outer layer of skin.
What does the root “neuro-” refer to (e.g. neurology)?
Show answer
Nerve
Neurology = study of the nerves, neuralgia = nerve pain.
💡 Did you know? From Greek neûron = “sinew, nerve”.
Which tissue does the root “osteo-” refer to (e.g. osteoporosis)?
Show answer
Bone
Osteoporosis = loss of bone, osteomyelitis = bone-marrow inflammation.
💡 Did you know? From Greek ostéon = “bone”.
Which organ does the root “pneumo-” refer to (e.g. pneumonia)?
Show answer
Lung
Pneumonia = lung inflammation, pneumothorax = air in the chest.
💡 Did you know? From Greek pneúmon = “lung”, pneûma = “breath”.
What does the root “myo-” refer to (e.g. myocardium)?
Show answer
Muscle
Myocardium = heart muscle, myalgia = muscle pain.
💡 Did you know? A “myocardial infarction” is a heart-muscle attack.
Which tissue does the root “arthro-” refer to (e.g. arthroscopy)?
Show answer
Joint
Arthroscopy = looking inside a joint, arthritis = joint inflammation.
💡 Did you know? From Greek árthron = “joint”.
How PurFact works
- Every new tab, every visit: one question from your packs.
- What you know comes back at growing intervals; what you don't yet comes back sooner.
- Games, learning paths and duels with friends turn studying into a competition.
Health & Medicine: all topics →
Home · All topics · Legal notice · Privacy · Terms · Contact