The following suffixes show the word parts. In other words, these suffixes show whether a word is an adjective, noun, singular or plural or a diminutuve of a larger word.

Adjective endings that mean "pertaining to" are:

Adjective endings Example
-ac

cadiac
heart
-al    skeletal
skeleton
-ary salivary
saliva
-ic pelvic
pelvis
-ical surgical
surgery   
-ous venous
vein
-tic    paralytic
paralysis
-ar muscular
muscles

   

Nouns endings

These suffixes show the word is a noun.

Noun endings

Meaning

Example

-iac  

indicates person afflicted

with certain diseases or

conditions

hemophiliac

-ia

an unhealthy state

anesthesia

-is

forms the noun from the root

cutis
skin

-ism

condition, state of being

alcholism
alcohol

-ist  

one who specialises

radiologist
radiology

-y

condition, process

neuropathy
nervous system
disease

                            

These suffixes show the word is a small version of a thing.

Diminutive ending

Meaning

Example

-ole    

 

artiole
artery

-icle        

small, little
minute

particle
piece

-ule    

 

veinule
vein

        

These suffixes indicate whether the noun is singular or plural.

Singular 

Plural  

 

Example

Singular

Example

Plural

a

ae

patella  

patellae

ax  

aces

thorax   

throraces

en

ina

lumen

lumina

ix

ex

ices     

index   

indices

sis

ses   

diagnosis   

diagnoses

on   

a

ganglion  

ganglia

um

a     

ovum

ova

us

i  

digitus

digiti

y

ies  

deformity

deformities

ma

mata  

carcinoma

carcinomata

                                   

Adapted from :
Cohen, B. J. (1998). Medical terminology; An illustrated guide. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
Gyls, B.A. & Wedding, M.E. (1983). Medical Terminology: A Systems Approach. Philadelphai  F.A.Davis.