96 Medical Terminology: Mastering the Basics Suffi xes Listed below are suffixes used in medical terms pertaining to the digestive system. You will also encounter these suffixes in your study of many terms related to other body systems. Suffi x Meaning -al pertaining to -algia pain -cele hernia swelling protrusion -dynia pain -eal pertaining to -ectomy surgical removal excision -emesis vomiting -gram record image -graphy process of recording an image -ia condition -iasis abnormal condition -ic pertaining to -itis infl ammation -logist specialist in the study and treatment of -logy study of -megaly enlargement -oma tumor mass -osis abnormal condition -phagia condition of eating or swallowing -pharynx pharynx throat -plasty surgical repair -ptosis drooping downward displacement -rrhea fl ow discharge -scope instrument used to observe -scopy process of observing -stomy new opening -tomy incision cut into -tripsy crushing -y condition process