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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Suture medical term suffix: What does -rrhaphy mean?

Quick, free quiz on the suffix meaning suture; get instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Mauro NespoliUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art coral background with medical icons for a free medical terminology quiz on combining forms and suffixes

This quick quiz helps you learn the suture medical term suffix -rrhaphy and how it is used in medical terms. After you answer, deepen your understanding with related word parts: the surgical fixation suffix, stasis suffix meaning, and osis suffix meaning. You will get instant feedback to help you spot gaps.

What does the suffix -rrhaphy mean?
Removal
Suture
Study
Inflammation
The suffix -rrhaphy denotes the suturing of a structure or organ during a surgical procedure. It comes from the Greek 'rhaph?' meaning suture. This term is commonly used in procedures like herniorrhaphy (hernia repair).
What does the suffix -stomy signify?
Suture
Creation of an opening
Cutting into
Removal
The suffix -stomy indicates the creation of a surgical opening to the body surface. It comes from the Greek 'stoma' meaning mouth or opening. A common example is tracheostomy, which creates an airway.
What does the suffix -otomy mean?
Surgical repair
Removal
Incision into
Binding or fixation
The suffix -otomy means cutting into or making an incision into a body part. It comes from the Greek 'tom?' meaning to cut. Examples include craniotomy and laparotomy.
What does the suffix -plasty refer to?
Study
Surgical repair
Measurement
Fixation
The suffix -plasty indicates surgical repair or reconstruction of a body part. It stems from the Greek 'plastos' meaning molded. Rhinoplasty and angioplasty are common examples.
The combining form my/o refers to which tissue?
Bone
Blood
Muscle
Nerve
The combining form my/o refers to muscle tissue. It is derived from the Greek 'mys' for muscle. Myopathy and myositis are conditions related to muscle.
The combining form neur/o means what?
Nerve
Bone
Skin
Heart
Neur/o is the combining form for nerve. It originates from the Greek 'neuron' meaning nerve or sinew. Neurology and neuralgia use this combining form.
What does the combining form cardi/o refer to?
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Lung
Cardi/o is the combining form referring to the heart. The Greek word 'kardia' means heart. Conditions like cardiology and cardiomyopathy use this form.
The suffix -scopy is used to describe what?
Surgical removal
Fixation
Visual examination
Incision
The suffix -scopy refers to visual examination of a body part using a scope. From the Greek 'skopein' meaning to look or observe. Endoscopy and laparoscopy are examples.
What does the combining form hem/o mean?
Saliva
Blood
Stool
Urine
Hem/o is the combining form for blood. Derived from the Greek 'haima' meaning blood. Hematology and hemorrhage use this combining form.
Which suffix indicates surgical fixation or binding of an organ?
-rrhaphy
-otomy
-pexy
-ectomy
The suffix -pexy denotes surgical fixation of an organ or tissue. It comes from the Greek 'pexis' meaning fasten. Mastopexy (breast lift) and nephropexy (kidney fixation) are examples.
What does the suffix -ectomy mean?
Creation of an opening
Visual examination
Surgical removal
Surgical repair
The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal of a body part or tissue. It derives from the Greek 'ektom?' meaning excision. Appendectomy and tonsillectomy are common examples.
Which suffix describes a surgical puncture to remove fluid?
-rrhaphy
-otomy
-plasty
-centesis
The suffix -centesis refers to a surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas from a body cavity. It comes from the Greek 'kent?sis' meaning pricking. Thoracentesis and amniocentesis are common examples.
The combining form hepat/o refers to which organ?
Stomach
Liver
Spleen
Kidney
The combining form hepat/o refers to the liver. It comes from the Greek 'hepar' for liver. Hepatitis and hepatomegaly use this combining form.
What does the suffix -plasia mean?
Study
Removal
Repair
Growth or formation
The suffix -plasia denotes formation or growth of tissue or cells. It derives from the Greek 'plasis' meaning molding or formation. Dysplasia and hyperplasia are variations indicating abnormal or excessive growth.
Which suffix means breakdown or destruction of cells or substances?
-pexy
-ectomy
-otomy
-lysis
The suffix -lysis refers to the breakdown or destruction of cells, compounds, or tissues. It comes from the Greek 'lysis' meaning dissolution. Hemolysis and electrolysis are examples.
The combining form oste/o means what?
Joint
Bone
Muscle
Cartilage
The combining form oste/o refers to bone. It is derived from the Greek 'osteon' meaning bone. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis use this combining form.
What does the combining form gastr/o refer to?
Stomach
Liver
Pancreas
Intestine
The combining form gastr/o refers to the stomach. It derives from the Greek 'gast?r' for stomach. Gastritis and gastrectomy are terms using this form.
The combining form dermat/o means which of the following?
Skin
Nerve
Muscle
Bone
The combining form dermat/o refers to skin. It comes from the Greek 'derma' meaning skin. Dermatology and dermatitis use this combining form.
What procedure does the term encephalorrhaphy describe?
Removal of the skull
Incision into the brain
Suturing of the brain
Fusion of spinal vertebrae
Encephal/o means brain and -rrhaphy means suture, so encephalorrhaphy describes suturing of the brain tissue. This term is rare but used in neurosurgical repair contexts.
What does chondroplasty entail?
Fixation of cartilage
Removal of cartilage
Surgical repair of cartilage
Incision into cartilage
Chondr/o refers to cartilage and -plasty is surgical repair, so chondroplasty is the surgical reconstruction or repair of cartilage. Commonly used in joint surgeries.
What procedure does phleborrhaphy describe?
Suturing of a vein
Examination of a vein
Removal of a vein
Incision into a vein
Phleb/o means vein and -rrhaphy means suture, so phleborrhaphy is the suturing of a vein. This may be done after vessel injury.
In surgical terminology, what is tenorrhaphy?
Suturing of a tendon
Cutting into ligament
Repair of bone
Removal of muscle
Tendon/o (ten/o) refers to tendon and -rrhaphy means suture, so tenorrhaphy is the surgical suturing of a torn tendon. It restores continuity to the tendon fibers.
What does the term arthrocentesis mean?
Fusion of a joint
Puncture of a joint to remove fluid
Surgical repair of a joint
Incision into a joint
Arthr/o refers to joint and -centesis means surgical puncture to remove fluid. Arthrocentesis is used to diagnose or relieve joint effusions.
What procedure is sigmoidostomy?
Suturing of the sigmoid colon
Creating an opening in the sigmoid colon
Incision into the sigmoid colon
Removal of the sigmoid colon
Sigmoid/o refers to the sigmoid colon and -stomy means creating an opening. Sigmoidostomy is forming a stoma from the sigmoid colon to the abdominal wall.
Which term describes an incision into the trachea?
Tracheorrhaphy
Tracheoscopy
Tracheostomy
Tracheotomy
Trache/o refers to the trachea and -otomy means incision into. Tracheotomy creates a temporary opening through an incision. In contrast, tracheostomy (-stomy) creates a more permanent stoma.
What does gastrostomy involve?
Incision into the stomach
Removal of the stomach
Creating an opening into the stomach
Repair of the stomach
Gastr/o refers to stomach and -stomy means creating an opening. Gastrostomy is performed to place a feeding tube directly into the stomach.
What procedure is described by hypophysectomy?
Fixation of the pituitary gland
Removal of the pituitary gland
Incision into the pituitary gland
Suturing of the pituitary gland
Hypophys/o refers to the pituitary gland and -ectomy means surgical removal. Hypophysectomy is the removal of the pituitary gland, often to treat tumors.
In the term pleurodesis, the suffix -desis indicates what procedure?
Incision
Surgical fusion
Removal
Suturing
The suffix -desis means binding or surgical fusion of structures. In pleurodesis, it fuses the pleural layers to prevent recurrent pleural effusion. This is used in refractory pleural effusions or pneumothorax.
What does the suffix -rrhexis refer to?
Rupture
Study
Flow
Discharge
The suffix -rrhexis denotes rupture or bursting of a structure. It comes from the Greek 'rhexis' meaning break. A clinical example is splenorrhexis, which is rupture of the spleen.
In the term myelorrhaphy, which structure is being sutured?
Muscle
Tendon
Spinal cord
Bone marrow
Myel/o refers to the spinal cord in neurosurgical contexts and -rrhaphy means suture. Myelorrhaphy therefore describes the suturing of the spinal cord.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify the suffix of suture -

    Locate and recognize '-rrhaphy' as the suffix of suture, distinguishing it from other common medical endings.

  2. Define rrhaphy -

    Articulate the medical definition of the suffix -rrhaphy as the suffix to suture and apply it when decoding related procedural terms.

  3. Interpret the root/combining form in stenosis -

    Explain that 'steno-' means narrowing and use this combining form to decode and understand related medical terms.

  4. Distinguish which combining form means fever -

    Identify 'pyro-' (or pyret/o) as the combining form for fever and differentiate it from other symptom-based roots.

  5. Analyze arterionecrosis medical term -

    Break down 'arterionecrosis' into its parts - arterio- and necrosis - to understand the concept of vascular tissue death.

  6. Apply combining forms and suffixes in quizzes -

    Use your understanding of key medical components to confidently answer quiz questions and reinforce exam preparedness.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Suffix of Suture: "-rrhaphy" -

    The suffix of suture in medical terminology is "-rrhaphy," denoting the act of suturing or repairing tissues surgically. For example, "myorrhaphy" means suturing a muscle. Remember "RR = Repair & Reinforce" to lock in that "-rrhaphy" always refers to sewing tissues together.

  2. Define RRHAPHY -

    The medical definition of rrhaphy is a surgical procedure to stitch or repair; it derives from the Greek rhaphē, meaning "seam." You'll see it in terms like "nephrorrhaphy" (suturing of the kidney). Picture a tailor's needle mending fabric to recall how rrhaphy mends organs or tissues.

  3. Root/Combining Form in "Stenosis" -

    In the word stenosis, the combining form sten/o means "narrow" and the suffix -osis indicates a condition. Thus, stenosis describes an abnormal narrowing of a body passage. Use the mnemonic "STENch of a tight space" to link sten/o with constriction.

  4. Combining Form for Fever -

    The combining form that means fever is pyret/o (alternatively pyrex/o or febr/i), coming from the Greek pyr, "fire." You'll find it in terms like "antipyretic" (against fever). Think "pyro" for fire to remember that fever heats the body like flames.

  5. Arterionecrosis Medical Term Breakdown -

    Arterionecrosis combines arterio- (artery) with necrosis (tissue death), defining the death of arterial tissue. For instance, prolonged blockage can lead to arterionecrosis in limbs. Visualize an artery "turning dark" to cement that necrosis involves dead tissue.

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