Medical Terminology Suffixes Flashcards: 7 Powerful Tips To Finally Remember All Those Terms Without Going Crazy – Learn Faster With Smart Study Tricks And One Simple App

So, you’re trying to get medical terminology suffixes flashcards to actually stick in your brain? The fix is to turn those random “-itis, -ectomy, -algia” endings into tiny, repeated recall moments instead of just reading them over and over. When you quiz yourself with flashcards using spaced repetition and active recall, your brain is forced to pull the meaning out from memory, which is exactly what makes it stick long term. Set up cards where you see the suffix and guess the meaning, then flip; then reverse it: meaning → suffix. An app like Flashrecall (iPhone & iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085) handles the spacing and reminders for you, so you can relax and trust that you’ll see each suffix again right before you forget it.

Why Suffix Flashcards Work So Well For Med Terms

Alright, let’s talk about why suffixes are worth obsessing over for a second.

Most medical terms are like Lego blocks:

• Prefix (location/number)
• Root (body part)
• Suffix (condition/procedure/state)

If you master just the suffixes, suddenly a ton of scary-looking words become way less scary.

Examples:

• -itis = inflammation → arthritis, gastritis, dermatitis
• -ectomy = surgical removal → appendectomy, mastectomy
• -algia = pain → neuralgia, myalgia
• -emia = blood condition → anemia, leukemia

So instead of memorizing 1,000 separate terms, you’re really just learning a smaller set of patterns. Flashcards are perfect for this because they:

1. Break things into small chunks

2. Force you to recall instead of just rereading

3. Let you mix and match examples

That’s exactly what Flashrecall is built around: quick, focused recall sessions with automatic spacing so you don’t burn out.

How To Structure Your Medical Terminology Suffixes Flashcards

Here’s a simple setup that works really well.

1. Basic Meaning Card

Front:

> -itis

Back:

> Inflammation (e.g., arthritis, gastritis, dermatitis)

You see the suffix, you say the meaning out loud, then flip.

2. Reverse Card (Meaning → Suffix)

Front:

> Inflammation (suffix?)

Back:

> -itis

This helps you on exams when they give you the definition and you need to build or recognize the term.

3. Example Term Card

Front:

> What does appendectomy mean?

Back:

> Surgical removal of the appendix (-ectomy = removal)

This locks in the pattern in a real word, not just in isolation.

Doing This Inside Flashrecall (So You Don’t Have To Overthink It)

If you want to avoid the whole “paper flashcard chaos” situation, this is where Flashrecall makes life easier:

👉 Download it here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Here’s how you can use it specifically for medical suffixes:

1. Create A “Med Suffixes” Deck

• Make a deck called “Medical Terminology – Suffixes”
• Add cards manually for each suffix:
• Front: suffix
• Back: meaning + 1–2 examples

Flashrecall is fast and modern, so adding cards doesn’t feel like a chore.

2. Turn Your Class Notes/Slides Into Cards Instantly

If your professor gives you:

• A PDF of med term suffixes
• A slide deck
• A screenshot of a table from the textbook

You can just drop that into Flashrecall:

• Import images, PDFs, text, or even YouTube links
• The app can help you turn those into flashcards way faster than typing everything from scratch

Perfect if you’re cramming the night before a quiz and don’t want to manually rewrite an entire suffix chart.

3. Let Spaced Repetition Do The Heavy Lifting

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with auto reminders:

• New suffixes: you’ll see them more often
• Ones you know: they’ll show up less and less
• You don’t have to track anything manually

So instead of thinking “ugh, which cards do I review today,” you just open the app and it serves you exactly what your brain needs.

A Simple Study Plan For Med Suffixes (That Actually Works)

Try this 7-day mini-plan using your medical terminology suffixes flashcards.

Day 1: Build The Core

• Add ~20 of the most common suffixes:
• -itis (inflammation)
• -ectomy (removal)
• -algia (pain)
• -emia (blood condition)
• -osis (abnormal condition)
• -pathy (disease)
• -plasty (surgical repair)
• -scopy (visual examination)
• -gram (record)
• -graphy (process of recording)
• -lysis (destruction, breakdown)
• -megaly (enlargement)
• -oma (tumor)
• -penia (deficiency)
• -rrhea (flow, discharge)
• -rrhage / -rrhagia (bursting forth)
• -stomy (opening)
• -tomy (cutting into, incision)
• -uria (urine condition)
• -genic (produced by, producing)
• Do 15–20 minutes of active recall in Flashrecall.

Days 2–4: Short, Daily Reviews

• 10–15 minutes per day
• Let Flashrecall’s spaced repetition schedule your reviews
• If a suffix feels easy, mark it easy; the app will show it less often
• If you keep missing one (like -rrhage vs -rrhea), you’ll see it more often

Days 5–7: Mix In Real Words

Now start adding example terms:

• gastrectomy, cardiomegaly, neuropathy, hematuria, osteoarthritis
• Make cards that ask:
• “What does cardiomegaly mean?”
• “Which suffix in neuropathy tells you it’s a disease?”

By the end of a week, you’ll feel way more comfortable with suffix-heavy exam questions.

Using Flashrecall’s Extra Features To Go Beyond Basic Flashcards

This is where Flashrecall gets kind of fun for med students.

1. Chat With Your Flashcards When You’re Confused

If you’re unsure about a suffix or a term, you can literally chat with the flashcard in Flashrecall:

• Ask “What’s the difference between -tomy and -stomy again?”
• Or “Give me more examples using -emia.”

It’s like having a mini tutor inside your deck when something isn’t clicking.

2. Study Reminders (So You Don’t Fall Behind)

You can set study reminders in Flashrecall:

• “Ping me at 8 pm”
• Or “Remind me every weekday”

The app nudges you to do a quick review instead of letting everything pile up the night before your exam.

3. Works Offline For Library / Hospital / Commute Study

No Wi‑Fi? No problem.

Flashrecall works offline, so you can:

• Review suffixes on the bus
• Study in the hospital basement
• Go through a quick session between classes

Perfect for random 5–10 minute pockets of time.

Example Suffix Flashcard Set (You Can Copy This)

Here’s a mini set you can recreate in Flashrecall:

Front:

> -itis

Back:

> Inflammation (e.g., arthritis – inflammation of a joint)

Front:

> Surgical removal (suffix?)

Back:

> -ectomy (e.g., appendectomy – removal of the appendix)

Front:

> What does “neuralgia” mean?

Back:

> Nerve pain (neur- = nerve, -algia = pain)

Front:

> -megaly

Back:

> Enlargement (e.g., cardiomegaly – enlargement of the heart)

Front:

> Abnormal condition (suffix?)

Back:

> -osis (e.g., osteoporosis – abnormal condition of porous bone)

Build 30–50 of these and you’ll be in a much better spot for exams.

Why Use Flashrecall Instead Of Just Paper Cards?

Paper cards work, but here’s why an app like Flashrecall is usually better for medical terminology:

• Automatic spaced repetition – You don’t have to guess what to review; it’s handled for you
• Fast creation – Import from PDFs, images, notes, YouTube, or just type
• Always with you – On your iPhone or iPad, in your pocket or bag
• Active recall built-in – The whole experience is built around quizzing, not just reading
• Free to start – You can try it without committing to anything
• Great for everything else too – Not just med terms: pharmacology, anatomy, path, languages, business, whatever you’re studying

Grab it here if you haven’t already:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Final Tips To Make Medical Suffixes Stick Long-Term

To wrap it up, here’s a quick checklist:

• Don’t just read suffix lists – quiz yourself
• Use both directions: suffix → meaning and meaning → suffix
• Add real-word examples to every suffix
• Study in short, frequent sessions (5–15 minutes) instead of one giant cram
• Let spaced repetition in Flashrecall handle the timing
• Talk through the answers out loud; it helps more than you think

Do that with your medical terminology suffixes flashcards, and you’ll be surprised how fast “-itis, -ectomy, -algia, -emia” go from intimidating to automatic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

What is active recall and how does it work?

Active recall is the process of actively retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Flashrecall forces proper active recall by making you think before revealing answers, then uses spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule.

Related Articles

• Medical Terminology Prefix And Suffix Flashcards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Finally Remember Every Term Without Getting Overwhelmed – Learn Faster With Smart Flashcards On Your Phone
• Endocrine System Flashcards: 7 Powerful Tricks To Finally Remember All Those Hormones Fast – Stop rereading your notes and use these proven flashcard strategies to actually make the endocrine system stick.
• Histology Flashcards: 7 Powerful Study Tricks To Finally Remember All Those Slides