Medical Terminology Simplified

RULES FOR SINGULAR AND PLURAL SUFFIXES

This table presents common singular suffixes, the rules for forming plurals, and examples of each.

RuleExample

Singular Plural Singular Plural

-a Retain aand add e. pleura pleurae

-ax Drop xand add ces. thorax thoraces

-en Drop enand add ina. lumen lumina

-is Drop isand add es. diagnosis diagnoses

-ix Drop ixand add ices. appendix appendices

-ex Drop exand add ices.apex apices

-ma Retain maand add ta. carcinoma carcinomata

-on Drop onand add a. ganglion ganglia

-um Drop umand add a. bacterium bacteria

-us Drop usand add i. bronchus bronchi

-y Drop yand add ies. deformity deformities

3971_IBC 1 13/02/14 11:57 AM Page 2