Which of the following suffixes signifies paralysis?

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Study for the Rutgers Medical Terminology Exam. Use multiple choice questions and flashcards, each with hints and explanations. Ensure success on your exam!

The suffix that signifies paralysis is -plegia. This term is derived from the Greek word "plege," which means a stroke or a blow. In a medical context, -plegia is used to describe a loss of motor function caused by damage to the central nervous system. Conditions like paraplegia (paralysis of the lower half of the body) or hemiplegia (paralysis affecting one side of the body) specifically utilize this suffix to indicate the areas of paralysis.

The other suffixes represent different medical concepts. For instance, -rrhage relates to excessive flow or discharge, often used in terms like hemorrhage to describe bleeding. -ptosis signifies a drooping or sagging, commonly associated with terms like blepharoptosis, which refers to drooping eyelids. Finally, -pnea is related to breathing, seen in words like apnea, which refers to the cessation of breathing. Each of these suffixes serves a distinct purpose in medical terminology, but -plegia is uniquely tied to the concept of paralysis.

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