Which suffix means formation or plastic repair?

• A. plasty
• B. ectomy
• C. itis
• D. pathy

Answer: (A)

The suffix that means formation or plastic repair is -plasty. It indicates a surgical procedure that forms, reshapes, or reconstructs a part of the body. For example, rhinoplasty is a procedure to reshape the nose, and mammoplasty refers to shaping or reconstructing breast tissue. The other suffixes have different meanings: -ectomy denotes removal, -itis denotes inflammation, and -pathy denotes disease or disorder. Thus, -plasty is the best fit for formation or plastic repair.