Medical Suffix

-desis

surgical fusion, binding

From Greek desis, a binding together (dein, to bind)

Meaning

What does -desis mean?

-desis is a suffix meaning surgical fusion, binding. It comes from Greek desis, a binding together (dein, to bind).

Desis binds two surfaces into one: an arthrodesis fuses a joint, a pleurodesis seals the two layers of pleura.

In real words

arthrodesis
1. Rootarthr/ojoint
2. Suffix-desissurgical fusion, binding
surgery that permanently fuses a joint so it can no longer move
pleurodesis
1. Rootpleur/opleura, membrane around the lungs
2. Suffix-desissurgical fusion, binding
a procedure that makes the two pleural layers around the lung stick together, so fluid or air cannot collect between them
tenodesis
1. Rootten/otendon
2. Suffix-desissurgical fusion, binding
surgery that anchors a tendon to a bone, such as moving the biceps tendon onto the upper arm bone

Don't mix it up

Sources

Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:

Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

Practice it

-desis is one of 9 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.