Medical Suffix

-edema

swelling from excess fluid

From Greek oidēma, a swelling, from oidein, to swell

Meaning

What does -edema mean?

-edema is a suffix meaning swelling from excess fluid. It comes from Greek oidēma, a swelling, from oidein, to swell.

British texts write -oedema: lymphoedema, angio-oedema, lipoedema.

In real words

lymphedema
1. Rootlymph/olymph, lymphatic tissue
2. Suffix-edemaswelling from excess fluid
swelling, usually of an arm or leg, caused by lymph building up when lymph vessels or nodes are damaged or blocked · UK spelling: lymphoedema
angioedema
1. Rootangi/ovessel (blood or lymph)
2. Suffix-edemaswelling from excess fluid
swelling in the tissue under the skin, most often of the lips or eyelids · UK spelling: angio-oedema
lipedema
1. Rootlip/ofat
2. Suffix-edemaswelling from excess fluid
abnormal fat buildup on both sides of the lower body, usually the legs, that diet and exercise do not shift · UK spelling: lipoedema

Sources

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

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Practice it

-edema is one of 11 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.