-malacia
softening
From Greek malakia, softness, from malakos, soft
Meaning
What does -malacia mean?
-malacia is a suffix meaning softening. It comes from Greek malakia, softness, from malakos, soft.
The opposite of -sclerosis, hardening: osteomalacia is soft bone, osteosclerosis abnormally dense bone.
In real words
Medical words with -malacia
osteomalacia
softening of the bones in adults, usually from too little vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus
chondromalacia
softening and wearing away of cartilage, especially under the kneecap
tracheomalacia
weak, floppy cartilage in the windpipe that lets its walls collapse during breathing
laryngomalacia
soft tissue above the voice box that flops over the airway, causing noisy breathing in babies
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with -malacia
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 13.2 Word Components Related to the Skeletal System – Medical Terminology 2e
- 1.4 – Suffix – Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e
- -MALACIA Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster Medical
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Disease and symptoms
-malacia is one of 15 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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