-rrhea
flow, discharge
From Greek rhoia, flow, from rhein, to flow
Meaning
What does -rrhea mean?
-rrhea is a suffix meaning flow, discharge. It comes from Greek rhoia, flow, from rhein, to flow.
British spelling is -rrhoea (diarrhoea); don't mix it up with -rrhage (bleeding), -rrhaphy (suturing) or -rrhexis (rupture).
In real words
Medical words with -rrhea
abnormally frequent bowel movements with loose or watery stools · UK spelling: diarrhoea
a heavy discharge of mucus from the nose; a runny nose · UK spelling: rhinorrhoea
absence of menstrual periods · UK spelling: amenorrhoea
dysmenorrhea
painful menstrual periods · UK spelling: dysmenorrhoea
drainage or discharge from the ear, often from an ear infection, a ruptured eardrum or injury · UK spelling: otorrhoea
a discharge of pus; also an old name for advanced gum disease (periodontitis) · UK spelling: pyorrhoea
infrequent or scanty menstrual periods · UK spelling: oligomenorrhoea
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with -rrhea
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 1.5 Common Suffixes – Medical Terminology 2e
- 1.4 – Suffix – Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e
- -RRHEA Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Disease and symptoms
-rrhea is one of 15 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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