Medical Suffix
-plasia
-plasia means formation or development (from the Greek).
What does -plasia mean?
The suffix -plasia means formation, development, or growth of cells or tissue. It comes from Greek and is used at the end of many medical terms describing how tissue is growing or developing.
For example, hyperplasia means too much growth (an increase in the number of cells), while hypoplasia means underdevelopment (too little growth). Dysplasia means abnormal development, where cells grow in an unusual way. So -plasia tells you the word is about how tissue is forming, and the prefix tells you whether it is too much, too little, or abnormal.
Learning -plasia helps you understand a whole family of terms about tissue growth, which are common in describing normal development and disease.
Example words using -plasia
Related word parts
Frequently asked questions
What does -plasia mean?
-plasia is a suffix meaning formation or development of tissue.
What does hyperplasia mean?
It means an increase in the number of cells.
What does dysplasia mean?
It means abnormal development of cells.
What does hypoplasia mean?
It means underdevelopment of tissue.
Study reference only — not medical advice. Always consult qualified sources for clinical decisions.