Which suffix means pertaining to in medical terminology?

The suffix that means "pertaining to" in medical terminology is actually -ic. This suffix is widely used in medical terms to indicate a relationship to a specific concept or condition.

For instance, when you see words like "gastric" (pertaining to the stomach) or "neurotic" (pertaining to nerves), the -ic suffix signifies that the term refers to something related to the root word it modifies.

The options that do not represent the suffix meaning "pertaining to" include -nic, -ous, and -ary. Each of these also conveys a meaning of relation or pertaining, but in different contexts. For example, -ous is used to describe substances or conditions that possess certain qualities, such as "famous" (full of fame), while -ary can denote a place associated with something, such as “stationary” (related to a station). Understanding the nuances of these suffixes helps in accurately interpreting medical terminology and its connections to the anatomy or conditions being described.