emia

Emia is a suffix used in medical terminology to denote a state, condition, or presence related to blood. Derived from the Greek haima, meaning blood, and the suffix -emia, it is used to form nouns that describe abnormalities of the blood, its components, or substances found in the bloodstream. The term appears across hematology, clinical medicine, and pathology to name a wide range of conditions.

The -emia terms can describe decreases or increases in blood components, the presence of organisms, or chemical constituents within the blood. Examples include anemia (deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin), leukemia (cancer of white blood cells), polycythemia (excess red blood cells), bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), septicemia (systemic infection with organisms in the blood), hyperemia (increased blood flow to tissues), methemoglobinemia (abnormal methemoglobin in blood), hyperglycemia (high glucose in the blood), hypoglycemia (low glucose in the blood), and lipemia or hyperlipidemia (excess lipids in the blood). The suffix also appears in terms like glycemia (glucose level in the blood) and other context-specific names describing measured states.

Not all -emia terms indicate disease; some describe physiologic or laboratory states, and usage can vary by specialty. Proper interpretation depends on the root, clinical context, and accompanying descriptors.

See also: hematology, medical terminology, suffix -emia.