Final answer:
The suffix -icle generally means small or minute, commonly used in biological terms to denote a smaller version of a structure, such as a small vein (venule) or a tiny bone (ossicle).
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffix -icle typically denotes something small or minute. In the context of biology, particularly when discussing the cardiovascular system, it refers to a small version of a structure. For example, in the term venule, the suffix indicates a very small vein, which is a blood vessel that transports blood toward the heart. The venule is a hollow, tube-like structure through which blood flows after it has passed through the capillaries and before it joins larger veins to continue its return to the heart.
Regarding other examples, the term ossicle refers to a very small bone in the ear, or in some cases, a small piece of an invertebrate skeleton. These examples illustrate how the suffix -icle is used to indicate a smaller form of a structure within the body, whether it be a venule in the vascular system or an ossicle in the auditory system.