Final answer:
The suffix indicating stretching or dilation in medical terms, such as with the stomach, is '-ectasia' or '-ectasis'. Understanding suffixes in general is important as they can define the meaning of a word, as seen in various examples such as 'ritual,' 'adventurous,' and 'indigestion'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffix that indicates "stretching or dilation," especially when referring to medical terms like the stretching or dilation of the stomach, is -ectasia or -ectasis. For instance, the term 'gastrectasia' refers to the dilation of the stomach. Medical terminology often includes specific suffixes that denote particular meanings, related to conditions, procedures, or disorders.
In a broader context of understanding suffixes, it's useful to know that they play a critical role in the English language to modify or completely change the meaning of the base word. As seen in actual literature, words like 'ritual,' 'adventurous,' or 'indigestion' carry suffixes like -ual, -ous, and -ion that define their final meaning. Similarly, terms like 'stretch mark' denote a medical condition where marks are formed on the skin due to stretching.