Final answer:
The suffix '-desis' in the term tenodesis means 'binding' or 'surgical fixation', which refers to a surgical procedure that binds a tendon to a bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
In medical terminology, the suffix -desis means 'binding' or 'surgical fixation'. When looking at the term tenodesis, it consists of two parts: 'teno', which refers to a tendon, and '-desis', the suffix in question. Thus, the term tenodesis refers to a surgical procedure that binds or affixes a tendon to a bone, commonly performed to improve stability or function in certain orthopedic conditions.
Anatomical terms are typically broken down into a root (referring to an organ or tissue), and often include a prefix or suffix that modifies the meaning. In this case, the root 'teno' is modified by the suffix '-desis' indicating a type of surgical procedure involving fixation. This nomenclature is analogous to other medical terms where the suffix modifies or gives specific meaning to the root word, such as in 'hypertension' where 'hyper-' means 'high or over' and 'tension' refers to pressure.