The suffix -stasis refers to what?

• A. Growing
• B. Moving
• C. Controlling, stopping
• D. Increasing

Answer: (C)

Understanding the meaning of the suffix -stasis helps you see why this term describes a state of steadiness. The ending signals staying in a particular condition or stopping change, rather than starting something new or becoming more. In medicine, -stasis points to maintaining stability or halting a process—for example, homeostasis is the body’s effort to keep internal conditions steady, and hemostasis is the stopping of bleeding. So the best description is that it involves controlling or stopping change to keep things from shifting. The other options describe growth, movement, or increase, which do not capture this idea of staying still or stopping a process.