The suffix esth- means what?

• A. Sensation
• B. Pain
• C. Blood
• D. Numbness

Answer: (A)

Esth- is a combining form that means sensation or perception. It shows up in terms like anesthesia, hyperesthesia, and paresthesia, all of which relate to feeling or sensing. Because of that, esth- indicates sensation, not pain, blood, or numbness. Pain would involve roots like alg- or odyn-, blood involves hem- or sanguin-, and numbness is a loss of sensation (the result of anesthesia or hypoesthesia), not the meaning of esth-.