Which suffix means to bind or tie?

The suffix that means to bind or tie is indeed -desis. This term is commonly used in medical terminology, particularly in areas involving surgery and orthopedics. For example, "arthrodesis" refers to the surgical fusion of a joint, effectively binding the bones together to eliminate movement at that joint.

Recognizing the meaning behind -desis helps in understanding various medical conditions and procedures where binding or stabilization is necessary. In contrast, the other suffixes represent different concepts; for instance, -phagia relates to eating or swallowing, -stasis refers to stopping or standing still (often used in terms of flow or movement, such as hemostasis), and -gram denotes a record or a written report (as in an X-ray image). Thus, the distinctive meaning of -desis as binding or tying underscores its relevance in medical contexts focused on stabilization.