This suffix is often used in medical terminology to describe congenital malformations where there is a failure of structures to fuse or join properly, resulting in a split or cleft.
Here are some examples of words using the suffix "-schisis":
* Schizencephaly: A rare brain malformation where clefts or splits occur in the cerebral hemispheres.
* Rachischisis: A severe birth defect where the spinal cord fails to close properly, resulting in a cleft in the spine.
* Cheiloschisis: A cleft lip.
* Palatoschisis: A cleft palate.
The suffix "-schisis" can also be used in other contexts to describe a splitting or separation, though it is less common than its medical usage.