It is used to form the names of enzymes, which are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.
Here are some examples:
* Amylase: An enzyme that breaks down starch.
* Lactase: An enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar).
* Lipase: An enzyme that breaks down fats.
* Protease: An enzyme that breaks down proteins.
So, whenever you see "-ase" at the end of a medical term, it indicates that the term refers to an enzyme.