Final answer:
The medical suffix denoting destruction is -lysis, as it indicates the breakdown or decomposition of substances within the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffix that denotes destruction in medical terminology is -lysis. This suffix is utilized in various medical terms to imply the breakdown or decomposition of cells, tissues, blood clots, or other substances within the body. For instance, osteolysis refers to the destruction of bone tissue, and hemolysis means the destruction of red blood cells. Out of the given options, the answer is therefore D. -lysis.
Other suffixes listed have different meanings: -pexy refers to fixation (as in surgical fixation of an organ), -ectomy implies removal or excision (often used to describe surgical removals, such as in appendectomy), -orrhaphy signifies surgical repair (such as in herniorrhaphy), and -plasty denotes surgical repair or reconstruction (example rhinoplasty).
-lysis is a medical suffix that denotes the process of destroying or breaking down. It is seen in terms like hemolysis, which describes the destruction of red blood cells.