A term ending in -itis refers to which type of condition?

A term ending in -itis refers to which type of condition?

• A. Gland
• B. Inflammation
• C. Enlargement
• D. Specialist

Answer: (B)

Suffix -itis signals an inflammatory condition. In medical terms, when a root naming a body part is followed by -itis, it means that part is inflamed. For example, dermatitis = inflammation of the skin, gastritis = inflammation of the stomach, tonsillitis = inflammation of the tonsils. So a term ending in -itis describes an inflammatory process rather than a gland, an enlargement, or a specialist. The other options refer to those different ideas: a gland would relate to terms like aden- for gland or adenitis for gland inflammation, enlargement uses the suffix -megaly, and a specialist is usually -ologist.

Suffix -itis signals an inflammatory condition. In medical terms, when a root naming a body part is followed by -itis, it means that part is inflamed. For example, dermatitis = inflammation of the skin, gastritis = inflammation of the stomach, tonsillitis = inflammation of the tonsils. So a term ending in -itis describes an inflammatory process rather than a gland, an enlargement, or a specialist. The other options refer to those different ideas: a gland would relate to terms like aden- for gland or adenitis for gland inflammation, enlargement uses the suffix -megaly, and a specialist is usually -ologist.