The prefix that denotes 'Expansion' is which?

The prefix that denotes 'Expansion' is which?

• A. Spondyl-
• B. -ectasis
• C. Cheil-
• D. Myring-

Answer: (B)

Expansion means dilation or stretching of a hollow structure. In medical terminology, the part that conveys this idea is -ectasis, a suffix used to indicate dilation (as in bronchiectasis, which means dilation of a bronchus). The other roots point to specific body parts—spondyl- to vertebrae, cheil- to lips, and myring- to the eardrum—so they don’t express expansion. Therefore, -ectasis is the part that denotes expansion.

Expansion means dilation or stretching of a hollow structure. In medical terminology, the part that conveys this idea is -ectasis, a suffix used to indicate dilation (as in bronchiectasis, which means dilation of a bronchus). The other roots point to specific body parts—spondyl- to vertebrae, cheil- to lips, and myring- to the eardrum—so they don’t express expansion. Therefore, -ectasis is the part that denotes expansion.