Which suffix means condition, disease, or disorder?

Which suffix means condition, disease, or disorder?

• A. -ism
• B. -itis
• C. -pathy
• D. -cyte

Answer: (D)

The suffix that means a condition, disease, or disorder is -pathy. In medical terms, -pathy attaches to a root to name a disease state or malfunction, such as neuropathy (nerve disease), cardiopathy (heart disease), or myopathy (muscle disease). The path- idea here conveys disease or suffering in general. The other options don’t convey a disease state in the same way: -itis indicates inflammation (for example, gastritis is stomach inflammation); -cyte refers to a cell (like erythrocyte, a red blood cell); -ism denotes a belief, doctrine, or practice, not a disease condition.

The suffix that means a condition, disease, or disorder is -pathy. In medical terms, -pathy attaches to a root to name a disease state or malfunction, such as neuropathy (nerve disease), cardiopathy (heart disease), or myopathy (muscle disease). The path- idea here conveys disease or suffering in general.

The other options don’t convey a disease state in the same way: -itis indicates inflammation (for example, gastritis is stomach inflammation); -cyte refers to a cell (like erythrocyte, a red blood cell); -ism denotes a belief, doctrine, or practice, not a disease condition.