Which suffix means inflammation?

Which suffix means inflammation?

• A. -pnea
• B. -emia
• C. -lysis
• D. -itis

Answer: (D)

When a condition involves inflammation, the suffix used is -itis. This tells you that the tissue or organ named by the root is inflamed. For example, dermatitis means skin inflammation, appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix, and gastritis means inflammation of the stomach. The other suffixes point to different ideas: -pnea relates to breathing (such as dyspnea, which means difficult breathing), -emia indicates a blood condition or presence in the blood (like anemia or septicemia), and -lysis means breakdown or destruction (as in hemolysis, the destruction of red blood cells). So, -itis is the marker for inflammation, which is why it’s the correct suffix in this context.

When a condition involves inflammation, the suffix used is -itis. This tells you that the tissue or organ named by the root is inflamed. For example, dermatitis means skin inflammation, appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix, and gastritis means inflammation of the stomach.

The other suffixes point to different ideas: -pnea relates to breathing (such as dyspnea, which means difficult breathing), -emia indicates a blood condition or presence in the blood (like anemia or septicemia), and -lysis means breakdown or destruction (as in hemolysis, the destruction of red blood cells).

So, -itis is the marker for inflammation, which is why it’s the correct suffix in this context.