The suffix -itis denotes which meaning?

The suffix -itis denotes which meaning?

• A. Inflammation
• B. Surgical removal
• C. Incision
• D. Pain

Answer: (A)

The suffix -itis signals inflammation of a specific body part. When this ending attaches to the name of an organ or tissue, it indicates that part is inflamed, not that a procedure is done or that pain is being described. For example, dermatitis means inflammation of the skin, arthritis is inflammation of the joints, and tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils. This makes the term clearly identify an inflammatory process rather than a removal, incision, or general pain. Other suffixes describe different ideas (like -ectomy for removal, -otomy for incision, -algia for pain), so -itis is the precise marker for inflammation.

The suffix -itis signals inflammation of a specific body part. When this ending attaches to the name of an organ or tissue, it indicates that part is inflamed, not that a procedure is done or that pain is being described. For example, dermatitis means inflammation of the skin, arthritis is inflammation of the joints, and tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils. This makes the term clearly identify an inflammatory process rather than a removal, incision, or general pain. Other suffixes describe different ideas (like -ectomy for removal, -otomy for incision, -algia for pain), so -itis is the precise marker for inflammation.