American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Which of the following represents a common suffix for disease and its meaning?

1. -ology, study of

2. -itis, inflammation

3. -graph, recording device

4. -meter, measuring instrument

The correct answer is: -itis, inflammation

The suffix "-itis" is commonly used in medical terminology to denote inflammation of a specific organ or tissue. For example, appendicitis refers to the inflammation of the appendix, and dermatitis indicates inflammation of the skin. This suffix is significant in the context of diagnosing and describing various medical conditions, as it provides immediate insight into the nature of the disease being referred to. In contrast, while the other suffixes listed serve important roles within medical vocabulary, they pertain to different meanings or concepts. For instance, "-ology" denotes the study or science of a particular subject, "-graph" pertains to a device used for recording data, and "-meter" refers to an instrument used for measuring. These distinctions highlight the specific application of the suffix "-itis" in indicating disease related to inflammation, making it the most suitable choice for the question asked.