Basics of Medical Terminology Practice Test

Deficiency is the state of lacking something. In medical terms, recognizing that a suffix or ending can signal a condition helps you decode meaning, and deficiency specifically names the absence or shortfall. The other terms point to different processes: inflammation is indicated by a suffix like -itis, rupture by endings such as -rrhexis, and development by endings like -plasty or -plasia. So, the term that directly conveys the idea of lacking or not having enough is deficiency, making it the best choice.