The suffix -cele means

• A. protrusion, hernia
• B. dilation; expansion
• C. swelling
• D. death

Answer: (A)

The suffix -cele denotes a bulge or protrusion, essentially a hernia or an outpouching of tissue. It’s used for conditions where part of an organ pushes through a surrounding wall or forms a sac around something, which is why terms with -cele convey protrusion or herniation. Sometimes it also appears in swelling-related terms (like a fluid-filled swelling), but the core idea is the bulge or sac formation. That’s why the best match is protrusion, hernia. Dilation or expansion would come from a different ending, and death has no relation to this medical suffix.