What does the suffix -itis indicate?

• A. Enlargement
• B. Inflammation
• C. Study of
• D. Disease

Answer: (B)

In medical terminology, suffixes signal the state or process affecting a structure. The suffix -itis specifically means inflammation of the named part. So it’s used to form terms like gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix). This differs from enlargement, which uses -megaly, or the study of, which uses -ology; those endings describe different ideas, not inflammation. Therefore, -itis indicates inflammation.