What does the suffix -megaly indicate?

Prepare for the Medical Terminology Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question to strengthen your understanding. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What does the suffix -megaly indicate?

Explanation:
The main idea tested is what the suffix -megaly means. This suffix signals enlargement of an organ or body part. It comes from Greek mega, meaning large, so -megaly denotes that something has grown bigger than normal. You’ll see it in terms like cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) or hepatomegaly (enlarged liver). It’s not about smallness (that would involve micro- or hypo-), nor about inflammation (that’s typically -itis), nor simply a disease label (which would be -pathy or -osis in other contexts).

The main idea tested is what the suffix -megaly means. This suffix signals enlargement of an organ or body part. It comes from Greek mega, meaning large, so -megaly denotes that something has grown bigger than normal. You’ll see it in terms like cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) or hepatomegaly (enlarged liver). It’s not about smallness (that would involve micro- or hypo-), nor about inflammation (that’s typically -itis), nor simply a disease label (which would be -pathy or -osis in other contexts).

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