Which suffix indicates softening of tissue?

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

Which suffix indicates softening of tissue?

Explanation:
Suffix that indicates softening of tissue is -malacia. This suffix signals a loss of firmness in a structure, as seen in osteomalacia (bone softening) and chondromalacia (cartilage softening, such as in the patella). The root and context tell you what tissue is affected, while -malacia specifies the change as softening. The other suffixes don’t describe softening: -itis means inflammation, -oma denotes a tumor or mass, and -gram refers to a recording or image.

Suffix that indicates softening of tissue is -malacia. This suffix signals a loss of firmness in a structure, as seen in osteomalacia (bone softening) and chondromalacia (cartilage softening, such as in the patella). The root and context tell you what tissue is affected, while -malacia specifies the change as softening. The other suffixes don’t describe softening: -itis means inflammation, -oma denotes a tumor or mass, and -gram refers to a recording or image.

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