Which term means inflammation of the heart muscle?

• A. Endocarditis
• B. Pericarditis
• C. Nephritis
• D. Myocarditis

Answer: (D)

Inflammation is indicated by the suffix -itis, and the root tells you the tissue involved. Myocarditis combines myocard-, the heart muscle (myocardium), with -itis, so it means inflammation of the heart muscle. Endocarditis would be inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), pericarditis the sac around the heart (pericardium), and nephritis refers to the kidneys. Therefore, myocarditis is the term that specifically means inflammation of the heart muscle.