If a patient has colitis, which organ is inflamed?

Study for the Introduction to Medical Terminology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If a patient has colitis, which organ is inflamed?

Explanation:
Colitis means inflammation of the colon, which is the large intestine responsible for absorbing water and forming stool. When colitis occurs, the inflammation is in the colon, not in the stomach, liver, or kidneys. The other organs correspond to different conditions: the stomach would be inflamed in gastritis, the liver in hepatitis, and the kidneys in nephritis. Remembering that "-itis" signals inflammation and "col-" points to the colon helps you see why colitis is specifically inflammation of the colon.

Colitis means inflammation of the colon, which is the large intestine responsible for absorbing water and forming stool. When colitis occurs, the inflammation is in the colon, not in the stomach, liver, or kidneys. The other organs correspond to different conditions: the stomach would be inflamed in gastritis, the liver in hepatitis, and the kidneys in nephritis. Remembering that "-itis" signals inflammation and "col-" points to the colon helps you see why colitis is specifically inflammation of the colon.

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