What does the suffix -rrhea indicate?

• A. Flow, discharge
• B. Surgical suturing
• C. Rupture
• D. Hardening

Answer: (A)

Suffix -rrhea indicates flow or discharge. When this ending is attached to a root, it names an abnormal flow of a substance from a body part or system. For example, diarrhea is the flow of stool through the intestines, rhinorrhea is nasal discharge, and menorrhea is menstrual flow. That sense of flowing or discharging is why this suffix best fits the question.

The other endings point to different processes: -rrhaphy means surgical suturing, -rrhexis or related forms indicate rupture, and hardening is described with -sclerosis.