What does the suffix -sclerosis indicate?

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

What does the suffix -sclerosis indicate?

Explanation:
The main idea is that the suffix -sclerosis signals abnormal hardening of tissue or an organ. It comes from a root meaning hard, and in medical terms it refers to a pathologic stiffening and thickening usually from fibrosis or calcification. That’s why this suffix points to a process of hardening rather than softening, inflammation, or breaking apart. So the best description is abnormal hardening. For contrast, softening would use -malacia, inflammation would use -itis, and disintegration would be -lysis or -lytic.

The main idea is that the suffix -sclerosis signals abnormal hardening of tissue or an organ. It comes from a root meaning hard, and in medical terms it refers to a pathologic stiffening and thickening usually from fibrosis or calcification. That’s why this suffix points to a process of hardening rather than softening, inflammation, or breaking apart. So the best description is abnormal hardening. For contrast, softening would use -malacia, inflammation would use -itis, and disintegration would be -lysis or -lytic.

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