What does "-orexia" refer to in medical terminology?

The suffix "-orexia" refers specifically to appetite in medical terminology. It is derived from the Greek word "orexis," which means "appetite" or "desire." This suffix is commonly used in various medical terms to describe conditions related to appetite. For instance, anorexia pertains to a loss of appetite, while hyperorexia signifies an excessively increased appetite.

In this context, while hunger can be associated with appetite, it is more of a physiological drive for food, whereas appetite encompasses a broader sense of the desire to eat, which can be influenced by psychological and emotional factors. Digestion refers to the process of breaking down food, and metabolism involves the biochemical processes of converting food into energy or structural components in the body. Neither of these terms directly pertains to appetite, thus highlighting why "appetite" is the most accurate definition for "-orexia."