Which term describes an enlarged condition in medical terminology?

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Study for the Rutgers Medical Terminology Exam. Use multiple choice questions and flashcards, each with hints and explanations. Ensure success on your exam!

The term that describes an enlarged condition in medical terminology is "-megaly." This suffix is commonly used in numerous medical terms to indicate a state of enlargement of a specific organ or tissue. For example, "hepatomegaly" refers to an enlarged liver, while "splenomegaly" indicates an enlarged spleen. The prefix before "-megaly" indicates which organ is affected, making it a versatile and descriptive term in medical language.

The other suffixes provided serve different purposes: "-itis" refers to inflammation (e.g., arthritis for joint inflammation), "-osis" describes a condition, usually abnormal or diseased (e.g., fibrosis for the formation of fibrous tissue), and "-emia" pertains to a condition of the blood (e.g., anemia indicates a deficiency of red blood cells). Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate communication in a medical context.

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