California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Practice Test

In medical terminology, which suffix refers to a condition that often involves pain or discomfort?

1. -itis

2. -algia

3. -osis

4. -plegia

The correct answer is: -algia

The suffix that refers to a condition often associated with pain or discomfort is "-algia." This suffix is derived from the Greek word "algos," meaning pain. In medical terminology, it is commonly used to denote various painful conditions. For instance, "neuralgia" refers to nerve pain, and "myalgia" refers to muscle pain. When you see this suffix at the end of a term, it indicates that pain is a significant symptom of the condition being described. In contrast, the suffix "-itis" signifies inflammation, which can also be associated with pain, but it specifically indicates a state of inflammation rather than emphasizing pain itself. The suffix "-osis" refers to a condition or process, often indicating a disease or abnormal condition without a direct connotation of discomfort or pain. Lastly, "-plegia" denotes paralysis or loss of motion, which is again not directly related to the concept of pain or discomfort but rather to the inability to move. Therefore, "-algia" is the most appropriate choice to indicate conditions that typically involve pain or discomfort.