The morpheme -megaly indicates which concept?

Prepare for the Briggs BTG Medical Interpreter Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Understand the medical context and interpretation skills necessary for your exam. Boost your readiness now!

Multiple Choice

The morpheme -megaly indicates which concept?

Explanation:
The main idea is that the suffix -megaly signals enlargement of an organ or body part. It’s used by attaching to the name of the structure to indicate it is enlarged, as in hepatomegaly (liver enlarged), cardiomegaly (heart enlarged), or splenomegaly (spleen enlarged). This suffix does not denote infection (that’s usually -itis) or pain (that’s -algia). While growth is a general term for size increase, -megaly specifically denotes enlargement of a particular organ or structure.

The main idea is that the suffix -megaly signals enlargement of an organ or body part. It’s used by attaching to the name of the structure to indicate it is enlarged, as in hepatomegaly (liver enlarged), cardiomegaly (heart enlarged), or splenomegaly (spleen enlarged). This suffix does not denote infection (that’s usually -itis) or pain (that’s -algia). While growth is a general term for size increase, -megaly specifically denotes enlargement of a particular organ or structure.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy