Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

Which suffix indicates an abnormal condition?

1. -itis

2. -oma

3. -osis

4. -pathy

The correct answer is: -osis

The suffix that indicates an abnormal condition is -osis. This suffix is often used in medical terminology to describe a pathological state or condition that deviates from the normal health. For example, conditions like 'nephrosis' (abnormal condition of the kidneys) or 'hematosis' (abnormal condition of blood) illustrate how -osis conveys a state that is not typical or healthy. In medical terms, while -itis refers specifically to inflammation (as seen in conditions like arthritis), -oma denotes a tumor or neoplasm (like melanoma), and -pathy refers to disease or disorder in a more general sense but not necessarily an abnormal condition in the same context as -osis. The specificity of -osis for denoting abnormal states makes it the correct choice for indicating an abnormal condition.