Which suffix denotes a condition or disease state?

• A. -itis
• B. -osis
• C. -pathy
• D. -emia

Answer: (B)

Suffixes that name a condition or disease state describe an ongoing process or abnormal state in the body. The one that signals this concept most generally is -osis. It turns roots into nouns that name a condition or disease, such as cirrhosis (liver disease), nephrosis (kidney disease), or osteoporosis (loss of bone density).

In contrast, -itis indicates inflammation of a tissue (as in dermatitis, inflammation of the skin), -pathy denotes a disease or disorder of a specific organ or tissue (like neuropathy, a disease of the nerves), and -emia refers to a condition of the blood (such as anemia, a lack of healthy red blood cells). So -osis best fits the idea of a condition or disease state.