Medical Terms Part 1 (-itis and -ectomy)

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In medicine, –itis is a suffix used to indicate disease or inflammation (e.g., tonsillitis). It was extended to refer to made-up ailments or conditions, such senioritis.
 

• appendicitis. inflammation of the appendix.

• arthritis. disease-causing inflammation of the joints.

• bronchitis. inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes

 

- ectomy is a suffix meaning the removal of a part of the body. ... Thus, gastrectomy refers to the surgical removal of the stomach (or sections thereof).

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Acute illnesses generally develop suddenly and last a short time, often only a few days or weeks.

 

Chronic conditions develop slowly and may worsen over an extended period of time—months to years.

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