What does the suffix -algia denote?

What does the suffix -algia denote?

• A. Pain
• B. Fever
• C. Numbness
• D. Swelling

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the suffix -algia is used in medical terms to indicate pain in a specific area. It comes from a Greek root meaning pain, which is why you see words like neuralgia (nerve pain) or arthralgia (joint pain). That’s why the correct answer is that -algia denotes pain. Fever, numbness, and swelling are described with different terms or roots (fever with pyrexia or fever, numbness with anesthesia or hypoesthesia, swelling with edema), so they don’t fit the meaning of -algia.

The main idea here is that the suffix -algia is used in medical terms to indicate pain in a specific area. It comes from a Greek root meaning pain, which is why you see words like neuralgia (nerve pain) or arthralgia (joint pain). That’s why the correct answer is that -algia denotes pain. Fever, numbness, and swelling are described with different terms or roots (fever with pyrexia or fever, numbness with anesthesia or hypoesthesia, swelling with edema), so they don’t fit the meaning of -algia.