NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Foundational Knowledge and Basic ScienceMedium
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's chart and notes a diagnosis of 'hepatitis'. The patient asks what part of their body is affected. The medical assistant should correctly explain that hepatitis is an inflammation of the:
- AKidneys
- BPancreas
- CStomach
- DLiver
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Liver
'Hepatitis' is a medical term derived from 'hepato-' meaning liver, and '-itis' meaning inflammation. Therefore, hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Inflammation of the kidneys is nephritis.
- B. Inflammation of the pancreas is pancreatitis.
- C. Inflammation of the stomach is gastritis.
Medical Term: Hepatitis
An inflammatory condition of the liver, often caused by viral infections, alcohol, or autoimmune diseases.
- Root 'hepato-' refers to the liver.
- Suffix '-itis' means inflammation.
- Can be acute or chronic.
Memory trick: Hepatitis: 'Hepato' for Liver, '-itis' for lighting up (inflammation).