Which term denotes inflammation of the liver?

• A. Hepatitis
• B. Hepatopathy
• C. Cirro­sis
• D. Cholangitis

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing how medical terms convey meaning. Inflammation is shown by the suffix -itis. When that inflammation concept attaches to the liver, the resulting term is hepatitis, since the liver is represented by the root hepato- (also hepat-). So hepatitis literally means liver inflammation.

Hepatopathy refers to liver disease in general, not specifically inflammation. Cirrhosis describes a late-stage scarring and damage of the liver, not the inflammatory process. Cholangitis is inflammation of the bile ducts, not the liver tissue itself.