Which term means inflammation of a heart valve?

• A. Endocarditis
• B. Pericarditis
• C. Myocarditis
• D. Valvulitis

Answer: (D)

Understand how medical terms are built: -itis means inflammation, and valvul- refers to a valve. So valvulitis literally means inflammation of a valve. This is the precise term for an inflamed heart valve.

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac around the heart; myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium); endocarditis is inflammation of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart, which can involve valves but isn’t limited to a valve itself. Since the question asks for inflammation of a heart valve specifically, valvulitis is the correct term.