What does the suffix '-malacia' indicate?

The suffix '-malacia' specifically refers to the softening of tissue or an organ. It is derived from Greek, where 'malakos' means soft. In medical terminology, this suffix is commonly used to describe pathological conditions characterized by a reduction in consistency and firmness, indicating a change in the normal state of the tissue.

For instance, terms like 'osteomalacia' relate to the softening of bones. Therefore, when specifying conditions where there is abnormal softening, the use of '-malacia' clearly conveys this meaning, which makes it the correct answer. The other choices do not accurately capture the specific aspect of softening that '-malacia' denotes, as they refer to different attributes of conditions.