Which suffix defines a condition of infection?

Prepare for the Wellstar Certified Medical Assistant CMA Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions featuring hints and explanations. Get ready for your certification exam!

The suffix that defines a condition of infection is -sepsis. This term comes from the Greek word "sepsis," which means putrefaction or decay. In medical terminology, it signifies a harmful infection or the presence of pathogens or their toxins in the bloodstream. Conditions such as sepsis, resulting from infections that spread throughout the body, illustrate how this suffix is applied to indicate serious health situations related to infection.

In contrast, the suffix -emia typically refers to a condition related to blood, such as anemia, which indicates a deficiency in red blood cells. The suffix -ptosis denotes a state of drooping or falling, often used in contexts such as "nephroptosis," which refers to the drooping of a kidney. Lastly, -phagia relates to swallowing or the consumption of food, as seen in terms like "dysphagia," which refers to difficulty swallowing. Each of these suffixes conveys specific medical meanings that do not indicate infection as -sepsis does.

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