Which suffix is used to describe a hardening condition of tissue?

• A. Sclerosis
• B. Osis
• C. Pathy
• D. Rrhapsy

Answer: (A)

Hardening of tissue is described by a suffix that means hardening, which is -sclerosis. The term comes from a root meaning hard, and it’s used in medical words to name processes where tissue or an organ becomes stiff or hardened, such as scleroderma or atherosclerosis. The other suffixes point to different ideas—-osis signals a general disease or abnormal condition, -pathy denotes disease or suffering, and the suffix related to surgical suturing indicates repair rather than a change in tissue consistency. So the best choice conveys the specific meaning of tissue hardening.