Which suffix represents a tumor in medical terminology?

The suffix that represents a tumor in medical terminology is "-oma." This suffix is commonly used to denote a benign or malignant growth and can be attached to the root word describing the type of tissue in which the tumor originates. For example, "lipoma" refers to a benign tumor of fatty tissue, while "melanoma" refers to a malignant tumor of melanocytes, the cells that produce skin pigment.

Understanding the function of medical suffixes is vital as they provide important information about the nature of a condition. In contrast, the suffixes "-itis," "-osis," and "-pathy" refer to inflammation, a disease or abnormal condition, and a disorder or disease of a specific organ, respectively. Thus, while all these suffixes contribute meaning in medical terminology, only "-oma" specifically indicates the presence of a tumor.