Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 From: Professor J Pinching Associate Dean for Cornwall & Professor of Clinical Immunology Peninsula Medical School Royal Cornwall Hospital TRURO, Subject: -itis vs -opathy " These suffixes refer to the presumed or known mechanisms of illness " -itis means: caused by inflammation (and there are different causes of inflammation). " -opathy means: something is wrong, but doesn't specify why. " In the absence of firm evidence of inflammation, -opathy may be a better term. " Neither suffix is specifically neurological, or relating to any other body tissue. The prefix does that: encephalo- is the brain, myelo- (in this context) is the spinal cord. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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